Player awards & SBR Blog team for Chapter 1 of 2022 season

The first part of the 2022 regular season is done and dusted. School term one and holidays with two festival weeks produced some great entertainment. Many memorable matches and action sequences within those matches and individual brilliance were the order of the day. As usual schoolboy rugby followers were exposed to the abundance of age-group talent our country produces every year. So for want of a better term, I’ve called it Chapter 1, the period ending 02 April 2022. Chapter 2 is set to include Easter weekend and end with the long weekend created by the Workers Day Public Holiday.

Chapter 1 Awards

Player of the Chapter

Bruce Sherwood – Bishops – Inside Centre

He has proven to be a phenomenal player in terms of his all-round skills, power and the choices he makes on when to employ these assets.

u19 Player of the Chapter

Over the seasons u19 players have played a huge part in shaping the season. Last year followers got to watch the destructive ability of Ruan Venter of HJS Paarl Boys’ High. In the years before that, the likes of Embrose Papier (Garsfontein), Abner van Reenen (HJS) and Stavino Jacobs (Paarl Gim) who have stood out with player of the season type performances. This year to date we have two players who are knocking on the door of fitting that category.

Damian Markus – Stellenberg – Inside Centre

Damian has been consistently good for Stellies for two years now. He oozes X-factor and can make things happen out of seemingly nothing. Equally impressive has been his defensive work.

AJ van Vuuren – Oakdale – No.8

AJ was likened to Ryan Kankowski at the North-Suid tournament. He was outstanding on attack. An eye for space and the speed to exploit it.

u17 Player of the Chapter

Jay-Jay Daters – Outeniqua – Wing

Daters has stood out as the best wing in the country in a season in which the flyers on the outside have been pretty low key. He’s quick and strong on his feet.

School of the Chapter

Bishop – after an extended run of producing good 1st XV’s, going by their u15 results of 2019, it seemed like the Platinum Blues would filter back into the pack. Instead they have delighted which their brand of rugby and their ability to get results.

Stellenberg – the overachievers of the year so far have punched above their weight, giving the two top rated schools in 2022, Paarl Gymnasium and Grey College, a full run for their money. The Jade Brigade have put their bodies on the line and are characterised as being the guttiest team around.

Team of the Chapter

1 Ronan Dutton – Bishops – I love his mobility and the contributions he makes in all facets of play. Playing prop is so physically demanding in ways that few who don’t play the position will ever understand. To have a specialist who also excels in open play is a blessing.
2 Luka Bakkes  (Paarl Gim) – it still feels like Luka was more of a wow-factor player in 2021. This season he’s all about consistency and is still the one forward who makes an impact in a pack that generally hunts as one and don’t necessarily need rely on standout performer to get the job done.
3 Reno Hirst (Paul Roos) – looks like boy with a strong back and powerful legs. TBH I’m not sold on any tighthead. On a positive note , I would like to say how pleased I am as a Bok supporter for what Rassie Erasmus has done at international level to transform the SA scrum from underachievers to world leaders. SA now has the best setpiece of all the top teams. It a tribute to the Rassie and also the talent in the position, which for many years seemed dormant as they were obviously not being prepped properly.
4 Maynard Kleynhans (Garsfontein) – there was really only the one game to go on but he was brilliant at no.8. A Sergio Parisse like player by the looks of things.
5 JF van Heerden (Grey College) – if you asked me who I thought was the most valuable player in SBR in 2022, I’d say look no further than JF. He’s a specimen. Has the height and power, without giving anything away in terms of athleticism. To me he’s like a young version of Courtney Lawes and in terms of potential, he could well have as bright a career as the Englishman.  Locks like this fetch a premier contract price in world rugby these days.
6 Lukas Meyer (Grey College) – He’s the sort of player a rugby enthusiast never gets tired of watching and he does seem to have a nice engine on him. The positive aggression he produces to get over the advantage line is setting him apart for others in what is traditionally one of SA rugby’s best positions in terms of talented depth. Plays 7 for Grey but will take the chance on him being a South African style 6.
7 Matt Romao (Drostdy) – one of the best ball-carriers in SBR in the opening month of the season. He is strong on his feet and direct and will give you 70-minutes of workrate, no problem.
8 AJ van Vuuren (Oakdale) – as discussed above, what a joy to watch this guy go about his work.
9 Caleb Abrahams (Grey College) – Caleb came into the season with a big rep and has performed exceptionally well in what I believe is the strongest position in SBR in 2022. There are so many good 9’s around. It is definitely a position where SA senior rugby could do with a few bright prospects that can press on and develop into world class players. Caleb is like a Byron Kelleher type 9. His snipe is his trademark and his ability to finish of a different level. You will see plenty of players trying to breach the defensive line from close range, not many possess the gift to do it as successfully as this Grey scrumhalf.
10 Liam Koen (Paarl Gim) – Liam typifies what you want to see in a developing player. Someone who was good in 2021 and is now even better. His ability to be an influence on the gain-line, to be more of a playmaker for those around him and to be sharper and wiser in his run-kick-pass decisions are all materialising. His place-kicking was a huge strength last season. Perhaps being overshadowed by his general play so far this season.
11 Jody Schambreel (Monument) – another player I had to pick out of position because I love his work so much. Still u17. He has good ball-skills, pace, footwork and really flashy at times.
12 Bruce Sherwood (Bishops) – Delivering on the promise and then some. There is a maturity about his game. Play
13 Lili Bester (Maritzburg College) – the best player in KZN by a distance at the moment. He is delivering a high standard. Able to slice his way through just about any midfield and then turn on the jets.  He will beat defenders on the inside or outside. At this rate his highlights video for 2022 is going to be really long. At a national level, there are some good 13’s.
14 Jay-Jay Daters (Outeniqua) – some sublime plays so far this season by this quick wing. Gives the Kwaggas a dimension to their play that is very threatening.
15 Michail Damon (Garsfontein) – a gifted player. Looks like a player with a good rugby brain, an impressive injection of pace and the ability to use his boot to good effect when needed as a defensive resource or an attacking option.

16. Juan Smal (HJS Paarl BH) – one of the more lively hookers. Reliable.
17. Tat Botha (Grey College) – a big boy, yet gets around the park. Vital cog in the Greyt  engineroom
18. Bernard Bladergroen – sort of player you look at and don’t expect much of, yet delivers this high product as a support player and stands his ground in the scrums.
19. Adam de Waal (Bishops) – very valuable player for his school in term of their pressing style of play. Has shown a great deal of determination in his executions and lots of heart.
20. Sibabalwe Mahashe (Hudson Park) – easily one of the best players on the East Coast this year. He is a go-to player who is also able to be a great linker.
21. Aiden Muller (Stellenberg) – There are so many good scrumhalves that any one of ten other names could fit here. Making Aiden standout is he packs the attributes needed to succeed at the next level and he is extremely good and composed whent playing off the backfoot and under pressure.
22. Tylor Sefoor (Monument) – an attack-minded flyhalf who is light on his feet and has good vision.
23. Damian Markus (Stellenberg) – I imagine he is many people’s favourite player as he’s a banker when it comes to producing something really special and memorable on the field of play.