The SA U20 team has placed emphasis on skills and technique training ahead of the 2017 Junior World Championship in Georgia in June.

Coach Chean Roux last week invited 50 players to a wider training squad for a trials camp in Stellenbosch from 5-17 March.

Roux and his assistants focused on the succession of skills and conditioning drills over the course of the first five days, with the coach saying players responded well to the intense workload.

'There has been a notable difference in the quality of the training drills since the first day of camp. We are certainly on the right track,' said Roux.

The squad will be trimmed to 28 in mid-April, with several Super Rugby, Blitzboks and Varsity Cup players, who are not in camp yet, also in contention for selection.

'Competition for places is intense and I'm happy to see how the players are adapting to the structures and team culture. We are steadily developing into a settled squad,' Roux added.

The coach also confirmed that Mzwandile Stick's sole focus will be on backline play, with Louis Koen's on general attack and Pieter de Villiers' on scrummaging.

After the camp, the players will have eight days off before they reassemble for a tour to the central unions, which will feature warm-up matches against the Griffons, Griquas and Free State Cheetahs.

The team is set to depart to Tbilisi, Georgia on 25 May.

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