Three Warriors youngsters will start for England Under 20s on Friday night as they host Junior Springboks at Sixways Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm).
Back row Ted Hill, lock James Scott and centre Ollie Lawrence will all start in the fixture, which is crucial preparation ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship in France (May 30 – June 17).
Second-row forward Joel Kpoku will make his England Under 20 debut, while replacements Luke James and Sam Morley are set to do likewise off the bench. Alex Seville, hooker Gabriel Oghre and Joe Heyes make up England’s front row.
Kpoku is partnered in the second row by Warriors’ Scott while the side will be captained by scrum-half Ben White who is partnered at half-back by James Grayson.
The midfield sees Fraser Dingwall and Ollie Lawrence paired together with Ben Loader, Tom Seabrook as well as Tom Parton England’s back three.
England, who were beaten finalists in last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia, also more recently finished runners-up in the 2018 U20 Six Nations Championship.
2016 World Rugby U20 Championship winners England will face Argentina in Narbonne (May 30, 5.30pm BST) as well as Italy (June 3, 3.30pm BST) in Perpignan and Scotland (June 7, 8pm BST) in Pool B at Beziers’ Stade de la Méditerranée.
Narbonne and Perpignan will host the semi-finals and ranking play-offs on June 12, with Béziers hosting all finals day matches on June 17 across two pitches.
England Under 20s have faced the Junior Springboks in successive semi-finals in the tournament, defeating them 39-17 in 2016 and 24-22 in 2017.
England Under 20 Head Coach Steve Bates said: “Playing South Africa is really going to focus everyone’s attention before the World Rugby U20 Championship and will provide us with valuable playing time before the tournament begins. This fixture also gives us an opportunity to finalise our squad for the tournament in France as well as get the players together to start preparing for the challenges ahead.”
Tickets are available by clicking here, calling 01905 459309 or visiting the Ticket Office. They will also be available on the gate on the night.
England U20s
15. Tom Parton (London Irish)
14. Tom Seabrook (Gloucester Rugby)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors)
12. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
11. Ben Loader (London Irish)
10. James Grayson (Northampton Saints)
9. Ben White capt (Leicester Tigers)
1. Alex Seville (Gloucester Rugby)
2. Gabriel Oghre (Wasps)
3. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
4. Joel Kpoku (Saracens)
5. James Scott (Worcester Warriors)
6. Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
7. Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester Rugby)
8. Tom Willis (Wasps)
Replacements
16. Henry Walker (Gloucester Rugby)
17. Toby Trinder (Northampton Saints)
18. Ehren Painter (Northampton Saints)
19. Sam Lewis (Leicester Tigers)
20. Josh Basham (London Irish)
21. Rory Brand (London Irish)
22. Sam Morley (Exeter Chiefs)
23. Luke James (Sale Sharks)
Travelling reserves: Beck Cutting (Worcester Warriors), Ciaran Knight (Gloucester Rugby), Joe Snow (Exeter Chiefs), Cadan Murley (Harlequins).