Xola Nyali (flanker) has been handed the captaincy as the South African Under-18 team prepare for their U18 International Series opener against France at Stellenberg High School in Durbanville, north of Cape Town, on Tuesday afternoon.

Nyali captained Western Province at the U18 Craven Week at the end of June and played for SA Schools against their ‘A’ team counterparts last month. Ian van der Merwe has been named vice-captain by SA U18 coach Katleho Lynch for the match against France, which kicks off at 15h00.

Lynch said the players were raring to go and that he was excited to see what this group can offer after the players delivered a spectacle in Wellington a month ago when the two SA Schools sides squared off.

“We are really looking forward to the series against France and England as there is no better way to give the boys the best possible experience of what it’s like playing at international level,” said Lynch.

“We’ve done some squad rotation and mixing and matching of players in positions and the main thing will now be to see what we’ve been working on the last couple of weeks come to fruition and executed at test level.

“I have no doubt that we have some great talent in South Africa, it’s now just a matter of putting it to the test and executing under pressure in an international match situation.”

Lynch was dealt a late blow when Divan Fuller (loose forward) was forced to withdraw from the squad, with his WP team-mate Riley Norton earning a call-up.

Earlier on Tuesday, the England U18s will face a Western Province XV (13h00). The U18 International Series concludes at Paarl Boys’ High’s Brug Street fields on Saturday when South Africa take on England (15h00), preceded by the match between France and the WP XV (13h00).

SA U18 to face France in Durbanville:

15 Luyanda Kunene

14 Scott Nel

13 Jameel de Jongh

12 Dominic Malgas

11 Cheswill Jooste

10 Ian van der Merwe (vice-captain)

9 Christiaan van der Westhuizen

8 Batho Hlekani

7 Thando Biyela

6 Xola Nyali (captain)

5 Ulrich van der Westhuizen

4 Jacobus Grobbelaar

3 Simphiwe Ngobese

2 Imaani Pemba

1 Ranon Fouche

Replacements:

16 Siphosethu Mnebelele

17 Lithemba Mfupi

18 Jean Erasmus

19 Riley Norton

20 JJ Theron

21 Haashim Pead

22 Janco Purchase

23 JC Mars

24 Marno Stopforth

25 Phiwayinkosi Kubeka

26 Gino Cupido