South Africa, fresh from a gruelling encounter against France in their final pool game of the IRB Under 19 World Championship 2005, face U19 Six Nations Grand Slam winners England in a mouth watering semi final at Woodburn Stadium on Wednesday.
Coach Eugene Eloff has been at the helm for three years and has experienced the joy of winning the competition, in 2003, and the disappointment last year of going out in the semi finals to New Zealand. He was impressed with the way that his side coped with a French team that needed to win to qualify for the last four.
"They came out blasting, they threw all the attacking ammunition they had at us and I think we didn't have our hands on the ball for eight minutes. But the guys kept their composure. For young guys of 18, 19 to do that, I think that's a big character test. It was a real physical, tough match."
South Africa emerged victorious 15-9 from that game, and Eloff expects more of the same on Wednesday.
"England are a very formidable side. I think Tosh [Askew, England coach] and his colleagues have done a great job. They show a lot of signs of their senior side in terms of discipline - they don't give away a lot of penalties. They're a well-balanced side and it's going to be tough."
Eloff and his staff will undoubtedly have noted how New Zealand soaked up England pressure and hit them on the break with incisive back play. Although his own backs failed to cross the try line against France, they ran riot against Argentina and did the same late on against Ireland.
"The class of 2005, they haven't yet performed to their maximum yet," admits Eloff, "but they're showing all the signs that they have got the composure to do it."
All will be revealed at 3pm at Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, following the first semi final between New Zealand and Australia. Tickets will be available from the ground on the day. The match will be broadcast live in South Africa on SuperSport 3.