Dawie Theron has named a squad of 50 under-20 players to attend trials and a training camp in Stellenbosch from 9-12 November 2012. Looking at the numbers and quality of the players on the list, it’s likely that a good few of them will go on to represent the Baby Bokke at the IRB Junior World Championships in France next year. It is however important to note is that schoolboys have been excluded for now due to matric exams being on the go. There are also a couple of injured players. Finally one also has to take into account that Theron is notorious for chopping and changing his squad along the way, meaning that omitted players are definitely not out of the reckoning and that even a prolonged presence at various training camps and in warm-up games, does not prevent favoured players from being dumped at the last minute. So for now no Handre Pollard, Sergeal Petersen, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Johan Meyer, Dries Swanepoel, Janco Gunther, Jean Kleyn, Eugene le Maitre, Luther Obi and probably a few others for various reasons but expect these players to either be included at a later stage or give the coach something to think about between now and June 2013.
A quick breakdown of the 50 players selected: 20 players from the scouting and recruitment gone wild Bulls camp. There are only 9 players from the spirited ABSA under-19 champions Western Province (plus Swiel who played under-21). The Sharks surprise a little with 10 selections although justifiably 6 are from their red hot u19 backline (with halfback Hanco Venter having playing u21). The Lions and Leopards have all the reasons in the world to feel aggrieved. Both Unions fielded extremely competitive u19 teams this season yet are somehow only worthy of 5 representatives between them in the 50-man camp (one can’t help but wonder if allegations of undue influence and provincial favourtism are going to re/surface because of this). The Free State, despite a poor 2012 u19 campaign has 5 players in the mix.
In terms of schools and Craven Week regions, well surprise-surprise non-powerhouse school Klofies co-lead. Along with the Bloemfontein rugby factory aka Grey College, both have 6 old boys in. Affies and Monnas are third with 3 each. Boishaai and Tygerberg are the Western Cape best with 2 apiece. Westville are tops in KwaZulu-Natal with 2 as well. School rugby heavyweights Paul Roos and Gimmies have 1 player each at this stage. The school regional situation has Western Province and the Bulls with 10 each, followed by Free State (7), KZN (6), Lions (3), SWD (3), Eastern Province (2), Pumas (2), Limpopo (2), Griffons (1), Boland (1), Leopards (1), Valke (1) and Japan (1).
u-20 Squad:
(note: players listed according to most common position)| POSITION | NAME | SURNAME | SCHOOL | PROVINCE |
| Prop LH | Jan | Enslin | Grey High | Bulls |
| Prop LH | Justin | Forwood | Waterkloof | Bulls |
| Prop LH | Sti | Sithole | Westville | WP |
| Hooker | Morne | du Plessis | Waterkloof | Sharks |
| Hooker | Jacques | du Toit | Grey College | Free State |
| Hooker | Frederick | Kirsten | Paarl Boys High | WP |
| Prop TH | Andrew | Beerwinkel | Porterville | Bulls |
| Prop TH | Marne | Coetzee | Glenwood | Sharks |
| Prop TH | Luan | de Bruin | Affies | Free State |
| Prop TH | Neethling | Fouche | Grey College | Bulls |
| Lock | Irne | Herbst | Waterkloof | Bulls |
| Lock | Andrew | Becker | Michaelhouse | WP |
| Lock | Marvin | Orie | Tygerberg | Bulls |
| Lock | Myles | Tucker | Rondebosch | Sharks |
| Lock | Dennis | Visser | Affies | Bulls |
| Flank OS | Roelof | Smit | Waterkloof | Bulls |
| Flank OS | Kwagga | Smit | HTS Middelburg | Lions |
| Flank BS | Tienie | Burger | Grey College | Free State |
| Flank BS | Leneve | Damens | Grey College | Bulls |
| Flank BS | Jacques | du Plessis | Ermelo | Bulls |
| Flank BS | Andrew | van Tonder | EG Jansen | Sharks |
| Flank BS | Jurie | van Vuuren | Oakdale | WP |
| No.8 | Justin | Benn | Daniel Pienaar | WP |
| No.8 | Clyde | Davids | Paarl Gim | Bulls |
| No.8 | Ruan | Steenkamp | Monnas | Bulls |
| Scrumhalf | Carlo | Engelbrecht | Affies | Bulls |
| Scrumhalf | Nhlanhla | Hlongwane | Louis Botha | Free State |
| Scrumhalf | Jean | Nel | Paarl Boys High | WP |
| Scrumhalf | Stefan | Ungerer | Maritzburg College | Sharks |
| Scrumhalf | Hanco | Venter | Monnas | Sharks |
| Scrumhalf | Percy | Williams | Oudtshoorn | Lions |
| Flyhalf | Robert | du Preez | Kearsney | Sharks |
| Flyhalf | Tim | Swiel | Bishops | WP |
| Flyhalf | Francois | Tredoux | Waterkloof | Bulls |
| Wing L | Ruwellyn | Isbell | Grey College | Bulls |
| Wing L | Jean-Paul | Lewis | Paul Roos | WP |
| Wing L | Seabelo | Senatla | Harmony | Free State |
| Centre I | Burger | Odendaal | Monnas | Bulls |
| Centre I | Jan | Serfontein | Grey College | Bulls |
| Centre I | Harold | Vorster | Frans du Toit | Lions |
| Centre O | Tyler | Fisher | Westville | Sharks |
| Centre O | Justin | Geduld | Tygerberg | WP |
| Centre O | Henko | Marais | Volkskool (Potch) | Leopards |
| Centre O | Jade | Stighling | St Albans | Bulls |
| Wing R | Kefentse | Mahlo | Ben Vorster | Bulls |
| Wing R | Kotaro | Matsushima | T.Gakven,Japan | Sharks |
| Fullback | Cheslin | Kolbe | Brackenfell | WP |
| Fullback | Sylvian | Mahuza | Outeniqua | Leopards |
| Fullback | Sean | Robinson | Waterkloof | Sharks |
| Fullback | Jacques | Rossouw | Piketburg | Bulls |
@Playa: nobody gives a 25 year old a contract
@Playa: ya I remember Luke was at the u19 cricket world cup
@Ludz: Number 10 has chosen cricket as a career.He’s an even better cricketer,believe it or not.
Number 8 still hoping for a contract, nothing yet
@Andre T, yep I have progressed from a six pack to a barrel and really packed on the ‘bulk’! My programme includes 24 Hansa a week and at least 3kgs of wors…
@Andre T: I dont know about the “kicking out of hand”, but just getting out of hand, that, most here, can agree on.
@Grasshopper: Yep, so we might play against each other. I’m so looking forward to my last year at school, my gym programme is working out well, have gained a lot of muscle weight and my kicking out of hand has improved drastically.
@Umtata: no.7 is headed to the Lions, the no.5 to the Kings. 8 and 10 I have no clue, the no.15 is still in grade 11, so still at Dale next year
@Ruggerfan, nope I am a lucky one who is still under 35, just! Well, I would need my papers audited first to verify that because my hair is looking a little silverback these days….
@Grasshopper I thought you were already 35+ : or are you taking after the juniors and getting in anyway
@Andre T, Glenwood have introduced a new age group level called Under35’s, so it will be that side up against Monnas and I believe I am in the squad…
I think there are 7 players possibly who played Craven Week this year to be more involved next year in these squads.
15 Jesse Kriel (Bulls)
14 Sergeal Petersen (EP Kings)
12 Rohan Janse Van Rensburg (Bulls)
10 Handre Pollard (Bulls)
7 Jen-Luq Du Preez (Sharks)
6 Thabo Mabuza (Bulls)
1 Pierre Schoeman (Bulls)
Otherwise the u19 selected plus other u19s missing in Dries Swanepoel, John-Ben Kotze, Jean Kleyn and Eugene Le Maitre could get a look in later.
So therefore the current u19s
15: Cheslin Kolbe (WP), Sean Robinson (Sharks)
14: Kefentse Mahlo (Bulls), Kotaro Matsushima (Sharks)
13: Dries Swanepoel (Bulls), Tyler Fisher (Sharks), Justin Geduld (WP)
12: Jan Serfontein (Bulls), John-Ben Kotze (WP), Harold Vorster (Lions)
11: Ruwellyn Isbell (Bulls), JP Lewis (WP), Seabelo Senatla (Cheetahs)
10: Tim Swiel (WP), Robert Du Preez (Sharks)
9: Nhlanhla Hlongwane (Cheetahs), Carlo Engelbrecht (Bulls), Jean Nel (WP), Hanco Venter (Sharks)
8: Ruan Steenkamp (Bulls), Justin Benn (WP)
7: Jacques Du Plessis (Bulls), Andrew Van Tonder (Sharks)
6: Roelof Smit (Bulls)
5: Marvin Orrie (Bulls), Dennis Visser (Bulls), Andrew Becker (WP)
4: Jean Kleyn (WP), Irne Herbst (Bulls)
3: Andrew Beerwinkel (Bulls), Marne Coetzee (Sharks), Luan De Bruin (Cheetahs), Neethling Fouche (Bulls)
2: Eugen Le Maitre (Lions), Frederik Kirsten (WP)
1: Justin Forwood (Bulls), Sti Sithole (WP), Jan Enslin (Bulls)
@Greenwood:
he got injured this year, was playing really well.
Cope is still playing very well and is improving every month. he didnt start a single game this year and in fact none of the subs started unless there was an injury which is bad. but ive heard that hes impressed when he has come on for the team. just unlucky that the starting flyhalf is also the cappie
@The Beast: hahahaha that’s S.Tom
@star: Yes last year I attended the KZN Schools vs Pumas CW warm up game. Jacques du Plessis played very well. Afterwards KZN coach Steyn said “he can jol!” and mentioned that he had been at Kearsney once upon a time.
I think a combination of things resulted in his departure back to Ermelo. English medium vs Afr medium schooling and athletics program (he is/was a talented javelin thrower)must have been top of the list.
@ Beet- I have been informed that J.du Plessis( 2.01 m and 116 kg) was previously at KC.Is this true and if so why did he leave?Also well done to WOBs Fisher and Sithole.You have played your part in making this a more than memorable year for our alma mater.Bit surprised though that Moolman did not make the set-up. Maybe up against Serfontein??
@Umtata: To collect old age pension.
@Ludz: We are father & son
@Ludz Do you have any idea where the Dale College no.7,10,8,5 and 15 are going next year?
@Grasshopper: Will it be your u/19 or u/23 side?
@BoishaaiPa: oh Freddie, tell him to please do that, would be much appreciated
@Andre T: I thought that was Speartackle
Heard that Glenwood will be playing Monnas annually now down the line, probably to replace the Westville fixture. It seems the two Trevors can’t come to some compromise for the boys sake…..really frustrating..
@Ludz: The video is not in my posession, but property of the WP u/19 Cappy. I will ask him if he can post it to youtube or something.
@Andre T: We didn’t overlook him…He was playing in WP at a decent school so why move schools?..
@QC86: Well, seems the real big boys will be fighting it out at Kersney round about that time. Kersney and Wildeklawer my pick for the 2 top festivals next year, with Hienrich Buhr to shine at both.
@Andre T: I believe you might know better than most.
@Ludz: That would have been the highlight of my school career. Just to get one back at those guys that cloned my debit card in Queenstown last year on my way to Katberg.
@Andre T: I believe Queen’s will play Jeppe, Affies and Maritzburg College, pity we couldn’t play you guys T
@Ludz: Was looking forward to playing you guys next season in my last year at school……..you guys can run…….but you can’t hide forever.
@Greenwood: sorry to cut in,but Fred had a very good season for the u21s,won the odd game for them with his place kicking,got an injury mid way throw and never recovered in time to play a major role again,watchout for him next year,as for Cope just wait and see,he is a major talent,u19s are mainly picked on who has a contract and who has not,but when he got onto the field he made a big impact @Prontus: QC and Monnas could be on a collision course in Maritzburg
@Prontus: I believe Ooskus Vissery on the corner of Faure Marine/Sir Lowrie’s Drive in G Bay has been bought by a 31 year old female.
@Andre T: we go to KES, Grey and Kearsney so I’d say we do go to the top festivals, but next year we keeping it low
@Andre T: Yes, I would go as far as to say it probably equals the average age of a fish shop owner in Gordon’s Bay.
@Greenwood: Fred Z had a really good season for the Sharks u21 team. Picked up an injury towards the back end of the season and his team felt it. Came off the bench for the disastrous season ending home semi against WP u21. I think Fred is part of the reason the Sharks aren’t investing in a good back up for Lambie for SR next year. Instead they have acquired pensioner Butch James – good experience at a reasonable price I’m sure.
Cope was reserve flyhalf for the Sharks u19s. Unfortunately for him first choice flyhalf was captain but quite a few people said he deserved more game time possibly starts based on his form. He was a natural at school, so good to see him still playing.
@Prontus: So would you say the combined IQ’s of coaches in RSA equals that of an average female golfer on the LPGA tour?
@Andre T: I think that research may be more applicable to the coaches than the players in this country. Coaching in South Africa has always been too dogmatic and pedantic, and the main reason that our so-called X-factor players would be viewed as just another player in NZ for instance. Fact is, we have the best raw material available in this country but coaches just don’t know how to mold the players properly.
@Greenwood: Who’s this Zillinger? Sounds like some Chicago mobster.
ZEILINGA
@Ludz: Never heard of those ones. So you okes never get invited to the major festivals like Pukke, Kearsney or Wildeklawer where the big dogs play? Why not, even Monnas get invited there.
Horsie – whats the story about Fred Zilinger ?
is he not progressing ?
Must admit was impressed with Cope when he played for the flies – whats happened to him ?
@Andre T: and at the Graeme college festival,just for a warm up game
@Andre T: we’ll be at Maritzburg College 150th during Easter and I think we’ll keep it down to one and where will Monnas be?
@Ludz: Which festivals are you okes playing in 2013?
@Andre T: no Golf today?we trying to talk sense here
@Prontus: Too many thickheads play this game in SA. According to some scientific research done by a professor in Libya, they say the combined brains of a provincial rugby team in RSA equals the brain of an average tour golfer in Asia.
@Andre T: hahahaha we’re a school far greater than Monnas
@beet: You may well have a point, but I think more importantly the rules at certain stages accommodated this style of play better and as recent as 2007-2009 the tackle and ruck laws assisted this kick/chase/turnover game, as our results showed. Now the laws have changed again, some say to accommodate the useless Aussies, but certainly to the benefit of the AB’s. In my opinion we do not need huge changes to play the modern game, just small adjustments in mindset such as running for a shoulder or gap instead of into a player, working on off-loads and placing greater value on skills development as opposed to structures at junior levels. Unfortunately we do not embrace change easily in this country though.
@QC86: Now I only see you 2 are in the same school. I thought he was from Itembihle.
@QC86: Sorry that was meant for Ludz…….unless the two of you are the same person.
@QC86: I hope we play you okes somewhere in 2013…….then again you guys don’t really get invited to the major festivals.
@Ludz: You are quite right…….I don’t watch it…….I play it.
@Ludz: Kwezi snapped his ankle in pre season training last year,and retured to soon,battled the whole year,i thought. Beet yes i also heard Punguzwa was going to the Kings
@Prontus: I can’t help but believe that altitude has something to do with this. The rarified atmosphere has been kind to the kicking game and pocket flyhalves over the years.
@beet: Siphesihle Punguzwa is a King, he wasn’t allowed to play for Border u19 this year because of his contract with EP
@Andre T: you really don’t watch enough schoolboy rugby
@Prontus: I think we are more like Sprite Lite.
@QC86: Is Punguzwa staying in EC after school.
I saw Kwezi at a KERF function. He was on stage with Naas and Kanko. He is quite an entertainer :smile:
@QC86: Kwezi Mona, 1 Selbornian player I absolutely hated, that oke was a handful in 2010, he was so hard to keep in check. I think Pitsa assumed that role in 2011, Kwezi wasn’t at his best last year, in turn Pitsa became that absolute destructive force. Siphato as always was inspirational, really great leader
@Ludz: Yakha was at the sharks,moved to hooker,but did not workout,Germishuys had a major op to his hip/back,now weighs 135kgs,long road back from there,Kwezi Mona also at sharks,Selborne no8 last year,was moved to prop this year,sharks want to turn him into another Beast type player??wait and see
@Andre T: And that’s the main reason why, in the modern era, we have such a poor win ratio against the AB’s. Our fixation with big players and good kickers are outdated with the demands of the game in 2012, just as the lineout is in my opinion now as, if not more, important than the scrum (go watch the CC final again). We are not Coca Cola ou maat, we are Pepsi.
@beet: yep, 3 of that massive pack decided to stop playing after school, namely Jason Orphen, Andrew Love and Freddy Lubbe. Siphesihle Punguzwa was still at Selborne this year, I have no clue what happened to Selborne loosehead Yakha Qinela, hooker and captain Siphatho Qinisile was 2nd choice hooker to Eugene le Maitre at the Lions and tighthead prop Germishuys has been injured, I think had Germishuys been fit, he might’ve got a look in
We do not play open, attacking rugby. It’s not in our genes. We’ve been playing 10 man rugby since William W Ellis picked up the soccer ball. Why change now? We need a fly half like Gerald Bosch, Naas Botha, Joel Stransky, Jannie de Beer,Morne Steyn . Fly halves that can keep the opposition pinned down in their halves and wait for mistakes. We’ve never had backs with flair. Danie Gerber and Carel Dup came close…….during isolation……when we played against ourselves and the Combined petrol pumps from South America. We need big forwards that can predominantly scrum well and over power the opposition with backs that can tackle hard like the Japie Mulders and Pieter Mullers. That’s SA rugby………and that’s how it always will be……Why would Coca Cola all of a sudden change the colour of their can to green?
@Ludz: You and I were just talking about this the other day in the context of Grey College success rate after school. Selborne got a worthy draw against Grey Bloem in 2011. Now 1 year on: 6 GCB representatives; 0 from Selborne. KCman said it was because English kids don’t play rugby after school???
@Andre T: I reckon their tighthead prop Ryan Germishuys would’ve featured, but he was injured in April and was out for 6 months, think he’s fit now, but he didn’t play any part in Bulls u19 campaign
@BoishaaiPa: you must be proud,baywatch says his selection is justified,well done
@Andre T: I think another guy who has much of the Swiel like flowing rugby potential is Burger Odendaal. Burger played well under Nollis Marais, the Bulls u21 coach that encourages backs to attack space, contrary to just about every one of the other Bulls coaches. Burger started the u19 final in the unfamiliar position of 13. As soon as he switched to 10, the Bulls line immediately looked more dangerous simply coz he injected a bit of pace into their go-forward.
@BoishaaiPa: do you have the video, Supersport has failed us this, not a single u19 game was broadcast, please post the link if it’s on a site, because I know a couple of players who played in the u19 campaign this year and none can say enough of Geduld’s ability. The lad wasn’t that flash last year, but this year he’s on a completely different note
no nothing=know nothing…………………….had a Paarl moment there…………………Klerksdorp not good for english.
Still trying to figure out the big fuss about Swiel……..then again still trying to figure out the fusses about JdV, Lambie, Hougaard and many more. My biggest concern is that I might no nothing………is there a better rugby player than Deon Fourie in the world?…………….am I the only fool that can see that this guy is the Magic Johnson of rugby?
@Prontus: I think Swiel is another player that’s already virtually penned into the team for 2013. He has to work on his line kicking tho.
@beet: If Swiel get’s an opportunity, there will be nothing one dimensional about this team. The boy is a very gifted ball player and will probably but both his centers in space as opposed to short pass crashballs. He can make even the biggest carthorse at 12 look great.
Jan Serfontein
@BoishaaiPa: I think Jan is an automatic first choice for JWC 2013 but I agree with you. Sadly the last bit of creativity is being squeezed out of him in the Bulls system. Because of his size and strength advantages, he is being encouraged to rely on 1D bashing rather than playing the game based on how situations unfold in front of him. It is for this very reason that I am a fan of WP u19 flyhalf Tommy Allan. I see a player who tries to make a good assessment of the options and execute the best one.
I’m not sure what the future holds for Justin Geduld. In my mind I’m still trying to piece together how he broke free from what looked like a midfield blockage set up by the Bulls during the u19 final but somehow he did and scored a wonderful try. He is a small player and very light as well. History suggests there isn’t a place for a player like that in Dawie’s team however his attacking skills, particularly his linebreaking ability is something that can’t be ignored.
Sorry titles not working
@BoishaaiPa:Titles and time ago are 2 things that just don’t seem to come right but if need be use “< a href="" title="" >” which you can copy and paste to the top of your comment from just below the comment box.
@BoishaaiPa:
Where are all the ‘stars’ from the Big 5 schools? Where do they disappear to after school? Not one of the feared Selborne pack of 2011?
Kolbe from Brackenfell a certainty. How did the Paarl schools miss him?
Watch Tienie Burger for the future. He was not a “flashy” standout player. and if I remember correctly, he was mostly used as lock at school. But, from what I hear, he is a grafter- a player for the future to be watched. Is Dries Swanepoel still injured?
No 1..Beet Boet…why dont the Title reflect in the comment?…
Anyway, My title was..Question…Who will partner Serfontein in midfield?… One obvious candidate on this years performance is Geduld…lighning pace and feet…only problem is..will het get decent ball from Serfontein?..If you watched the u/21 CC final you would have noticed that Venter did not pass ONE ball in a backline movement to Small-Smith…ditto might happen with Serfies at 12…No use you have a 13 centre with blinding pace and footwork and he never gets the ball!…Geduld scored plenty of tries for WP because they played an expansive game trying to put him into space. It worked for WP..ask Dries Swanepoel in the game at Newlands…he is still looking for Geduld!..ask the Bull centres in the final…Both of them scored but Geduld scored twice outgunning them with speed and agility (Yes, I have seen the video)…I rate Fisher highly as a centre because he is big and strong and of the little I have seen of him, he is not a bad distributer of the ball…So, with Serfontein already in the No 12 jersey..who will get the nod for 13?…If I was Theron I will start with Serfontein on 12 and Fisher on 13….Then in the last 30 minutes shift Serfies to wing, Fisher to 12 and bring on Geduld….Mayem in midfield will be the result!…I also have a pretty good feeling who will get the nod as captain!
@HORSEFLY NO.1: exactly how they did it last year, don’t know what the problem is with doing that this year, it’ll give an indication of how players will adjust to working without their usual teammates and gives the coaches of who works nicely within the gameplan
@ludz
Exactly what im saying.
Trials should be held here
From a 100 man squad.
Not a hand picked 50 man squad from nowhere!!!
The travesty here is WP’s poor representation, those okes deserve far better, their openside Eital Bredenkamp (Affies) has stood out. Eugene le Maitre (Marais Viljoen) and Luther Obi (St Benedicts) have both been standouts according my sources who’ve watched much of the u19 campaign and their exculsion comes as a big shock as well. The Bulls representation is a shocker though, yes they’re massive recruiters, but it’s ridiculous that a team has players in every position, except for hooker. Especially considering that they didn’t even win the u19 campaign and I think favouritism is very clear in this squad
This thing of choosing 50 players is stuppid. Yes its worked once but its also backfired way too many times! Many good players dont get the chance which is saddening like Fre Zeilinga for this years championships.
Also, i think Brendan Cope should have been given. A chance, very sad how the sharks u19 coach donesnt really believe in subs because i think with more gametime Brendan could easily become much better than Rob. Hes already got the talent and speed, if he had time he would be on this list.
I think they should be conducting Trials at some of the major provinces with some provinces being merged like KZN and EP having truals together and then have a 60 man squad from which you carry on cutting and cutting till you have your 28 or 30 man squad for the championships!