South Africa was drawn in Pool C of the upcoming World Rugby U20 Championship with three-time winners England, hosts Italy and Fiji.
The schedule for the tournament, which runs from June 28 to July 18, was announced by World Rugby and the Federazione Italiana Rugby on Tuesday.
The match against England will echo the one between both nations at the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Japan which the Springboks won 32-12.
Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux said his team will not be taking any chances and will give everything from the first game against Italy.
“Italy and England are both U20 Six Nations regulars, while the Fijians are a physical bunch that always play with passion and grit,” Roux said.
“Given the small margins in this competition it will be important to win every game to advance to the semi-final, so we know what we are in for and we will prepare accordingly.”
Some of the South African graduates from the U20 Championship to the Test arena include World Cup winners Siya Kolisi, Handre Pollard and Pieter-Steph du Toit.
South Africa, bronze medalists in 2019, was one of three seeds with the others being champions France and runners-up Australia. The Junior Springboks, winners in 2012, have won the bronze medal in the last three World Rugby U20 Championships.
In Pool A, the two-time defending champions France were drawn together with Argentina, Ireland and Japan. In Pool B Australia is joined by Georgia, six-time champions New Zealand and Wales.
The pool matches will be played at the Payanini Center in Verona, Stadio Sergio Zaffanella in Viadana and Peroni Stadium in Calvisano.
The three pool winners and the best runner-up across the pools will advance to the semi-finals of the tournament. The final will be played in Parma.
