The Junior Springboks touched down in Tbilisi on Tuesday after a long-haul journey from Cape Town via Istanbul, with newly appointed captain Siphosethu Mnebelele leading the squad into their World Rugby U20 Championship campaign.
Mnebelele was handed the captaincy shortly before departure, replacing Riley Norton and Vusi Moyo, who were both called up to the Springbok squad for the Nations Championship. Upon arrival at their hotel on the outskirts of Tbilisi, the SA U20s headed to a nearby gym for a cycling session to aid recovery from the demanding travel schedule.
The Junior Boks will resume field preparations from Wednesday ahead of their opening Pool A clash against Uruguay on Saturday at Avchala Stadium. Mnebelele spoke at the official World Rugby captains' media conference, crediting Norton for setting an excellent example as a leader.
"The way they carried themselves over the past two years has been a real motivating factor for me," said Mnebelele. "I am close to both Riley and Vusi, and I have seen the hard work they've put in to get where they are. It is such an honour to be selected as captain of this talented group of players. I believe we have a strong leadership group, and that will be a tremendous help to me as team captain."
The hooker also featured for the SA 'A' side in their 40–0 triumph over Zimbabwe in Gqeberha last Saturday. The Junior Boks toured Georgia earlier this year, winning both matches against the hosts.