Rugby: NZ juniors expect tough semi

New Zealand go into tomorrow morning's Junior World Cup rugby semifinals against South Africa boosted by the presence of wing Julian Savea.

Savea, the top tryscorer in the tournament with a total of six, took a heavy knock to his hip in the final pool match against Wales on Monday but has been passed fit to play.

Coach Dave Rennie has made three changes to the side from the 43-10 romp over Wales with prop Angus Taavao-Matau, No 8 Rory Grice and centre Star Timu getting starts.

Defending champions New Zealand have yet to lose a match in the history of the championship, but Rennie is all too aware of the threat posed by South Africa for the semifinal in Rosario.

New Zealand have cruised unbeaten against Fiji, Samoa and Wales in their pool matches while South Africa dropped a match to Australia 42-35 to qualify for the semifinals as the best placed runners-up.

Eager to match New Zealand's pace out wide, South Africa coach Eric Sauls has made two changes to the side that started against Australia with Branco du Preez, the shortest player in the tournament, coming in to the centre and Nico Scheepers getting his first call up on the wing.

"South Africa pose a lot more problems for us," Rennie said.

"Obviously they have a very big pack and they've got a lot of wheels in the backs so you know they've got the ability to play both those sorts of games.

"We won't stray too much from what we've been trying to do, if we can get some good go forward ball then hopefully we can stretch them a bit."

New Zealand skipper and first five-eighth Tyler Bleyendaal said South Africa were going to be a tough team to play against.

"We are going to have to knuckle down and we are going to have to be physical too, we are going to have to match it and just try to dominate as best we can. Take it to them early on and just stay in the fight and keep fighting."

The other semifinal is between last year's runners-up England and Australia.

- NZPA