The KwaZulu-Natal schoolboy rugby season ended with an entertaining match on Dixons field in Durban where Glenwood hosted Maritzburg College. College got out of the blocks well building up a 15-0 lead by the 20th minute. Glenwood fought back with five tries during the next 50 minutes to eventually run out 33-15 winners and increase an unbeaten streak against College that now dates back to 2010.
Mainly due to niggles and enforced injuries, College supporters hadn’t really had much opportunity to appreciate the full extent of outside centre Marcel Coetzee’s value to the team. During the first half of this game, the Craven Week representative gave them a taste of his destructive ability. He looked big, strong and confidence and these elements showed up best when he took a flat pass and tore up Glenwood’s first line defence, then exposed fullback Corné Vermaak defensively by rounding him with relative ease for a fine try.
There were then three missed kicks at goal by M.Coetzee but he did manage to grow the College lead to 8-0, after his KZN Schools teammate prop Koos Tredoux was pinged for a high tackle. By this stage College were winning the physical confrontations and showing good cohesion. The visitors defence was also as solid as a rock, giving Glenwood’s exciting line little room to operate in.
In the 20th minute College’s ball-carrying captain at lock Seko Buthelezi came up with a magnificent offload in the tackle to put his left wing Renard le Roux, who is better known for his exploits as a flank, into some space. This run got College the go-forward and territory and it was another top achiever from the first half, young flank Hayden Tharratt who was on hand to collect an inside pop pass near the goal line and work his way over for a try after sustained pressure from the Red, Black, White. M.Coetzee added the extras and at 15-0 College were looking like good value for an upset win.
Glenwood were not overwhelmed in the opening part of the match but they definitely improved as the match characterised by the referee’s strict application of the laws with regards to infringements at the rucks went on. For one of numerous penalties awarded both ways in the game, the Green Machine kicked for the sideline and then proceeded to maximize on the territorial advantage. A good foundation, an attack on the inside channel, quickball and finally crisp passing out to right provided right wing Morné Joubert with the outside line to score in the corner. It was a well taken opportunity by Glenwood, who had made it look basic with their decisiveness, speed and handling. Glenwood applied more pressure and were awarded chances to kick at goal nearer the end of the half, which they turned down in attempts to score a try.
The half ended at 15-5 in College’s favour and based on what had transpired during the first half, it seemed like a long way back for Glenwood.
The player of the match, Glenwood no.8 Jaco Coetzee produced a performance reminiscent of the one of former Glenwood no.8 Carel Swart two years earlier on the same field against the same opponents. J.Coetzee, another KZN Craven Week player impressed with his positional play and his carries. He didn’t have the same incredible speed of Swart but is definitely a better all-round player as he is a lot better at mixing up in the contact zones, not to mention that he is by far and away the best contester of the ball on the deck in KZN this season.
Glenwood got back into the game just two minutes into the second half. J.Coetzee set off on a wonderful 35-metre run after a poor clearance kick by College fullback Holder. The eighthman then offloaded to Mr “Ever-present” himself Corné Vermaak who cruised in for the try and converted it, making the score 12-15. Even though Vermaak may not have been the star of the show on the day, he got the Oscar for best supporting actor. In the Glenwood points scoring attacks that were to follow, there seemed to be one constant, Vermaak in the right place at the right time to be the vital link between game-breaker and try-scorer, just as he had been in Joubert’s opening try.
Glenwood hit the front when College missed touch from a penalty. Glenwood brought the ball back with determination. The key play was beautiful pass made in traffic by either prop Percy Mgnadi or alert scrummy Kwazi Khanyile that kept the speed of the attack going via Vermaak and captain Wandi Mazibuka to try-scorer Sparks Ngcobo, who went around and under the sticks. Two more points were added by Vermaak and at 19-15, the match had been changed on its head.
College were by no means a spent force. They had ball and they had territory. However a few crucial ingredients that had served them so well in the first half were lost. Firstly they lacked patience on attack, often trying to force situations because of lost composure, then their decision-making on attack was off, resulting in the wrong option being taking, and finally they just didn’t produce any creative touches. The net effect was that Glenwood’s defensive alignment was not placed under undue threat and the home team was able to repel their opponents challenges.
In the 19th minute, the Green and White set up an attacking lineout from the umpteenth penalty awarded. They cleverly set up the play to look like a rolling maul but instead went wide. In a win of this nature there are many unsung heroes of the cause. One however standing out and deserving praise was Glenwood flyhalf Curtis Jonas. His ability to keep defenders in front of him honest with his footwork, speed and rugby intelligence were on offer throughout the game and during this backline move it was his trickery that kept the cover defence in check and free up teammates for an assault out wide that was rounded off by Joubert in the corner. Vermaak’s excellent kick extended the lead to 26-15.
It remained an interesting contest with College not giving up on trying to breach the Green wall. Certainly the general play was a lot more evenly matched than the final score suggests. During this passage both Holder and Joubert had good runs, that could have resulted in more points.
The game was put out of College’s grasp in the 28th minute. After a really good run down the left touchline by College wing le Roux, a big tackle resulted in a turnover. From well within their own half, Glenwood spread the ball wide with Khanyile being prominent in the counterattack. The final recipient Sparks Ngcobo was just too quick for the cover defence and he won the race to the try-line with relative comfort. Another good kick by Vermaak was the last change to the scoreboard at Glenwood 33 College 15.
This match between fierce rivals from the province’s two main cities was played in a good spirit and although the efforts of both teams had been overshadowed by the domestic successes of Kearsney and Westville this season, the high number of returning players on duty for both the Glenwood and College teams during this game suggests that they will be the teams to beat in 2014.
Interestingly Moon played at center in 2011 which might have been the reason he was not on the radar that year. There was definitely a bit of confusion as to what his actual role was. I actually think though that it helped with his overall vision and ball skills. I might be wrong but did not Schramm also play at center at some point of his career. Beet mentions age group pedigree. What is the pedigree of JC? Besides Goodsen the utility GK loose forward in 2012 was Erasmus from Westville. I think that JC has all the makings of a great number 8. It might be a bit early though to cast certain positions in stone.
@Beet: With regards to JC, can’t believe he got injured against Affies! I did not get to see the game, but hand on heart, besides CW, every single game I have watched him play, he has gone off injured.
Hope he is not playing 7’s, the boy should be put on a recovery programme for the remainder of the year, swimming and yoga! Wounot even let him touch weights!
Looking forward to next year though and hope Tedder, KC second team 8 can maybe provide a bit of stiff comp.
@beet: “On a side note I think it would be nice if the KZN CW selection committee could be reformed by bringing a College and Westville selector on board.”
Snot going to happen. If anything there will be a DHS addition. I would have said a Northwood addition as well but there seems to have been a change of atmosphere at Northwood that will drive them back to their approach of the 5 years prior to 2013 – which is a good thing in my mind.
Just to add balance to what I said above. At the start of the season I actually mentioned to a Glenwood official that I though JC had the potential to be the next Francois Kleynhans. FK was brill in gr.11 and in gr.12 and amongst the best u19 players in his first year out of school, when he played for the Sharks and was their forward of the year if I remember correctly. The compo was sick tho. Guys like Marcell Coetzee, Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr, Arno Botha, Corneel du Preez, Jean Cook were amongst the loosies in that age group who have all broken through into senior rugga now. Frans remains a good player, it’s just very tough, the closer they get to the top.
In 2010 my two fav no.8’s were Shaun Adendorff of Glenwood and Dean Mullis of College. Great players to watch play for their respective schools. Neither one made Craven Week. Dean surprisingly didn’t even feature in either of the 2 lower u18 teams selected. Instead Hilton’s Guy Alexander who still plies his trade for the Sharks u21’s got the nod.
I don’t think it’s wise to make calls on who will be better in 2014 just yet. Rather wait and see what happens. I mentioned Carel Swart in the article. Anyone who’d watched CS in 2011 would have been thinking/saying he’s SA Schools material in 2012 for sure. Instead Carel struggled to reach the same heights as in his gr.11 year and was considered a bit lucky to make KZN Schools. A certain Josh Moon of MHS who was not really on the radar in 2011 altho he had the age-group representation pedigree of a Daryn Goodson, turned out to be the star no.8 of 2012 and rightfully got picked as the 1st choice no.8 that season. So Moon aided by a strong House pack was able to show his worth and overtook a player many thought would challenge for SA Schools honours (People like Gungets, Sharkie & a couple of others have reminded us about the difference it makes to a no.8 to be playing behind a strong pack. I guess any position for that matter). If people remember Moon (vs Free State) went on to produce a performance very much like Schramm’s against the Bulls this year and the SA Schools selectors must have made a note of Josh’s name after that game, whereas Swart playing flank did not feature.
Personally I’m a big fan of Jaco. I think he is brilliant. I think he’s a complete package. I absolutely love his turnover work at the tackled ball. He’s got a rugby brain. He’s positional play which is vital for a no.8 gets better every time I watch him. But I’m not going to overplay his chances. Rather let him have a great start to 2014 first. 2 things I think that one has to bear in mind – 1 is he plays in the probably the most competitive position in SBR in SA. There is so much compo out there. I just look at the Glenwood u16A no.8 and I see some potential in that youngster as well, so there aren’t any done deals, Jaco has to keep doing what he’s been doing so well all season. The evidence suggests he’s a special player. 2nd point is something RBugger pointed out during this season which turned out to be very true: JC is injury prone. It happened again against Affies in the 2min. Within 5min he was permanently replaced. For any sportsman in any sport, injuries might not sideline a player but they can prevent that player from maxing on his potential.
I also don’t think Craven Week selection should be the determining factor of who the best is. Earlier this year I tried to set a youngster on twitter straight because he was adamant that Mzisi was Westville’s best player in 2012 simple because he made KZN Schools, when it seemed obvious to me that anyone who had watched Westville play that year had to agree that Mxoli was the best WBHS prop leave alone player even though he was totally overlooked by the KZN selectors*. I make this point because Goodson might be subjected to a reoccurence of what happened this year re: trials I would love to be wrong on this.
On a side note I think it would be nice if the KZN CW selection committee could be reformed by bringing a College and Westville selector on board.
I think Goodson must continue on at no.8 in 2014. He could be the next Moon or Schramm. I think he has the potential to wow audiences even though he is very much a grafter and no much of a flashy player. For after schools the agents, scouts, recruiters whoever will tell him move to 6 or 2. I’m pretty sure of this. So just like Carel Swart got handed a lifeline as a #6 or as Nanto the brilliant George Campbell no.8 showed when he had to play #6 for KZN in 2011, DG should not be overlooked for this role at CW. This can’t suddenly become a convenient excuse for his omission, when we’ve seen so many no.8s rehashed as flanks over the years.
For 2013 my best grade 11 loose-forward is Jaco though. I thought he really deserved his Craven Week spot based on what I’d seen him produce.
*Mxoli came off the bench for the Bulls u19s the other day and really impressed Ludz. He didn’t make CW but he is going strong.
@Gungets Tuft: I have only seen Goodsen twice this year, and Coetzee on six occasions. While the game plan, opposition etc have a large bearing on the player, I saw one or two moments of pace, great defense and good steals by Goodsen against Kearsney and in the recent game against Glenwood, but he will have to up his game to get seriously noticed (or College will have to produce a side that is not on the back foot, which they weren’t really against Kearsney or the second game against Glenwood). Coetzee is big, physical, fast and has great hands. I don’t see a contest for 8 at CW level. Could Goodsen be played at 6, definitively but I think we could be under-rating other loose forwards coming through next year. Hope he performs as you suggest GT.
@Gungets Tuft: Both Goodsen and Coetzee will play CW next year barring injury or drastic drop in form, both can play 8 or flank. I would have both on the field….
@RBugger: Stadig ooor die klippe bru.
Comparing #8’s on the pitch is always a difficult thing because they do not mark each other, unlike so many other positions.
Secondly – given how desperately porous the College back line was on Saturday, 3 regulars out, replaced by boys with a distinct lack of comparable pace, and another who, by his own admission, is having a defensive mare, Goodsen was forced to be 100% defensive (which is the stock role of a #8 anyway).
I am bound to be a little partisan, but circumstances that I would never discuss here prevented you from seeing the real Goodsen this year. Those that took notice in U16 would know that, next year will be a different story. Just mark my words, then wait the 6 months for me to be proved right. And even if Coetsee does start at #8 for CW, any selector worth 2 Bob would see that Goodsen can play at 6 as well, given the work he does on the ground. They will also see his leadership qualities next year.
@BEET: Based on your report, are we saying Coetzee ahead of Goodsen next year?
Hopper – hopefully this win will bump Glenwood back into top 20 – not used to seeing them in top 30 !
Great article again Beet, you always seem to capture the atmosphere in your writing. Really looking forward to seeing Tredoux, Mgadi, Van Niekerk, Coetzee, KHanyile, Jonas, Fouche and Joubert next year, a really good spine of now experienced players. An interesting 2014 ahead. Next week I’m afraid is going to be a loss, the trek and altitude just finishes our boys against very professional Grey Bloem sides down the line. Fingers crossed for the open teams though…