Sharks Youth Weeks teams out on Monday 20 May 2024

The Sharks selectors got together for a final meeting on Sunday, 19 May 2024 to decide on who they want to send to the respective youth weeks during school holidays. The teams are expected out on Monday 19 May 2024.

As far as the u18’s go, it has an unusual season in the province. Clear-cut favourites in a number of positions are a lot harder to define. The province might not have many top-end national players but competition for positions is healthy.  The bottom-line is that there is every chance that after Craven Week selections are sorted, a team made up of the left out players could well beat the Craven Week team on their day.

Here are my personal thoughts:

PROPS
After Reuben Vos (Northwood) was left out ahead of the final trials, the choices seemed to become clear.

HOOKERS
This was a tightly contested position, the really could have gone either way to the main remaining trialists. The one thing that did become apparent as the season went on was that as good a player as Chris Cloete is at flank, he is a lineout throw-in backup hooker option in need of plenty of work still.

SECONDROW / BACKROW
I grouped these positions because I felt that the selectors would want to try and get as much height and size in the amongst the seven selections.
I was quite sure Jake Jansen, Vuyo Gwiji and Hanu Pieterse had booked their tickets to Krugersdorp right at the start of the process. At Sharks Day and during subsequent matches, Naz Isaacs showed up as must-pick.
Of the remaining players in contention it looked like the shorter backrow player would be a showdown between Cloete, Carlyle Hawkins and Khanyisa Stamper. Hawkins had been brilliant for House but an untimely injury possibly handed the advantage to Cloete.
So that would be five of the seven picks. The other two likely to go to Lian Terblanche at lock and Robert Combrinck as a utility forward with bulk and lineout ability, sneaking in ahead of Sibusiso Mhlangu and the strong ball-carrier Connor McIntyre. Another good lineout option player Ethan Macey of Northwood was not listed for final trials.

SCRUMHALF
This seemed like another open race for the second berth after Matt Fick did enough at Sharks day to merit a second year at Craven Week. My preference early in the process was Zander Vorster who seemed to have the most educated boot of all 9’s in KZN and there offered a skillset that could be very handy at altitude. However with him falling out of contention (also influenced by injury at the wrong time), it made it shootout between Ryan Pistor, Marcwin Nero and Jack Hughes, with little to separate them.

FLYHALF
Aka Boqwana is one of my favourite players to watch in the whole country so he’s an easy choice for me. With Hilton’s u17 general Liyema Nela being ruled out of six-weeks due to concussion, it paved the way for Luke Davidson to be the other choice at 10. To be fair to Davidson, he is a proven player for the big occasions.

CENTRE
Here I felt Duncan Basson had proved his worth as the leading inside centre. Although he manages the job well, he looks a yard or so short of pace at 13, so for me I would not pick him at cover in this role. I would go with Michael Satade who packs some good qualities in terms of size, speed and handling at 13 (and covers wing). His backup at outside centre would be Kearsney’s jack of all trades Cameron Veenstra, a very dependable and committed player on both attack and defence. The centre options would be completed with the selection of Tom Baguley, who is solid consistent and shows up as a player who had a good game very often. Acknowledgement for Nkululeko Sithole as a powerful and useful 12 as well, who if selected would be worthy of the jersey. At 13 u17 Rourke o’Sullivan proved to be a really good prospect as well. Strong Zingce Simka (12) was a name on everyone’s lips at the start of the season. Injuries have hampered his campaign.

WING
There were lots of choices for wing. Zenkosi Mthiyane has had a good season but Sharks Day was the convincer. As part of his arsenal is this very useful left boot. He also covers 13. As soon as College’s u17 Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein who offers similar qualities was out of contention, it really felt that a decision in favour of Mthiyane would be unanimous. His school teammate on the right, Adriano Jackson also showed up as first choice in my books but I thought there might be opportunity here for one of the other trialists like Aya Mkhokeli or maybe even Zekhethelo Siyaya to get in ahead of him. Going back to the start of the process, for me Hilton wing Rukudzo Madinga was the player but he too fell victim to an untimely injury. Northwood Kwenzo Dlamini has definitely had his moments in 2024.

FULLBACK
This last line possie seemed adequately covered by having both Veenstra and Boqwana and if absolutely need be, Davidson as well. The other consideration would be talented u17 Zekhethelo Siyaya who is working his way back to top form after recovering from a knee injury.