Will the Craven Week 2017 “dream match” actually be played on Day-3 as a semi final?
In recent years it’s been the Western Province vs Blue Bulls rivalry that’s taken centre stage at the Youth Weeks and to an extent dominated it. However as an added testimony to the massive strides the GLRU has made since clawing their way out of desperate financial woes at the start of the decade, things are looking equally bright for their under-18 school team, who it must be said really looked the part last year as well. The Western Province juggernaut has been nearly impossible to stop at just about every youth level of late and although there is a bit of scepticism about the pedigree of this year’s under-18 outfit, expectations remain sky high. Western Province and the Golden Lions both have to get past Day 1 opponents but as overwhelming favourites to win those first up games, there must be some sort of temptation in both camps to save their best starting XV for the much anticipated showdown “semifinal” on Day 3 which could prove to be the exciting highlight game of the Craven Week 2017 tournament.
Free State downgrade
Well the traditional format fixture layout tells it all. For a second year running, Free State who have raked in eight unofficial titles in the past and who are only second to Western Province in terms of Craven Week successes, are not being offered a direct path to the final. These isn’t really a so-called indirect path to the final either these days. So unless there is some sort of major break in routine, the best the young Cheetahs can hope for is to record a sound win against Boland on Day 1 and then hope for a chance to do the same to either the Pumas or Border, who appear to be favoured ahead of Free State in the last couple of years. Two out of two wins are likely to bump up Free State in the final day pecking order and guarantee them a match against the sort of high profile opposition they were used to playing and beating at Craven Week in the past. Without the facts being shared publicly, speculation can point to a few different reasons why Free State now find themselves in this downgraded position. Certainly a province that picks almost it’s entire 23-player team from just two schools year in year out can’t be viewed as a vibrant system but perhaps the issues behind the scenes are even more political motivated than that, who knows? In terms of just judging this year’s team on what they have to offer on the field, there are suggestions that the overall talent package is decent, the vital to success level of cohesion should be good, the backline outstanding – bordering on off the charts if the combinations click, and several questions that need to be answered by their pack of forwards. All-in-all it could become a major talking point if Free State does do very well at Craven Week and don’t earn their just rewards.
Perhaps the Bondedag events that take place in the lead up to Craven Week should be used as quarterfinal qualifiers to over Free State and a few other “B-field” teams a chance to take part in the mainstream afternoon games?
Give Border CD a chance to win some
This will be the second year that Craven Week and Academy Week take place at the same venue. That does offer an opportunity for SARU to reexamine Border Country District’s place at Craven Week. Possibly the poorest of all the SA regions at the event have had their moments in the past but generally struggled. The reality is Border CD’s best players are more than likely recruited up by well-off high schools in other regions along the way, meaning that by the time they arrive at under-18 level that talent pool has been eroded. It’s a wonderful privilege for the kids to attend Craven Week and like for so many other youngsters from around SA who are awarded the same honour, it will mark the high point of their rugby careers. However two considerations : are Border CD good enough to be at Craven Week as a stand alone region when they can be merged with Border and is it fair to have them as whipping boys when it’s now possible to provide them with a set of matches that are more even contests and offer much better odds of victory? The latter can now be done by downgrading them to Academy Week status and promoting a more competitive team like the Western Province Academy Week side – remember they are at the same venue after all. Granted with quota evolving to be more ethnic based within the whole Previously Disadvantaged scope, it presents its own set of challenges to WP nowadays. Even so, with them coming out of the rugby talent rich Western Cape, there is still value in the WP Academy Week squad to suggest they would be able to mix it up with most Craven Week teams.
St Stithians’ cricket pitch
In the past we’ve seen Craven Week played on some rock hard looking dry yellow fields, so perhaps having just a small patch of the main field playing surface providing undesirable underfoot conditions might not seem so bad but it is something to consider or frown at at this year’s event.
@Andre T: Federer of Moore ? Lyk vir my eerder na n bergie wat op pad is Knysna toe vir die gay festival. Hê-Hê!!
@Speartackle: Roger
Who is that hillbilly with the pink shirt?
@Bush: One of them is part of the panty gang…
@Quagga: Looks like a bunch of car guards
@McCulleys Workshop: Sorry, would’ve been good to meet up, but I joined mates at the Sharks Lions Super Rugby QF.
@Vleis: Vleis we are on the northern stand on the try line
@Vleis: lots of beer and big screen ???
@Quagga:
I think that I’ll head out to Saints today and look out for those buggers! Does anyone know if there is a big screen at Saints showing the Super Rugby Q/F? Also, can one buy beers there?
@Quagga: Jopie Adam? Of Zoolander?
In my opinion they should step up the security at the Craven week. Seems like any tom, dick and Harry can get in and potentially wreak havoc. https://scontent-jnb1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20229518_693518614178987_7870623758945004904_o.jpg?oh=1f09b8d3817ba33698416ac0e60c99bd&oe=59FBB1D0
@Carl de Kock: Dan moet jy eers in ‘n SA keurder se kop kom en selfs Hannibal Lecter sal te bang wees om dit te doen.
@HJS Pa: Ek dink daar moet onderskeid getref word tussen wie ons bloggers dink die beste is, en dan wie klaar in die stelsel is, kwotas, politiek ens wat dan die finale span sal wees. Kom ons probeer n span raai soos wat ons dink die keurders gaan/moet kies
@beet: Hi Beet. Any ideas on a SA Schools side after 4 days?
@Pinotage: ek dink hy Rikus en Ross gaan kry met Henk as n sterk buite perd
@Muzi: why do 9 have to be small? That use to be old school. Now most over 1.80m
@Muzi: I know he Not contracted for 9. I do not think 9 he best position anymore. Might have been a while ago.
There is far more about a 9 than braking around the fringes.
@Smallies: Christopher Schreuder should be the 1st choice fly for Schools XV. BMT in abundance. Vision and flair. I was fortunate to see his talents on the rugby and cricket pitches many a time. He is indeed a gifted sportsman.
@Smallies: too small 9 is his best position…van der bank is a better 10….
@RnR: It’s a shame he broke his leg very impressive for Affies…
@Muzi: Nor Johan Mulder at 9.
@Muzi: 10 10 10 10 10
@Riempies: surely 9 that’s his best position IMHO a threat near the fringes I can’t see him starting in 2018 ahead of Stephan Van Der Bank at 10 in the u19 side?!?!….
@Quagga: Not 9.
@beet: What are SARU going to do about Ruben Beytell? This kid has so much talent but I cannot see him getting in the SAS at #9? I heard a rumor he is going to the Blue Bulls next year, wondering for which position?
@beet: Agree and missedkickathon at that.
@Greenman: Read again chum.
Golden Lions and WP can’t both go through to the final. I’m saying a rematch between the two as one of the games on Saturday would have been great – obviously this won’t happen.
Also not so sure about the “great” ahead of Craven Week. Love the event and it’s been relatively well-organised but geez lets be honest. For the greater part the action has been the Missedtacklesathon rather than a quality showpiece of higher level u18 rugby.
@beet: really! Can you imagine having two teams at a great Craven week going forward. WP and Lion’s. That is all you interested in if I understand your comment.
@beet: I know both teams would love to be in the “final” come Saturday but imagine a Golden Lions vs Western Province rematch on the last day. How great would that be?
The Golden Lions vs Western Province match definitely lived up to the hype. Fantastic intense test match. Two team putting their bodies on the line and giving it their all. Only let down was perhaps the goalkicking otherwise one couldn’t really ask for more. For me that was easily the most exciting game of Craven Week 2017 so far.
@VIS:
Weet jy wat ek eindig hierdie gesprek met jou veral as ek reg is oor wie jy is. Kies volgende jaar ‘n klomp spelers anders as Grey spelers, ons sal sien hoe hulle vaar dan.
@VIS:
Die skeidsregter gedeelte is nie onpartydig nie. Jy moet maar gaan huil oor jou probleme op ‘n ander plek.
@chief: Dalk is die skeidsregter objektief en onpartydig?
@chief: Ek dink nie jy kan engels verstaan of lees nie. Daar is n verskil tussen “contacting” en “contracting”. Ek moey bieg. Ek is opreg jammer oor al my vorige kommentaar. Toe jy my uitgenooi het om keurder te wees vir volgende jaar, het ek besluit om nie jou te join op dieselfde paneel nie. Ek het regtig nie besef wie jy is nie. Jy is die een gesiene afrikaanse kultuur guru en rugby kenner waarna die volgende afrikaanse gesegde vernoem is: In die land van blindes is een-chief koning. Sorry, is een-oog koning.
@VIS:
Presies wat dit sê skooltjie. Klein skool wat nie kompiteer om te verbeter nie. Jy klink baie soos een rugby skeidsregter op Facebook wat heeltyd ‘n probleem ook het met Grey College en die hoeveelheid spelers wat in die CW en AW span is.
@chief: Wat bedoel jy met “skooltjie”?
@VIS:
Ek weet eerlikwaar nie of jy nie kan lees nie. Niemand van Grey College het dit al ooit gesê nie, wat ek wel weet is dat ‘n speler (net ‘n voorbeeld van 2017 se matriekgroep) soos Henk Cilliers ‘n uitstaan speler was teen Grey College in 2014 (groep was O15) met ‘n pakslae van 50-0 in 35min.
Ek het lanklaas ‘n goeie spelers gesien teen ‘n 2de span van Grey of B Span van jonger outjies. Jou kommentaar is net belaglik om WP Rugby te wil vergelyk met Vrystaat. Daardie CW span bestaan uit 7 skole waarvan Stellenberg laaste lê (ek dink 17de). Vrystaat het net een span seker in die Top 40 en dan dink jy hulle moet nou van elke skooltjie in Bloem ‘n speler hê soos WP?
@chief: Dit was nie my woorde nie. Gaan kyk maar. Ek het gesê: “Players from other schools have been contacted by rugby academies outside Free State.” Maar nog steeds. Dink jy dat spelers van ander skole nie goed genoeg is om kontrakte te kry nie?
@Grizzly:
Ek stem, ek hoop net die Bulle kry die regte senter om Jan te vervang by die Bulle.
@chief: Ek sien jou punt.Ek dink die groot ding is dat ons baie keer dink dat die seuns n fout maak om by sekere unies te teken.Hulle mag miskien nie die selfde waardes deel ens.Jan serfontein kom toe mind.So as n stoere bul was ek siek en sat om elke jaar te sien hoe die Bulle die beste senters van skole teken net om hulle in stormramme te verander.Ek glo dit gaan verander onder JM.So kan daar gekyk word na Fran Venter,Wialiam Small Smith,Jan Serf ens wat nie van patroon rugby hou nie.Ek glo dat dinge besig is om te verander…
Ek dink iets wat julle dalk mis is dat hierdie breiers van unies nie regtig veel omgee oor CW of Akademie Week nie.
@BuffelsCM:
Ek verstaan ‘n 100%. Rikus het vir niemand gesê hy gaan WP toe nie, hy het ook nie soos die koerant die week gesê het seer gekry by Bondedag nie.
Rikus is definitief nie iemand om nuus te wil laat versprei nie en by gesê kan ‘n seun nie help as iemand heeltyd goed van hom wil skryf nie. Wat ek daarby bedoel niemand skryf waar Boishaai se spelers gaan nie reeds weet ek al waar 5 spelers geteken het.
@BuffelsCM: Goed verduidelik,ek stem saam.Ek dink die draft voorstel kan ondersoek word.Ons is in alles so 30 jaar agter Amerika.
@chief: Dalk het ek my verkeerd uitgedruk. My gevoel is bloot dat die seuns dit eers na Cravenweek behoort te doen. In die verlede was daar voorbeelde waar seuns deur hul Unie uit die CW-span weggelaat is, sodra die Unie gehoor het dat hulle reeds elders geteken het vir die volgende jaar. Ek dink dit is baie kleinlik van ‘n Unie om dit te doen maar dit het gebeur. Ek ken ‘n afrigter wat uiters vies was vir sy Unie oor so ‘n situasie.
Daar is nog ‘n voorbeeld waar ‘n Unie se president ‘n speler uit die Craven-span wou onttrek toe dit bekend geword het dat hy reeds ‘n kontrak by ‘n ander Unie geteken het. Dit het mooipraat van sy skool gekos om hom in die span te hou.
Ek sê nie dit gebeur orals nie maar dalk kan mens moontlike “verleentheid” vir die spesifieke seun voorkom.
As die betrokke Unie gemaklik is daarmee dat die spelers vroeg in die jaar reeds elders kontrakte aangaan, dan is dit goed. Mens kan immers nie almal behou nie.
@VIS:
Jou woorde was dat daar spelers anders as Grey (Bloem skole nou) kontrake kry by ander unies, nou my vraag was net wie? Noem net 5 spelers vanaf 2016-2018?
@chief: Ek gaan nie name noem nie, maar jy sal maar sien oor n jaar of twee. Dink jy regtig dat seuns van ander skole nie kontrakte kan kry nie?Dit wys jou hoe jy rugby kyk. Bewys net wat ek gese het. Jy het tonnelvisie en gun niemand anders iets nie. Jammer ek was weg vir n week en nee, ek kry jou nie jammer nie
@BuffelsCM:
As ek mag vra waarom is dit nie in ‘n speler se beste belang om amptelik te sê waar hy rugby in 2018 gaan speel nie?
@Die Ken: Goeiste ja. 3 puik spelers.
@BuffelsCM: I actually feel SARU needs to be way more strict on this whole process but guess it is so hard to police that it wont happen soon. If SARU knew anything about marketing they would hold a big draft day or national signing day where these youngsters announce where they go after school and get Multichoice to pay them a boat load of money for the tv rights.
@CharlesZA: I’ve made a general observation. I know it has been reported that Pretorius has signed with WP. Obviously it wasn’t done by a lazy reporter
I didn’t know their ages… my comments were about CW and AW players specifically. If you don’t feel that way it is fine.
@BuffelsCM: If I am seen as someone that is breaking news on any of these then I would worry that some rugby reporters in this country is getting paid to do nothing.
All 3 the Eastern Cape boys are u19 for what its worth.
@CharlesZA: IMO that kind of info shouldn’t be released before CW and AW. A few years ago some Border players were left out of their provincial teams because it was known that they were going elsewhere after school. I don’t think that was fair towards the players but it can happen.
I don’t know if the abovementioned players have been selected for their provincial teams (and I know Muir is in Uitenhage and in EP) but I’m just saying…
Let’s not forget that the Bulls broke the news about Pollard joining them just before CW in 2012 as well. It could not have gone down well with his teammates at WP.
I feel the same about Pretorius. While it is common knowledge that his services were sought after at numerous provinces, I feel it is wasn’t in his best interests to announce it before CW. I’m not sure who broke the news first.
@beet Can you start a post for where players signed for 2018? See Pretorius from Grey signed with WP from next year.
Others that I heard this week, Dube from Muir going to Bulls, Tole to Bulls and Fassi to Sharks.
@Smallies: @Djou: @BoishaaiPa: Ek dink nou eers daaraan, 1992 het darem 3 goeie fullbacks opgelewer (alhoewel ek dink Brink het miskien vleuel daai jaar gespeel) – Brink, Percy en Dawie du Toit. Ek dink Dawie het SAS gespeel en Percy reserwe, of was dit anders om?
@Djou: Bethlehem, Vrede, hier innie Kaap is alles Noord van Worcester mos maar dieselfde
. Maar dit sou darem goed gewees het as hy van Vrede was, dan kon Spear ‘n lekker storie gedraai het oor die GCB-Vrede-Brink interaksie
@beet: Somehow Free State is been hard done recently. Had they beaten the Bulls last year in their last match, they would have recorded three wins, but no “champion” status.
@Cappie: There are no hard and fast rules. The decision is totally at the discretion of the CW organisers. In your scenario whichever way it’s worked out it will be unfair to either the Pumas or Free State. The Pumas who would have beaten the 2 time “defending champs” and a perennial favourite versus the Free State team that ran the Bulls close at Bondedag and then recorded possibly a convincing win at CW…
Indien die Pumas WP klop, maak dit die deur oop vir die Vrystaat, of sal die Pumas nog steeds teen die Leeus speel, sou hulle wen?
@Die Ken: Jy is reg. Moenie vir Speartackle iets gee om op te roem nie. Bethlehem!
@BoishaaiPa: Gou ‘n vriend gebel en dit was 1992. Sentraal het 13-11 gewen – en het baie Cravenweekspelers in die span gehad. Maar hy het my vining herhinner dat Grey later die jaar in die herontmoeting met 16-0 gewen het. En dat Grey dieselfde jaar vir Affies maklik gewen het, maar teen Monnas verloor het. Nietemin, dit neem niks weg van Sentraal se oorwinning af nie!
@Djou: Het met my ou vriend gepraat dit was 1992 gewees
@BoishaaiPa: Ek kan nie die jaar onthou nie – dink Beet is reg met 1992. Al wat ek weet is dat die hele Sentraal partytjie gehou het – met reg! Want so iets gebeur mos een keer in ‘n leeftyd. Ek grap net!
Weet net ons het die heelaand gekuier – saam met die Tralies nogal. En die wedstryd is heelaand oor-en-oor bespreek – ek dink daar was die hele aand net een “topic” wat bespreek is. Maar ons het dit gevat!
@BoishaaiPa: It must have been 1992 : Grey 11 Sentraal 13
@Djou: Daar’s nou ‘n blast from the past. As ek reg onthou het Brink CW vir Oos-VS gespeel (was hy nie op Vrede nie) en toe van daar af Sentraal toe? Ek dink ook hy het 4 jaar CW gespeel, waarvan een post-matriek was.
@Djou: My famielie in Bloem was ook almal in Sentraal…2 neefs en 2 niggies ouer as ek. Ek onthou in 1975 toe kuier ons by my oom hulle in Bloem (dit was nog die tye toe Kaap en OVS skole se vakansies nie dieslfde was nie) en ons gaan kyk n wedstryd tussen Sentraal en Grey..my neefs het nie 1ste span gespeel nie en hulle spanne het redelik op hulle se m gekry…Maar Grey 1ste het met een punt gewen 14-13. .sal dit nooit vergeet nie want ek kon nie verstaan waaroor al die opgewondenheid gaan as jy verloor nie!..Volgens hulle moes hulle gewen het natuurlik!
@Djou: Watter jaar was dit?..1993? Ek het Grey se wedstryd stats van Nelio de Sa en daar wys in 1993 twee wenne teen Sentraal 16-6 en 37-3. Is die een telling dalk omgedraai?
@Smallies: In dardie span van Sentraal was ‘n klomp manne wat kliphard was. Ek was toevallig daardie week in Bloem en het by my oom gekuier wat onderwyser was by Sentraal. Hy seg toe vir my (en ek het ook so van my vriende wat toe nog in Bloem bly) dat Grey meer vir Sentraal vrees as vir Affies – en hoewel ons in verskillende kampe was (hy Sentraal en ek Grey), sit ons langs mekaar en geniet elke oomblik. Sentraal het verdedig soos nooit tevore (jammer ek kan nie die rooikop onthou nie, net dat almal soos tiere verdedig het). En toe kom daardie breekslag van Stephen Brink wat Grey sink. Daar was pandemodium na die tyd – en in ‘n mate was ek bly vir Sentraal.
@Rainier: Wat die keuses betref, ek kan net vir jou noem wat Blou Bul-keurders vir my gese het. Wanneer daar 2 spelers in dieselfde posisie is wat ewe goed is, dan kies hulle kombinasies wat vertroud is met mekaar. Bv. as nommer 13 van Affies en Waterkloof ewe goed is, maar die 12 is van Affies, dan kies hulle die 13 van Affies. Ek weet nie of dit dieselfde in die Vrystaat werk nie, maar die argument maak sin – en ook nie! Dit maak sin omdat gemeen word dat die kombinasie die span beter in staat stel om te wen, maar terselfdertyd ontneem hulle iemand die geleentheid om sy stempel af te druk.
Een opsie wat die Vrystaat dalk kan oorweeg is om al die spanne behalwe Grey proewe te laat speel en dan die beste 2 spanne te kies om teen Grey te speel in proewe. En vandaar kan almal na ‘n volgende rondte proewe deurdring waar almal geskommel is.
@VIS: Apologie aan die Leeus, maar ek het die regte Leeus teen die All Blacks gekyk en dus die Leeus se wedstryd gemis teen die Griffons. Maar ek het by ‘n ou vriend (‘n kenner van SBR)gesit wat albei wedstryde gekyk het en hy meen dat die Leeus nie sooo indrukwekkend was teen wat hy beskryf as nie as uitsonderlike teenstand nie. Griffons het nie vanjaar so baie talent nie. Hy voel dieselfde oor KZN. Het net Pumas vs Grens gekyk en die sterspeler was Pumas se 15 hoewel 10 man of the match gekry het.
@Rainier: Hulle is ook nie almal van die Kaap nie..Daar maak jy nou weer n aaname!..baie van hulle bly nog in Bloem!
@BuffelsCM: Amen!..Ma Ploegie sal weet hoekom ek hom uitgelaat het…dis was darem nie aspris nie, maar hy k@k sommer almal uit so ek luister net na hom as ons saam langs n veld staan!
@BoishaaiPa: ek dink Ploegie gaan jou ‘n klap gee omdat hy uitgelaat is
Ek sien ek het dit net gemaak 
Jokes aside IMO you have raised valid points. I’m fairly “gatvol” about the numerous negative comments lately. Unfortunately the comments seemed to be directed at one or two schools only. Certain bloggers simply don’t know when to stop.
Life would be boring if all of us agree all of the time but PLEASE think about the wellbeing of SBR and the players! Let’s stop the bashing of other schools.
Obviously we often disagree and “my” ideal WP CW team for instance will differ from yours which will differ from that of Ploegie or Kattes etc.
We comment about schoolboys but we often act like boys instead of the adults we’re supposed to be
@BoishaaiPa: Dis die tyd daar in die Kaap wat hulle meer barbaars gemaak het.
@Rainier: Die Grey old boys wat ek ken kan mens defnitief nie as “gentlemen” beskryf nie..
.. 
..maar ek verstaan die konsep! 
@VIS: jy wee, t nie ek of jy kan enigsins iets verander aan daai spanne nie…
Apologies for flooding the blog now…but!…Reading all these posts over the last couple of months I came to realize that passion is maybe not such a great thing!. We are all here on this blog because we have one thing in common. We all love SBR, Beet created this forum for likeminded people to converse and talk about SBR. Some way along the line it has become much the same as the old Rugby365 blog ending up in people not respecting another point of view and insults flying all over and schools images getting caught up in the behaviour of their supporters. This is not on!..That Schoolboy blog at R365 was stopped because of this type of blogging. I was one of those bloggers way back then that got totally emerged in the passion and forgot what it is supposed to be about. Spies/Andre T will be able to confirm this as he was as guilty as me in this instance!
We all want “our” boys and “our” school to do well and succeed in whatever they are doing..but not at the cost of losing one’s decency. In the end we are all passionate about the schools we support (and represent in some way on this blog..something to think about!)..But it all ends up in providing players for our beloved Springboks. If more schools can provide more opportunities for players to develop and become better players I say kudus to them. Don’t matter where they come from, as long as they get the opportunity to exhibit their potential. How else will we as a rugby playing nation unearth the gems? SBR is vital to SA…That is a given. We have more players playing this game than NZ have sheep!..yet we are sucking hind tit to them…why?..because we will always be fighting against another instead of working together!..If the WP with their abundant natural talent cannot accommodate all the players of colour in their “traditional” rugby schools, what is the problem for these players to get opportunities elsewhere wherever that may be?..Our systems are to put it bluntly..fucked up..If you are not in a high profile school you have to work so much harder to get through and recognized in any system!. That is why our “platteland” schools systems have gone to the dogs in terms of rugby. They cannot compete in terms of exposure to the top rugby schools. Why would any player with some ability even want to stay in Moreesburg when he can get an opportunity at a Paarl Gim or a Boishaai or a Glenwood or a Garsfontein . In the end it is all good development for SA rugby. Watching the Supersport series I recognise names I remember from SBR days that I thought was forgotten in the system. Playing for whatever team it may be, coming from whatever province or school, at least they are getting exposure!. A Winnaar from Dale..(with his exuberant hairstyle!) playing for the Sharks as an example.
What I am trying to converse here is that over a long span of time I have learned to respect views from other bloggers like Rugbyman, Kattes, Djou, Rainier, Riempies, Grizzly,McCulleys, Roger, Playa, CharlesZa, Chief, Sewes, Greenman, Tzavosky, Bush, Hooit, Gungest Tuft, Umtata, Ringo, 4×4, Vleis, Ruggerfan, BuffelsCM , my fellow Boishaai bloggers and a few others ..I apologize if I left someone out..yes..even my beloved Spiesie and T!…Even if I don’t always agree with your views what I have learned is that my views are not always the right view!…We are all exceptional individuals passionate about SBR with obviously our own agendas when it comes to the teams and schools we support, BUT…we need to give each other some sort of leeway and stop this Blog into deteriorating into something we all despise!..being seen as that tannie with the handbag running next to the touchline!….
Beet started something here and gave us the opportunity to discuss SBR in a decent and civilised atmosphere because some of us were part of a site that lost its structure and original intent. Please guys, don’t let the same thing happen here. I was part and parcel of that original blog and I must confess that sometimes I did overstep the lines over here as well. I think it is time that we all take a little introspective look and try and get back to what it is supposed to be all about. I would like to petition Beet to get bloggers like Bog and Hopper back again as I think we would all like to get their views (however we might disagree) back on this forum. I think it will be good for us a SBR community (and that is what we are..like it or not) to bring back people that will not always sing from the same hymnbook, but at least have some different points of view as it should be. All we need is someone to now and then just give us a “ruk in die bek” and remind us when we stray from the given topic. Our viewpoints will always differ, and that is great, but all our school are all great and the boys playing this beloved game are all great, be they from Putsonderwater playing for Garsies or Buffelsfontein playing for Boishaai. At least they are getting exposure!..and this is partly what this blog is all about as well. ! Don’t let your schools colours judge your point of view!..
This was not written under duress or threatening emails from Spies!…
@VIS:
Ek dink dis beter om nie te argumenteer met jou nie. Al wat ek sê 2 JF seuns het CW vriendskaplike wedstryde gespeel en albei is nou in die Akademie Week span, dis seker omdat Grey oor hulle gekyk het.
Ek sal nog graag wil weet watter van hierdie jaar se seuns (seuns in Bloem anders as Grey) het kontrakte van ander unies soos jy verwys het laas met ‘n post?
@Rainier: Ek sê nie Grey gun niemand anders iets nie, ek sê daar is individue wat dit doen
@VIS: Verseker, en as Grey die meerderheid keurders gehad het vir die VS skole spanne kon ek jou argument verstaan. Indien dit nie die geval is nie kies die seuns en ouers tog nie hulself nie, en die skool ook nie.
Hoe is dit dan dat hulle niemand anders iets gun nie?
En jou opmerking oor beslis nie ‘n Grey fan wees nie, asook die verwysing na die 2 verliese die jaar wat die skool se ondergang gaan beteken lyk tog soos ‘n probleem met Grey.
@Djou: Ek dink die Leeus het n sterk span. Wat is daai losskakel van Monnas wat nie span gekry het nie. Hy is vir my blerrie goed. Ek dink hy is van Monnas?
Ek dink n WP Leeus finaal. Vrystaat ook goeie kans. Wat dink jy van KZN?
@Smallies: Ek wou nie die verwysing na “Grey gentlemen” gebruik nie, ek glo dit is beter as buitestanders dit doen.
Maar ja, die optrede van die /11 mannetjies was opvallend. En die rugby wat hulle gespeel het was great. Pieter van der Merwe is 2 jaar in ‘n ry as voorspeler van die toernooi aangewys, hy is ‘n skitterende rugbyspeler en ek gaan met plesier sy ontwikkeling dophou.
@Rainier: Ek het glad nie n probleem met Grey nie. Ek het baie vriende wie se kinders in Grey is en het die grootste respek vir hulle. Ek het wel n probleem met iemand wat niemand anders iets gun nie. Ek kyk al jare skole rugby, alhoewel ek nie seuns het wat rugby op die vlak speel nie. Ek kan talent raaksien, maak nie saak in watter skool nie. Mens moet tog groot genoeg wees om te erken dat ander skole ook talentvolle spelers het.
@Rainier: Is dit nie hoekom ons van Grey gentlemen praat nie, net op die platteland kry mens meer mense wat jou spontaan groet as op die Grey skool gronde, waar gebeur dit nog dat kinders hulle plekke in die snoepie se ry opgee vir n volwassene?
@VIS: Mense wag al dekades dat Grey moet ineenstort, en dit gebeur nie.
Wat jy nie verstaan nie is dat Grey nie ‘n besondere skool is omdat dit uitsonderlike kinders werf nie, alhoewel dit ook gebeur. Dit is ‘n besonderse skool omdat dit ‘n uitsonderlike opvoedingstaak verrig,
Die week was die /11 span van Grey hier by die Aloe Cup en het hulle finaal teen Gene Louw gewen, so die fondasies is sterk.
Maar wat my opgeval het was ‘n gesprek tussen 2 JBay ouers wat op die kommittee is wat gehandel het oor die maniere en beleefde optrede van die Grey mannetjies. Solank dit gebeur sal Grey altyd sterk staan, desnieteenstaande wat op die rugby veld gebeur.
@Djou: ou Jaco met sy Rooi kop was n vrees aanjaende verdediger….
@chief: Het jy die proewe gekyk? duidelik nie. Hoekom kan jy nie kommentaar lewer oor no. 4 nie.@Djou: Ek blameer glad nie vir Grey of enige iemand nie. Ek hou net nie daarvan as iemand met een oog na iets kyk nie. Mens moet objektief wees. Kyk maar na sy opmerking oor Vorster.
” Ek weet nie eens of hy Peaches sal speel in Grey nie” Ek het nie gevra waar hy in Grey sal speel nie.
@Smallies: Ek was daardie dag langs die veld. Stephen Brink was ‘n uitsonderlike speler wat iets uit niks kon maak.
@VIS: Moet se die Bulle het heelwat beter gespeel as in hul oefenwedstryd teen die Leeus wat hulle met bykans 40 punte verloor het. Die Bulle het steeds nie as ‘n span goed saamgespeel nie. Maar ek was verbaas oor hoe maklik die Bulle se buitesenter die buitegapings gevat het. Verblydend was dat toe die Vrystaat meer bal begin kry, het die gapings ook begin oopgaan. Vrystaat se pak was bietjie kwesbaar met slotte wat meestal net staan en rondkyk het.
@Djou: Sentraal 1993 met Stephen Brink, Jaco Heefer,Luaan Breytenbach, en Martin Westraat in die span het vir Grey in die Bloemfontein liga finaal geklop, ek weet want die laaste drie manne was kolegas van my
@VIS: In my tyd – baie jare gelede was daar dieselfde gekerm oor Grey en die Cravenweekspan. Toe maak ons ‘n plan en al die keurders is van ander skole. En die nuwe keurders het steeds die spelers van Grey gekies. En daardie jare het skole soos bv. Sentraal en Sand du Plessis nog spanne gehad wat gereeld vir Grey harde bene laat kou het en gereeld gewen het ook. Dit is onregverdig om vir Grey te blameer vir iets wat geheel en al in die keurders se hande is.
@chief: ?
@Smallies:
Rikus het Donderdag ‘n harde hou gekry op die bo been. Wedstryd uitgesit en sal reg wees vir Craven Week. Ek weet ongelukkig nie wat by die GK gebeur het nie.
@VIS:
1. Eintlik ‘n speler van die Peaches, Wiaan en Fincham is bo hom gekies wat albei gedeel op kom vir die eerste span.
2. Jammer dat hy nie in die span is nie maar SARU soek ongeluk spelers van kleur mos daar.
3. Ek weet nie eens of hy Peaches sal speel in Grey nie. Hy het nie proewe gespeel teen een van die Craven Week of Akademie Week senters nie.
4. Kan glad nie kommentaar lewer oor hom nie.
Wat ek wel dink jy moet doen is om volgende jaar jou naam op te sit ‘n keurder te wees. Duidelik het jy ‘n probleem met Grey College, ek kry jou jammer.
@VIS: dink jy nie dis n vraag vir die keurders om te antwoord daardie nie….
1. Stut – R Duvenhage (Grey)
2. Slot – L Hendricks (Grey)
3. Senter – C Vorster (Fichardtpark).
4. Skrumskakel – A. Fisher (Fichardtpark). As dit dit rooikop is waaraan ek dink?
@Smallies: dis glad nie wat ek se nie. My punt is dat julle nie die son sien skyn oor spelers van ander skole nie. Niemand het my nog eers geantwoord op my vraag oor die 4 ander seuns wie ek dink moes akedemie gekry het nie, wat ook 2 Grey kinders insluit.
@VIS:as dit vir Grey net oor die wen gegaan het kon hulle seker maar elke jaar JF Sentraal, Fichies, Sannies, en Hts ipv Affies Boishaai PRG en Selborne gespeel het, nie waar nie? Wat julle nie besef nie is dat Grey oor baie meer as net rugby en wen gaan….
@VIS: as jy so se…..
@chief: Nee glad nie n JF fan nie en beslis nie n Grey fan nie. Julle dink mos as jy nie in Grey is nie, kan jy nie rugby speel nie. Julle moet pasop dat die troontjie waarop julle sit, nie onder julle intuimel nie. Boishaai het klaar een poot van die troontjie gebreek en Selbourne die ander.
@chief: Hoe het die GK span gevaar?
@chief: nee ongelukkig kon ek nie die naweek nie, ek is baie bly vir wycliff se part….. Ek rate hom baie hoog en dink hy gaan beslis een van die twee sa skole spanne haal. Het Rickus nie gespeel nie?
@Smallies:
Ja ons kan seker niemand iets verander aan hulle nie. Baie goeie wedstryd vir Vrystaat, ek weet nie of jy die rugby volg nie. Wycliff het ‘n sterk wedstryd gehad langs Henk as ‘n senterpaar.
@chief: aag wat jy weet mos die hoe bome en die meeste wind
@VIS:
Shame Vis is jy ‘n JF fan?
@VIS: Close!
bulls 34 greyvenweek 32
Good evening all. Does anybody have the results of today’s Bondedag at Loftus?
@Hooit: Ja ! Jy is reg ! Ek is net van mening dat indien die WP vir die Leeus wen, en die Vrystaat wen ook albei hul eerste twee wedstryde oortuigend, kan hulle moontlik, ten koste van die WP, in die eindstryd speel. Die ander eindstryd kandidaad, sal beslis kom uit die ander helfde van die draw.
@Kattes-Strofes: They may have relaxed the rules even further but just a few years back when 9/22 requirement was in place it was still very strict. At any one time there had to be 5/15 on the field and if 1 out of the 5 was replaced, unless it was a swap with another PDI it effectively had to be a double substitution so that the 5/15 could remain intact. This even applied to injury enforced substitutions. The injury rule was relaxed about 2015. In 2016 squads were increased to 23 with 10/23 the new requirement and I think 5/15 is still in place.
Also for those not familiar wit CW, all 23 players had to have at least 1 full 70-min match during either of their team’s first two games. Therefore the 8 out of 23 that did not get picked for the first match, had to start and play the entire 2nd match – so effectively there were no non-injury replacements for the first match and only 7 non-injury enforced replacements could be made during the 2nd game because the other 8 players had to play from start to finish.
@Kattes-Strofes: I do not know of 2 teams from the same group that have played in final in recent years. So day 3 game winner in final against day 4 winner
@Kattes-Strofes:I have it as 6 starting and each player must get a start in 1ste 2 matches and play 70 minutes unless injured
@Kattes-Strofes: Sal baie interessant wees wanneer daar geag sal word dat ons nou genoeg getransformeer het..
Die regsaspek bepaal dat ons moet aanhou transformeer totdat almal gelyke geleenthede het, tegnies gaan dit nooit ons land gebeur nie. Beteken dit dat ons gaan nooit ophou transformeer nie?
Ons is al 23 jaar na die ou bedeling..
@beet: Hi Beet. I presume that you are refering to the number of players of colour ? If so, I am not sure if their has to be a certain number in the starting line-up. I know that each province has to have a certain number in their squads, and that each player must have at least playing time, that adds up to one full match. Can you perhaps find out for us about the starting make -up?
@Kattes-Strofes: Hi Kattes. I just used jersey no. 1-15.
Are you able to make those changes and stay within the rules of Craven Week?
En ten spyte hiervan gaan vrystaat maar weer 3-5 sa skole spelers he
Beet. I would make two changes to the WP starting line-up for the potential semi-final match. Joshua Du Preez in at no.3 and Janco Swanepoel at no. 4.
I am sure that if the Lions win that match, they will be in the final for sure, as they are the hosts. However, should WP win, I expect that Free State will also come into in the mix.
They should not have any problem against Boland, and if they win handsomely in their 2nd. match, they will stake a claim for a finals berth.