For the last three years, as the first step towards selecting a Baby Bok team to compete in the Junior World Championships, head coach Dawie Theron selected a group of about 50 players to attend an under-20 training camps down in the Western Cape during November. However in line with the progress comes change and for the JWC 2014, Theron has aborted the November training camp idea. It is believed that this will be replaced by a 7-week long training camp in 2014, in line with plans to improve results during the IRB tournament.
Included below is a mock draft of players who might have been called up to be part of a November 2013 training camp had it taken place. Many of the players on the list below will still form part of Theron’s plans given their form this season.
The Bulls’ players feature prominently on the list. They were crowned an unbeaten 2013 under-19 season by taking the title in a Currie Cup final curtain raiser when they beat the Lions 35-23 in an entertaining encounter.
Second draft: Els, van Wyk, Bothma & Lee in, Mxoli, Williams, Schoonraad and Stokes out.
| # | Position | Name | Union | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LH Prop | Pierre Schoeman | Bulls | Affies |
| 2 | LH Prop | Dylan Smith | Lions | KES |
| 3 | LH Prop | Wesley Adonis | WP | HJ Paarl BH |
| 4 | LH Prop | Stefan van Schalkwyk | Sharks | Oakdale |
| 5 | LH Prop | Ox Nche | Free State | Louis Botha |
| 6 | TH Prop | Wilco Louw | Bulls | Drostdy |
| 7 | TH Prop | Dayan vd Westhuizen | Bulls | Centurion |
| 8 | TH Prop | Johann Bannink | Bulls | Garsfontein |
| 9 | TH Prop | Bart le Roux | Sharks | Framesby |
| 10 | Hooker | Malcolm Marx | Lions | KES |
| 11 | Hooker | Chad Solomons | WP | Paul Roos |
| 12 | Hooker | Chris de Beer | Sharks | Hilton |
| 13 | Hooker | Corniel Els | Bulls | Grey College |
| 14 | Hooker | Arno van Wyk | Bulls | Boland Landbou |
| 15 | Lock | Nicolaas Jv Rensburg | Bulls | Affies |
| 16 | Lock | JD Schikerling | WP | Paarl Gim |
| 17 | Lock | RG Snyman | Bulls | Affies |
| 18 | Lock | JP Du Preez | Lions | EG Jansen |
| 19 | Lock | Gideon Koegelenberg | Sharks | Hugenote |
| 20 | Lock | Jan Uys | WP | Paul Roos |
| 21 | Lock | Daniel du Preez | Sharks | Kearsney |
| 22 | Loose Fwd | Jano Venter | Lions | HTS Middelburg |
| 23 | Loose Fwd | Aidon Davids | Kings | Daniel Pienaar |
| 24 | Loose Fwd | Chris Massyn | Bulls | Monument |
| 25 | Loose Fwd | Corne Cooper | Bulls | Paarl Gim |
| 26 | Loose Fwd | Thabo Mabuza | Lions | Centurion |
| 27 | Loose Fwd | Jacques Vermuelen | WP | Paarl Gim |
| 28 | Loose Fwd | Heinrich Viljoen | Bulls | Affies |
| 29 | Loose Fwd | Jean-Luc du Preez | Sharks | Kearsney |
| 30 | Loose Fwd | Stephan Vermeulen | Lions | Monument |
| 31 | Loose Fwd | Rikus Bothma | WP | Paarl Gim |
| 32 | Scrumhalf | Cameron Wright | Sharks | Hilton |
| 33 | Scrumhalf | JP Smith | Bulls | Queens |
| 34 | Scrumhalf | Akona Sihunu | Lions | Dale |
| 35 | Flyhalf | Jaco vd Walt | Lions | Monument |
| 36 | Flyhalf | Handre Pollard | Bulls | Paarl Gim |
| 37 | Flyhalf | Kobus Marais | Bulls | Waterkloof |
| 38 | Flyhalf | Jean-Luc du Plessis | Sharks | HJS Paarl BH |
| 39 | Centre | Rohan Jv Rensburg | Bulls | Waterkloof |
| 40 | Centre | Andre Esterhuizen | Sharks | Klerksdorp |
| 41 | Centre | Daniel Kriel | Bulls | Maritzburg College |
| 42 | Centre | Sandile Khubeka | Sharks | Kearsney |
| 43 | Wing | Sergeal Petersen | Kings | Grey HS |
| 44 | Wing | Duhan vd Merwe | Bulls | Outeniqua |
| 45 | Wing | Duncan Matthews | Bulls | Swartland |
| 46 | Wing | Selvyn Davids | Kings | Nico Malan |
| 47 | Wing | Nico Lee | Free State | Affies |
| 48 | Fullback | Jesse Kriel | Bulls | Maritzburg College |
| 49 | Fullback | Jason Worrall | WP | Paul Roos |
| 50 | Fullback | Khaya Malotana | Kings | Queens |
@Ruggersake: No problems Ruggersake. I did not think you were arguing. I just did not want my tone to be misinterpreted.
No one including myself is going to stop you from promoting around here but I won’t lie, I’m sort of relieved that you are not connected to the player. It is unusual tho for a perfect stranger to show so much interest in just one player.
He is a very good player and if he does make it big, you’re going to have a lot of “I told you so!” credits
@beet: My response was by no means an argument and I love any form of constructive critism or banter…….for the record my comments have nothing to do with a vested interest, merely and indentification of potential talent stated.
Lets face it you can have all the talent but if the hunger is not there someone else will take the honours. Thanks for your detailed and descriptive response it realy got me onto an emotional high!
The step up from schoolboy Craven Week level to U19 Currie Cup is immense as is the subsequent step to u21’s.
There may well be the odd extraordinarily talented exception but in general I think that it is crazy to even contemplate selecting a current schoolboy who has not yet proven himself at the next level for the U20 World Cup. The physicality at U20WC level has been compared to Vodacom Cup i.e. a step up from U21’s.
The number of u18 “stars” who make the SA schools side but fail to manage the transition through the U19 &21 ranks should be clear evidence of the step up required.
@Tjoppa:
that is true….Oom Matfield is about to come out of retirement…….PSDT and Elizabeth will be licking their lips. 
@Muzi: Know this boy for a while. Playing no 5 does not mean you must be a Matfield. Janse is a excellent no 5 with a big Affies heart.
@Ruggersake: Thanks and I don’t want to seem harsh or argue with you. I think I got sidetracked in my last comment. Where I meant to go was: when someone has a vested interest in a young player’s success be it as a parent, relative, family friend or agent the experience is so much more real. The highs in his career are super highs and the lows are that much more painful to deal with. This is a sport in SA where for every 1 out of school junior that makes the big times, about 9 almost as good, maybe even more talented players fall by the wayside. This is the reality. At the start of the process there are about 9 other sets of support bases who have reason to be equally excited about the prospects for their player as you have based on achievement and talent shown at SBR level. This is where I was going with the humbleness part.
Also with the exception of boys that go to the school I once attended, I can safely say that I’m not connected to any of the kids I’ve praised for achievement, so I do regard myself as a neutral (who does have not share those emotional lows when a player does not fulfil the promise he once showed). I think this makes it a lot easier for me to comment on the highs (if I can avoid the biased that we all have to different degrees)
@Beet @Ruggersake: Hahahahahahaha
To me, it comes down to a very passionate country, in terms of Rugga.
Everyone has their favourite and yes Beet, I will give credit where credit is due, you have made mention of a few players other than just on one all the time, so good on you for that.
I just did not like the word humble being thrown around, passion, love,pride and believing in a certain player has nothing to do with being humble. Making a statement, ie – player A is far superior to player B and would run all over him, that can be construed as arrogant and not being humble – however, stating a player is fantastic to watch and could be a star in the making, this cannot be taken as an arrogant statment, surely…
Perhaps it is a little close to my heart as i know Ruggersake personally, have known him for years and he is just a very passionate person who states what he feels – and is also very proud
Nothing wrong with that, right Ruggersake 
OH and I forgot to add…. thanks for a great SBR site!
Humble is a great, but there is also a time and place for everything…..sometimes the ability to be bold is also good.
Lets not confuse humbleness and subservience and this is in bold.
A problem which often occurs in sport is the inability of the brains trust to accept a fresh approach, sometimes being constructive tends to ruffle the feathers of the traditionalists and thus stifle opinion.
A Visionary has the ability to identify, influence and hoan potential, and even then you can take a horse to the water but you cant make it drink. I have and will always been an overpunter of potential…….having coached for 30 years I know it works…..but sometimes not!
@beet:
Geez thanks for the lecture pretty sure your fingers are sore after this paragraph.
@RBugger: There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying a player is good or supporting him and you are right I do it all the time.
EXCEPT I have never limited my praise to just one player or devoted just about all of my comments to plugging that one player’s achievements.
That kind of thing has the potential to be counter-productive. It could build a fan base but it could just as easily result in expectations exceeding potential and in extreme cases resentment towards the said player.
I’m not here to dictate how anyone blog’s but this is my opinion – keep it in check
You know a player is good, you believe in that player. Keep the cards close to your chest and put things in perspective. There are 29 other guys on the park as well. And talented guys just a little older and coming thru behind any said player.
We have a few E/Cape bloggers here. Ask them what they thought of Johan Meyer. Ask them how they felt when Meyer did not make SA Schools.
If you could ask a few what they thought of big Adriaan Theisinger coming from Grey Bloem to get a big junior contract at the Sharks. How could a guy like that possibly have failed. He is only about 23 now.
If SA rugby has an abundance of anything it’s good loose forwards. A few years ago I blogged that I thought Francois Kleynhans was the best u19 loose forward in SA. It was quickly counted by someone saying what about Kolisi and another saying what about Nizaam Carr. The latter both ended up in the CC u19 winning team. I got some justification tho as Frans Kleynhans went on to win a Sharks award for best forward of u19 that year. His backrow teammates were the likes of Chris Cloete, Siseko Jafta (both SA Schools) and one relatively unknown who was not as impressive named Marcell Coetzee. Fast forward a few years where are all these players today?
So I’m all for praising good playerS capital “S”, not so keen on the continuously advertising just one guy approach.
Again this is not a lecture or anything, so please don’t take it the wrong way
@Beet: Beet, what is wrong in saying you highly rate a certain player? You do so all the time as well as many Bloggers on this site – humble and rating a certain player or style of play do not go hand in hand I am afraid.
In talking about styles of play, we live in a country where a certain style always seems to prevail, ie – crash and bash kick and hope! The truth is, if we aree honest about it, The All Blacks are and always have been on a different playing field to us – they beat us home and away on a regular basis.
It is very evident that they breed a different mindset to us – they are just as big as us, but instead of always lookign for contact, they look for that slight outside gap – Kieron Read being a prime example of such a player, he is jsut as strong as Vermuelen in every aspect of his play, but he has a crucial difference to his game, knowing the right angle’s to run, not just trying to bash a player over the line.
I too have a young player in mind who I highly rate, if I mention his name, should i be worried of having a response saying I should rather keep it quiet and be humble…
Anyway, food for thought
@beet: That last paragraph is so true beet !! Like somebody told me once: “many dads think their donkey is the next / a future winner of the Durban July !”
There are so many good players that don’t make it on the big stage because of various reasons: lack of discipline; lack of endurance; getting ahead of themselves; taking their places in a team for granted; not playing next to the excellent flyhalf or inside centre (anymore) that created opportunities for him etc.
Your last sentence should be printed in bold: “A humble approach always works best ” !!!!
@Ruggersake: I think you will find many friends amongst those who have called for a change in approach as well as the improvement of skills and the encouragement of players with flair and innovation. This won’t happen overnight. There have been some encouraging signs amongst Noordvaal school teams and it’s interesting that where they play rugby in the wet (and don’t have altitude) like the NZers, the W/Cape kids seem to be better distributing and playing into space.
Be careful not to over punt certain players. There is a long road ahead and lots of compo for just a few spots. Some good players coming out of school are nowhere today while a few unknowns have made it all the way to the very top. A humble approach always works best.
@beet: It was interesting to note the step up made by various 2012 U18,s after a year in a professional enviroment and conversley dissapointing to see some, who in my opinion have not lived up to either the hype or expectation. Having watched the Bulls, WP, Natal, Lions and Freestate U19 this year in various match ups I could not help but notice how the playing ethos/style applied seemed to resonate from the senior teams.
The players seem to be conditioned to play to a set pattern and appear to run out of ideas when the pattern does not work, something that is also evident in a failing business. I firmly believe that this inability to adapt and change a game in motion combined with a lack of fitness is what cost SA the test at Ellis park.
Although physicality is important and part of the game, the ability to play the spaces is where we as a country are soarly lacking, NZ have taught us this.
Players with the ability to innovate and change the direction of a game are what is needed. In most cases these are back line players, Nz have changed this with a new breed of forwards who have the skill sets of backs. Schickerling and Schramm both have this breeding.
@Muzi: do not know much about Esterhuizen, other than what I have heard. Apparently he is the real deal – I still wish we could find ourselves another Fleck who is able to also pass…
All centres nowadays seem to be battering rams, just straight out crash and bash!
@RBugger:
I had doubts about Janse van Rensburg but I witnessed in the final made me happy.
Du Preez has no heart…he really struggled poor lad looked out of place for such a massive bloke.
Daniel Kriel used to run over players at school he had one good run towards the end of the game…he was injury prone again this year….Jesse has always been a better player…Daniel needs to work on a lot aspects in his game.
All I can say is the sharks need to look after Andre Esterhuizen at centre….he bossed Bosch and Swanepoel at loftus everytime he got the ball he was magic very physical!
@Muzi: Janse Van Rensburg
what a player, could be converted to 4, powerful and does not take kak!
The Lions Du Preez boy, looks 2 big – ie, no work rate! Needs fitness in there somewhere
What are your thoughts on Dan Kriel? I have heard a lot about him, but I am not so sure? His boet is much more of a rounded player imo
I heard Kriel was a batter ram at school, but he does not seem as effective at u19, thoughts?
@beet:
Bulls did the same with Rohan Janse van Rensburg…..in the first few games he was playing Under 21 rugby but getting injury niggles his body isn’t yet mature enough to take contact against the big boys.
Every game he had to be subbed off…hence why it was decided it would be best he stays with the Under 19 group for the rest of the season!
@Ruggersake: Look it’s not out of the question that Schramm gets promoted to u21 next year. The Sharks u19s for 2012 recruitment strategy was focused on backs, so it left the door open for uncontacted loose forwards to make their mark that season. However the one major forward signing for 2012 was no.8 Johan Meyer who will in all likelihood take up that spot next season, so if Schramm does get promoted I expect it will be a flank next year. In terms of development tho, it might be better for him to stay down and play no.8 in the u19s.
@RBugger:
Its very much like watching an u15A game and then the u16A game or any two age groups at school for that matter. The boys are bigger, quicker, stronger and hopefully a little more skilful. Add to it a school student vs a full-time rugby player which is huge in terms of conditioning along and it’s not unusual to see a player like JD finding it difficult to gain ground like he would have in a normal SBR match.
His lineout work was outstanding tho and give him 6 months of full time at the WPRI – we will see a different type of player in contact I’m sure.
@RBugger:
That’s true…I must say to my surprise Nicolas janse van Renburg was very physical for a number 5 lock….in the final he showed a few players “the Bulls is Full”…..JP Du Preez for all his height ans size was missing in action.
Jano Venter and Chris Massyn both moered each other Referee gave them red cards…
Venter was good with ball in hand…Massyn is tough as nail but handling needs a bit of work!
IMHO Schraam is what SA rugby has been missing at number 8 give him a few years and we will see flames!
@CharlesZA:
That is true WSS was on the market though….Swanepoel was offered a one year extention…..my concern is a player like Daniel Kriel with JJ,WSS ahead of him the pecking order what will happen to him in the next few years??…that’s what happens when yoe sign too many centres….look how Andile Jho’s Bulls career turned out.
If I was Chris Bosch or Burger Odendaal I would leave……
@Muzi: Yes, very true and I agree with you.
I am a massive fan of Schramm and believe he could be our next big thing, but he needs work on physicality – which will come nxt year.
JD is a huge talent, no doubt and he did dominate in the line out against the Sharks, so again, I agree with you on that point – my only worry is the physicality, i mean, you really do want a lock that can dominate come ruck time and he is not there, yet.
Venter and Massyn both 8’s are very, very powerful with ball in hand!
Bulls lock Justin Basson was very impressive as an enforcer this season but he’s only 1.94 metres….
@RBugger:
It’s one of the reasons why I left out Rikus Bothma and Ayron Schraam without a doubt they can jol but Jano Venter,Aidon Davids and Chris Massyn are physically stronger in the contact situations.
At this stage…Nicolaas,Jan and Gidoen should be ahead of JD and RG….my only concern is height for example lions under 19 lock JP Du Preez is 2.10 metres but he battled to dominate the line out on the undr 19 final.
I don’t think we are blessed with talented tall timber for the Baby Boks hence why I think a player like JD may have chance to play in the JWC.
@BEET: Thanks for coming back to me, has Muzi been watching the u19 season at all..? Not sure if you know…
For me personally, it is just that the physicality is more intense, actually a lot more intense.
If you look at Schickerling, it is very clear to see he is a star in the making, however, as good as his work rate was against the Sharks u19 team, he got dominated in the tackle area, he was held up on 3 occasions, and let us remember this was u19 Sharks, not u20 All Blacks!!!
When is the World Cup generally? Perhaps if they get the guys into the gym early enough, they can gain the added strength they will need…
In this squad, we have 3 school boy locks and i just feel that surely, there must be more u19 locks have played a full year of professional rugby that would be ahead at this stage?
@RBugger: Hi. Muzi compiled the team. Theron usually does not pick many schoolboys mainly because the timing sucks. Matric exams. The junior world champ teams also do not contain many u19s. However all that said, this class of 2013 was an exceptional year with many boys having played 2 years of S.A. Schools.
@BEET: I see a few boys still at school being included in your prelim squad – do you not think it would be a big step going from schoolboy to a potential u20 World Cup? Having watched a bit of u19 rugby compared to school boy, you can see that physically, it is a big step up – I also thought you were a big Bothma fan, but I do not see his name?
Beet baby….one glaring ommission Schramm(LF)….. but then again he could be playing U21 or be in the mix for greater things
@Muzi: Im pretty sure Venter can play above Whitehead and Sharks being a win now mode the youngsters can wait while someone like Venter would help them win more right now.
On Dries Swanepoel leaving cause WSS signed a contract, this is the problem I have with their system. WSS gets the contract cause he happens to be the next one out of u21 and not because he is the better player.
@Muzi: I was there Muzi- check the facts
@beet:
Venter was going to ride the bench though…Sharkies have Jordaan,Steyn, Whitehead and youngsters like Fisher,Andre coming through….
@beet:
with a player like Rudi Paige…… 
I think we can’t hide the fact that Fourie du Preez was outplayed by Aaron Smith at Ellis Park…forget Ruan Pienaar it doesn’t get kakker
@CharlesZA:
With WSS signing a new contract Dries Swanepoel will be the next player to pack his bags…..
@BOG:
……the 2011 Craven Week tournament was held in Kimberley …don’t you remember Free State won the final against Stoney’s lions side…..Welkom was in 2010 where WSS was captain….and Goosen ran the show. 
Oom Bog
We need some good classy scrumhalves to come thru the ranks now. This season Fourie du Preez reminded us how kak Ruan Pienaar is and has been for a long time now. In the away game against Australia Pienaar showed us how he should have been playing every week but sadly that was just for one game.
Over these last couple of weeks I’ve really enjoyed watch Faf de Klerk the Pumas no.9 on attack. Such a good appreciation of the value of quickball and so fluent at getting ball away from the breakdown.
@CharlesZA: True about Venter. I wish the Sharks could have signed him. I think he could make a useful outside centre
@Muzi: Your memory is failing you, which puts perspective on this list. That historic 60 mtr dash took place in the city of Welkom and not Kimberley.
Is Pine going to survive this year? I understand he had a very young team but it seemed like at times the team had no plan. The most important thing for Bulls now is to keep the right players. Some of the u21 guys that played CC wont make the cut and if they keep younger guys with a higher ceiling out of the side they will see more players like Swys Venter leave.
@CharlesZA:
Bulls have good young tight heat props coming through the structures…..it’s a pity poor Neethling Fouche battled with injury this year.
Pine Pinenaar did one good thing this whole season…that was to demote Greyling and Werner…..perhaps FL will see the light in 2014.
@Buffel:
Galant is great prospect but I have to agree with Beet he might have to settle for a place at wing or full back next year….those four centres are outstanding….Esterhuizen is a freak!
@Ludz: Hahahaha!I got that so wrong
@BOG:
I will add Corniel Els just to make you happy :mrgreen:…..he’s a good player same goes for Arno van Wyk.
I think your friend Thabo Mabuza will make it…..still can’t get that 60 metre dash out of my mind he was impressive that day in Kimberley against that awesome Grey Free State side.
Selvyn Davids is an outstanding player, really like him, was amazing for Kings u19s against Border u19s in the promotion-relegation 2 weeks ago, great skills
@BOG: Cornelius Els might make the squad, Bulls u19 hooker, not a bad player.
@beet: Muzi should know better by now, but I did notice his “escape clause”, the word “might”. I agree with the first three, but not sure about the latter two- they were not even always certainties for the 1sts. But who can really tell? Some only blossom after school, while other “early bloomers” disappear. It partly explains the high attrition rate.
@Playa: hahaha
way too old, he’ll be 22 next year, wonderful player is Shakes, very underrated player, but gifted
@BOG: I must say that the Grey 2012 team did not perform badly by any means but seemed to be without many Gr.12 stars that year.
There was only place on Muzi’s list for 50 but perhaps I can persuade him to include Corniel Els the Bulls hooker as there are only 3 other hookers in the squad.
This year Grey have several stars who look like they will do well in rugby. EW Viljoen will certainly push for a JWC place next year and down the line I expect Ruan Kramer to feature in 2015 preparations as well as the likes of Marius Louw, Andrew du Plessis, Stephen Rautenbach and maybe even Carel Durow.
About centres.
It’s a pity Neil Maritz the Boishaai and Sharks centre picked up a season ending injury. He looked like the best junior centre I’d seen this year.
Old Affie Nico Lee also impressed me for a guy who had been under the radar while at school. I think Phillip Orffer who is a lot like Janco Gunther in terms of skills and good reading of the game, might turn out the same as Lee.
I also think Leighton van Wyk the SACS / Bulls centre will be in the training group mix.
Gelant is multi talented. Being his first year of u20, he may not feature as a centre but he could well gain consideration as a wing or perhaps even a fullback. About playing centre is going to depend a lot on how he copes with defensive responsibilities.
@CharlesZA: Gallant is a surprise ommission . Really talented boy that has all the attributes to make it in the big time.
Not a single Grey College boy on that list ? Must be a historic first ? Im sure that this imbalance will be corrected a few years down the line, but I notice the word “might” in the comment.
@Queenian: Looking forward to seeing him
@Playa: Selwyn Davids is another Cheslin Colby in the making he is really good.
Good to see Selwyn Davids there. Hope he makes it, would love to finally see him play.
@Ludz: Is Soyiswaphi too old to be considered?
Good squad, I’d love to see Kings loose forward Kevin Kaba get a look in. Brilliant player, who can do the job at 6,7 or 8. Reckon he’s at his strongest at 8 though. Similar to Roelof Smit player.
Bulls seem a bit thin at TH prop.
Gallant seems like a name missing from the list.