It’s an unusual year in KZN rugby for several reasons. Chief among them is that the race for Craven Week selection is more wide open than it’s been in years — across virtually every position. Almost every first team this season boasts at least one, if not multiple, go-to u17 players, crowding out the selection pool and likely giving the u18 provincial selectors some serious headaches.
Leading the charge at this stage are three standout names: Theo Boshoff (Maritzburg College – hooker), Nicholas Salamousas (Michaelhouse – prop), and Jamie Wimble (Northwood – eighthman). What’s remarkable — and a little unsettling — is that despite their standout performances, there’s no guarantee any of the three will make the cut for the Sharks’ exclusive u18 Youth Week side and may have to settle for the u17 Academy Week.
Boshoff’s strength and impact in the tight-loose is hard to miss. Salamousas brings a relentless engine and carries the ball with purpose — drawing comparisons to Michaelhouse greats Rocky Knox (2016/17) and Brandon Jewell (2019). Northwood coach Jacques Deen has smartly converted Wimble from centre to a powerful, aggressive ball-carrier with real pace and penetration over the advantage line.
Among the other promising u17s are Zander Muller (Hilton – 8), an imposing physical presence, and the athletic Nhlanhla Ndlovu (Kearsney – 8), both of whom have been consistent performers. Adding to the depth are two hard-working lock/blindside hybrids: Sambesiwe Ndamase (Glenwood) and Lwandle Mlaba (Westville), who put in serious graft up front.
Backline excitement comes in the form of DHS duo Nathan Aneke (13) and Cilermo Carolus (15), both of whom have delivered electrifying moments as they’ve sliced through defences. Reliable Michaelhouse fullback Alex Jankowitz has also caught the eye on several occasions this season.
Out wide, Avumila Lisa (Westville – wing) has matched up well against the pace and lateral movement of Kearsney’s X-factor player Lwandle Mkhize (11). With a youthful squad, Kearsney relies heavily on their u17 talent, including the skilful Lwazi Mbebe (15), who continues to dazzle with his flair and sometimes outrageous confidence.
There are a few others who were also meant to be using the season to learn the ropes but have already developed the confidence and physical attributes required to succeed at 1st XV level.
Jamie Wimble at 8 for Northwood certainly put his hand up today for CW honours with that performance against Paarl Gim. Very strong moments against a top team.
@Meesh N (Comment #23)
I think it was more a confidence issue more than anything as he could light it up on his day but then look like a 2nd XV player on another. Queens clearly looked for consistency instead and found in Siya didz. Funnily enough Siya who had more 1st team caps at 10 then Itha played acaedmy week and Itha who played 2nd XV for a large part of the season played craven week.
@Overlooked lad (Comment #20)
Hopefully he lights up GK like Erin Nelson from Graeme did last year.
Seeing as though there aren’t really any standout 10s in the Border this year (perhaps Phiko Mtyalela in a struggling Dale side) would it be crazy to think a 16 year old is the best flyhalf in the region?
I think BokSmart truly need to have a look at letting u16s play open rugby should they be proven amongst their age group mates, I think it will help fast track the development those that peak earlier like we saw pre 2012. Whereas I feel like these days we see so many kids like Itha Mbulana losing steam in a case of sort of being “left in the oven too long” & he could have been a 1st team regular in that 2022 Queens side. (Any insight on why his development slowed done so drastically?)
He isn’t the only one, Mihle Matinise from Grey High School 2022 who was arguably the best 10 in SA in his year at age group level yet was roaming between 1sts & 2nds by the time matric came around. Many other cases I could name from other parts of the country.
Is it perhaps complacency or is it a matter of the boys playing age group rugby for so long that the style of play & tempo is engrained in them so much so that they struggle transitioning to the not so forgiving opens rugby?
I feel with physicsal testing, the boys can slowly be introduced to opens. The same way in junior provincial rugby you have physical testing (such as bench pressing certain percentages of your body weight, etc) if you are an u19 front rower that will be playing u21s to see if your body is capable of withstanding the physicality.
We saw this work wonders particularly in the 2000s & early 2010s.
I’m in no way suggesting that the age group be scrapped but to allow exceptions to progress into opens rugby should their ability & physical capacity allow.
Any thoughts?
@Overlooked lad (Comment #19)
Perhaps Kosani will be in the u17 Academy side or even make the Craven Week side as maybe a loose forward? I see played no.8 vs Northwood?
Hopefully Sinkfontein gets going again, really hate seeing kids lose steam in their later years of high school & I really do see him in the Craven Week mix but perhaps as a winger or a utility replacement.
I rate one of those Kearsney wings will be a shoe in to the side, the other two probables in my opinion are Ricky Adonis from Hilton & maybe the one winger from Northwood, been hearing some noise about him.
@TheGoose (Comment #18)
He’s a marvel, I rate him so highly after checking out his game vs Selborne & his games at the Jeppe u16 festival.
@Meesh N (Comment #12)
What a talent that boy is, been argubaly the best player in the border region since hes u/14 year. Can slot in at 12 aswell with hes massive frame so he’ll be one of the marquee talents a GK week. Hopefully coaches manage him well as they had a similar sitution with Itha Mbu who just became to big physically to play hes normal tekky game at 10 and as good as he was failed to really live up to the hype at open team level
@Meesh N (Comment #11)
Sinkfontein is a talent no doubt dont know where its injury or other issues that have kept him shini g for 1st XV but hes slowly getting back into the fold with a cameo against Pretoria boys. On Ridl hes been very consitet for house and will probbably edge out a centre like Kosani who struggles to shine week in week out with an inconsitent college side this year.
@Meesh N (Comment #12)
Tyler von Cullwitz – Queens U16A
Went looking for him – he’s strong…https://live.supersportschools.com/events/67f7a1ab88ce07071a079fe2/ – can be seen at doing good stuff 10:12 and 29:26 in this game vs Stirling U16.
@Overlooked lad (Comment #10)
Marcwin is u19 so cannot be considered.
I didn’t know this before – he is the brother of James Nero who stood out as a Durbanville player.
@Meesh N (Comment #11)
Makula has been a very solid player for Northwood. Need to watch more closely, but has been good from what i have seen.
@Meesh N (Comment #14)
Kids are deprived from playing on the next level, my suggestion:
I pinky promise you these 3 sides will not disappoint.
Boland Landbou, Stellenberg, Durbanville, Bellville, Milnerton, Strand. (Team 1)
SACS, Wynberg, Bishops, Rondebosch. (Team 2)
Paarl Boys, Paarl Gim, Paul Roos. (Team 3)
@JongMatie (Comment #13)
Without even joking I genuinely think they could field 4 competitive Craven Week sides, seeing the decent sides with great individuals in the Southern & Northern suburbs as well as almost generational sides from the 3 wineland schools.
then you add Boland Landbou to that mix!
@Overlooked lad (Comment #10)
Talking about CW, I cannot see how the WP team will be stopped.
Winelands schools currently hold the nr 1, 2 and 3 spots on most ranking systems.
They can field almost 3 competitive teams in the CW this year. Crazy stuff!!
A KID FROM THE BORDER
With it being known that the Western Cape schools do their shopping in the EP region & the KZN schools in the Border, I truly hope this kid stays at Queens & see him develop there. After seeing Sonkononkono move from Hudson Park to Westville & Travis Pheiffer from Grey High to Paul Roos, the Eastern Cape is yearning for another generational 10 to dazzle in that corner of the country.
Approximately 20 years apart, Queen’s College might have found themselves another Lionel Cronje!
@Overlooked lad (Comment #10)
Not as tapped into the kzn sides as i’d like to be this year, with that being said i really rate Josh Grant & think he’ll make the Craven Week side, but i’ll bet my bottom dollar that Ayavuya Makula from Northwood will be the starting Craven Week hooker.
Rate him so much so that I think himself, Altus Rabe from Paul Roos, Sango Zanqa from SACS & perhaps someone like Justin Blom from Garsfontein or Clinton Agu from Noordheuwel will be the 4 SA Schools hookers.
Another one that stands out is Lee-Rink Sinkfontein, he was highly rated in 2023 & 2024 & I see he isn’t even playing 1sts this year, I think Anneke from DHS is by far the most in form outside centre in KZN & I think someone like William Ridl from Michaelhouse will be one you can’t count out at either 12 or 13.
KZN CRAVENWEEK PREDICTION
2. Josh Grant-Hilton
3. Nicholous Salmousas-House
4. Lian Terblache-Northwood
5. Simelane-Westville
6. Ndlovu-Kerseney
7. Ndamase-Glenwood
8. Wasi Vuyembra-College
9. Marcwin newro-DHS
10.Liyema Nela-Hilton
11.Afrikaner-Westville
12.Lizwe mtetwa-Glenwood
13.Sinkfontein-College
14.Aneke-DHS
15.Siyaya-Westville
16.Boshoff-College
17.Josehp Udo-ing-DHS
18.???
19.Dankwah-Hilton
20. Mlaba-Westville
21.Jordan van wyk-DHS
22. Mkhize-Kerseny
23. Olwethu kosani- college
@Bungee (Comment #8)
Given that a certain Afrikaans commentator with an eponymous talkshow on KykNet still calls Edwill vd Merwe “Edwill van Aarde”, I’m sure we’re in for mispronunciations no matter who plays!
I hope Salamousas makes it, based purely on me wanting to hear commentators saying his name all the time
@Skywalker (Comment #6)
I won’t lie, I really like Mun Gavin. I know a few purists who are a lot more educated on what attributes a top 9 should have but to me he is a catalyst player – he makes things happen and NW profit from his quick thinking.
I think for KZN CW Liam Simpkins has his nose in front. He does the basics quite well but everytime I see him I keep feeling he needs to do more. These next few weeks are going to be critical for the scrumhalves
Been really great to see Wimble in action at 8th man. He has carried hard and been a key feature of the NW pack. Wish him well for the rest of the season. Also think Mun Gavin at 9 has been brilliant. So quick and on his toes always. Great passing too.
A player not getting a mention is Khazimla Makali, the Hilton centre/wing. Nice versatile player
@Couchcoach (Comment #3)
I think you interesting option here is Bandile M at loosehead which is one of the hardest to call positions. This will definitely solve a matter. Dankwah at 6 is also interesting. I think of him as a 7 or 8 but under the circumstances he might be a good option there. One of the players I’m hoping to see get back to his 2024 form is Bradley Le Grange of DHS so maybe he can make a statement this weekend and be considered as a 6 option as well.
Sinkfontein played 2nds and a tiny bit of 1st against PBHS. So WK will be a good time to see if he’s back to full fitness but he is definitely the sort of player who should go to CW as he ticks many boxes. So many choices in so many possies. I think I would have Ndamase slightly ahead of Mlaba right now but things can change. Ndlovu is quite small but playing with lots of confidence of late and does offer a different dynamic. I think in 2026 he will be like a Carlyle Hawkins type player but perhaps u17 AW is the place for him in 2025.
Scrumhalf is a bit like LH for me. Who wants it most. All the 9’s offer something different.
1 Bandile Mncwango WV
2 Josh Grant HC
3 Joseph Udo-Idung DHS
4 Lian Terblanche NW
5 Lwandile Simelane WV
6 Bradley le Grange DHS
7 Emmanuel Dankwah HC
8 Jamie Wimble NW
9 ???
10 Liyema Nela HC
11 Jadrian Afrikaner WV
12 Liwze Mtetwa GW
13 Nathan Aneke DHS
14 William Ridl MHS
15 Zekhethelo Siyaya WV
16 Leo Boshoff MC
17 ???
18 Nicolas Salamousas MHS
19 Chad Howe NW
20 Sambesiwe Ndamase GW
21 ???
22 Jordan van Wyk DHS
23 Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein MC
9 Liam Simpkins WV
9 Lian Lochnar GW
9 Zander Vorster HC
9 Daniel Aissing MHS
9 Jed mun Gavin NW
@Beet – who do you see as frontrunners for KZN Craven Week selection this year? From the games I’ve watched, I think there are a few positions very much still up for grabs. In the front row,I think Udo-Idng (DHS #3), Mncwango (Wvle #1), Grant (Hilton 2) and Mbanjwa (DHS 2) are frontrunners. Lock is interesting because Ndamase and Mlaba have both quite a bit at flank, as has Lian Terblanche. I’d go with Terblanche and Ndamase at CW. Loosies quite open – I think Damkwah from Hilton has the 6 jersey. I’d go with Wimble at 8, but the other two U17s you’ve mentioned (Muller and Ndlovu) are also in contention. Blindside is a bit harder to call. Perhaps one of those other 8s or Mlaba from Westville. I’d be interested to see St Charles’ Adjibade alongside better players. Another option would be to play Howe in the second row, and use Ndamase there.
In the backs, I think Nela and Siyaya are the two must-picks. Ridl and either Afrikaner or Aneke at 13. Wing is hard to call – Adonis at Hilton has impressed me, as well as the guys you’ve mentioned, and Northwood’s wings have also been good. Any idea what’s happened to Sinkfontein? I’d have him as an option at 13 if he gets back onto the field.
Ndamase of Glenwood looks a serious prospect! Looking forward to seeing his development over the next 18 months.
David Colenbrander (6) has been immense for College this season, his performance against the Candies was top drawer!!