KZN’s final trials for the under-16 Grant Khomo week takes place on 21 May 2013 at the Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
67 players trial for 22 places. The Tier-1 schools make up is: Westville (13), Glenwood (12), Maritzburg College (9), Hilton (7), Michaelhouse (7), DHS (4), Kearsney (4), Northwood (4). 7 other schools contribute 1 player each.
The programme is:
13h00: Bell vs Snyman
14h30: Venter vs Norris
15h30: Probables vs Possibles
| BELL | SNYMAN | VENTER | NORRIS | ALSO TO ATTEND | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A. PAVERELLE (HILT) | 1 | M. MTABELA (W) | 1 | B. NTOLE (GW) | 1 | N. MTHEMBU (NW) | K. MCHUNU (GREY) |
| 2 | R. COHEN (GW) | 2 | D. LEE (W) | 2 | S. SWANEPOEL (MC) | 2 | A. FEBANA (DHS) | |
| 3 | L. MAZIBUKO (MHS) | 3 | D. HORACK (GW) | 3 | S. STOLZ (W) | 3 | L. MOLOI (SC) | N. FINCHAN (NW) |
| 4 | C. HOLLAND (NW) | 4 | C. JACOBS (PIO) | 4 | M. NTULI (DHS) | 4 | K. BLOSE (GW) | R. JACKSON (K) |
| 5 | T. DIXON (K) | 5 | J. COLENBRANDER (MC) | 5 | N. NKANYISO (HILT) | 5 | J. SESENK CLEE (MHS) | |
| 6 | K. THUNDER (MC) | 6 | K. SPARKS (NW) | 6 | D. MULLER (W) | 6 | E. MARX (HILT) | |
| 7 | B. DE MASSI – PUGIN (W) | 7 | K. NICHOLSON (W) | 7 | K. SMIT (W) | 7 | N. XABA (GW) | S. DE MARIGNY (HILT) |
| 8 | L. COMMONS (MC) | 8 | M. PALVIE (GW) | 8 | S. BELL (W) | 8 | B. STAPLES (GW) | M. SADIKI (MHS) |
| 9 | B. VAN HEERDEN (L) | 9 | B. KITCHING (W) | 9 | C. RATTRAY (MC) | 9 | M. DAHL (HILT) | J. DU PREEZ (GW) |
| 10 | M. NOOT (DHS) | 10 | M. NESBIT (K) | 10 | M. HAND (GW) | 10 | B. PRETORIUS (MHS) | |
| 11 | T. MAZIBUKO (DHS) | 11 | A. VORSTER (PN) | 11 | S. MHLAMVU (W) | 11 | L. THAMAHANE (MC) | |
| 12 | S. PAU (K) | 12 | D. ROSSOUW (GEL) | 12 | D. LOFTUS (HILT) | 12 | C. FRACKERS (MC) | B. DEAN (MHS) |
| 13 | K. MUNANGI (MC) | 13 | M. SHANGE (W) | 13 | L. FURNISS (MHS) | 13 | D. DU RANDT (GW) | |
| 14 | S. HYATT (HILT) | 14 | N. NDABEZITA (W) | 14 | N. NZIMANDE (PINE) | 14 | I. MUKENDI (GW) | |
| 15 | M. KRIEL (MC) | 15 | M. COUCH (W) | 15 | J. MORGAN (GW) | 15 | V. VOSTER (MHS) |
@Grasshopper: Schramm is ahead of Coetzee at present, not due to age and experience, it is more to do with reading of the game. He outplayed Coetzee when GW played KC, fact!
But I will say this, Coetzee is one hell of a player and has got better during the season, it just worries me that he often comes off the field injured – do u perhaps know if he is nursing an injury?
I have said it before, I would like to see the DOOPS at lock and then, Mazibuko, Coetzee and Schramm as the loosies – that would be dynamite.
@Pedantic: Yes, Steyn made a great move in playing Schramm in the pack – he used to be a centre if I am not mistaken, but he is an out and out number 8
@Ruggersake: Even Jaco Coetzee……hmmm…….ahead but just due to age and experience….
@Ruggersake: I agree, but he didn’t make Grant Khomo as an U16 and has really flourished under the mentorship of Barend Steyn to be one of the favorites for the KZN CW #8 jersey.
@Pedantic: Schramm is certain to be in the mix and is head and heels above his closest KZN rival……..
@flyparent: Thanks for that flyparent… it’s a pitty, because I heard earlier on that the injury is very minor….but I suppose that is how the cookie crumble.
@RUGBYMAD: Ruan apparently injured his ankle during trials. You are quite right both unlucky.
DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW RUAN VAN RENSBURG FROM GLENWOOD DID ON #12?? QUITE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT HIS NAME IS NOT ON LIST EITHER…
RUAN AND D. DU RANDT IS A SUPURB CENTRE PAIR…AND RUAN AND STRYDOM DID VERY WELL AS CENTRE PAIR AT D.R.S.U …BOTH BOYS VERY UNLUCKY…
@flyparent: Pretty accurate reflection of what I saw.
Simmo had a good game but a bigger surprise for me was that B.Vorster hardly got any game time at trials, yet in that limited time he showed great skills and still no chance at finals … very strange situation considering he was streets ahead of any scrummie at Highway trials.
Strydom didn’t get an opportunity to show any of his X-factor as his team simply didn’t use the ball in the backs at all – just unlucky on the day.
Always going to be the unlucky guys who don’t get a chance to show what they have to offer – as Gungets mentioned in another thread … in these sort of trials it’s easy to miss the big time team player you would want to go to war with. In my opoinion, these type of players are the type who will fight back and work harder for another shot next year – a certain name, Schramm springs to mind!
Agreed – no Simmo is a huge surprise. I watched him play at the IPT against the Bulls and Valke and he held his own against those brutes. His calm level headedness is an asset to any team.
Also surprised about Strydom who should be there. Once again, he brings many options to the game.
There are a number of boys who have gone through that have surprised me from various schools. The one thing which is lacking in this selection process is consistency and ability to handle big game pressure.
I am glad Shange was given the opportunity and I hope he shines at the final trials. Strange that Strydom did not make the final cut as he has X-factor and would be a good utility option. Westville have 5 loose forwards selected( with the 2 locks being selected on the flank.) While it is good to have all rounders , the boys will have to settle on their positions going forward .
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Having spoken to a reliable source who was at trials and who is not a DHS supporter, I believe Simpson had good trials and also did a lot of kicking for touch because the flyhalf doesn’t/can’t touch kick? However I do believe he was one of, if not the smallest scrummie there. I was also told that Dahl and Du Preez had very good trials in the same position, Kitching did enough to get through although not outstanding and that Simpson should definitely have been in along with Vorster of Kearsney who had the edge on Rattray in their team. Apparently in other positions De Marigny didn’t have good trials and both Ntuli and Dixon didn’t have their best games at 8 so I am very glad to see both in at lock. Apparently the MHS 15 was very good along with the Kearsney and MHS 10’s and Du Randt from Glenwood was apparently superb. Well done to all those boys who are through and good luck for next week. Hard luck to those who didn’t make it.
Very sad when size counts over anything else!! The boy is easily the best but because of size he isn’t picked. What rubbish!! If the selectors actually watched games then they’d know that size has never been an issue for this kid
@Horsey: That’s what I thought. He brings more options to the table than any other U16 scrummy. His only downside is his size – maybe that was a “big” factor.
@GreenBlooded: I also use Firefox
@GreenBlooded: clear your cookies/cache in Firefox, it’s probably a plugin causing issues. That should work…
He’s only just come back from injury so maybe he’s relapsed?? Will ask around during the day. But a big omission for arguably the best U16 no.9 in kzn.
@NW_Knight
Didn’t you say Simmo won the battles of the no.9s in the 2nd round???
@Greenblooded: I use Firefox with no problem.
On a complete sidebar topic – any tech-heads out there who can explain why I can’t log into this page with Firefox? I can log in with IE and Smartphone, but the Firefox browser simply won’t log me in. I fill in the log in info, the brower loads the page but I’m not logged in? Any ideas?
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Eish eish eish!!! Massive. Is he injured perhaps? Only thing I can think counted against him is his size.
BIIIIIIG OMISSION here is Simmo !!!!!!!