Damian Willemse will start at flyhalf for the Junior Boks in their opening match of the U20 World Rugby Championship against Georgia on Wednesday.

His inclusion, at the expense of David Coetzer, is one of five changes to the team that beat England on tour three weeks ago.

Elsewhere in the backline, wing Sihle Njezula and scrumhalf Zak Burger replace David Kriel and Rewan Kruger respectively.

Up front, Ruan Nortjie takes over from BJ Dixon at No 5 lock and Schalk Erasmus makes way for Daniel Jooste at hooker.

‘We were fortunate to be able to select a settled squad, which will be handy against a physical and passionate Georgian outfit,’ said coach Chean Roux. ‘All the players are fit and eager to play, and we selected a team that we thought would be best suited to the game against Georgia.

‘They play with their hearts on their sleeves and they will take to the field with everything they have. They are a forward-driven team, with a good scrum and lineout maul, so they will probably try to lay the foundation there. But that said, our plans for the game are mapped out and hopefully we can counter that.’

The match kicks of 6:30pm (SA time).

Junior Boks – 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Sihle Njezula, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Muller Uys, 7 JP Steenkamp, 6 Dian Schoonees, 5 Ruan Nortjie, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Nathan McBeth.
Subs: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Ruan Vermaak, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Lyle Hendricks.

Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images