| DHS | PORT NATAL | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abongile Xoshombe | Andre Janse van Rensburg |
| 2 | Dean Roberts | Wayne Wesson |
| 3 | Lukhanyo Dlungwana | Frans van Rensburg |
| 4 | Liam Whitfield | LeClue Bierman |
| 5 | Bheki Mkwanazi | Charl Sonnekus |
| 6 | Aza Thutsha | Ruan Smook |
| 7 | Pablo Rees | Ewlth Kok |
| 8 | Ntuli | Andre Nortje |
| 9 | Kwanda Ngidi | Frans Janse van Niewenhuis |
| 10 | Le Roux van Zyl | Duanne Smit |
| 11 | Sandile Biyela | Dean Badenhorst |
| 12 | Blessing Bhuthelezi | Estienne Verster |
| 13 | MJ Du Plessis | Chestwin Gaffley |
| 14 | Mabaso | Karl Terblanche |
| 15 | Mabuthana Peter | Zander White |
@beet: Can’t confirm that, but it happens. I watched a full back start trials on Saturday in the 4ths, then 3rds and eventually 2nds. He was U16B at centre and flyhalf last year. Boys change rapidly at this age, and often all they need is a chance in better company and they shine.
In my days we didn’t train as teams, we paired up, so 1sts and 2nds practiced together, 3rds and 4ths, 5ths and 6ths etc. Progression and succession was always in focus. Not sure how it works now, can’t see it happening any other way.
@Gungets Tuft:
Yes. thats exactly what happens. I think coaches need to communicate better with each other and tell each other how to utilise the players in the best way possible. DHS recently lost an u16A star player who is now at WBHS because they kept playing him out of position and thats not on.
Also, although im not going to mention names, coaching in one of the age groups in particular has been dismal, results show this.
On a good note, Alex Noot, brother of Matt, is a fantastic player and I hope he and his team mates are well looked after.
@beet:
Spot on. Putting emphasis on the b sides means you have some very handy players to replace those in the A side if need be so thats another area where school has gotten it wrong. Interestingly, the 2nd side has been playing some great rugby of late albeit against easier opposition but it does make you ask yourself about what exactly is happening with the 1st side
@HORSEFLY NO.1: @Gungets Tuft: I also think perhaps a case of all eggs in one basket when you have a good A-team and struggle to put together a B-team with no possibility of fielding a C or D team. Also if there is not enough focus on the B-team coaching, it could spell trouble down the line. I remember a few years back the College 1st XV Gr12 halves that played in one of the gutsiest games of rugby vs Affies on Goldstones, had both started their MC careers as the College u14D scrumhalf / flyhalf combo 5 years before that.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Eeisch. Well, lets see how they go as the season progresses.
As for development, it doesn’t happen by accident and the proper structures need to be put in place to develop and hand the kids over to the next age group. It seems that each age group might be quite insular and look at just their year and then fire them off and forget.
Some work to do.
Gungets
I really dont know what happened to School in that game. They are better than what they showed on the day and the result certainly came as a surprise to me and many others.
As far as being good in u14 and not carrying that on goes, I can only assume it has all to do with the failure of the school to develop the boys. To me it makes sense that if you have an u14A side doing really well you develop the boys so the other schools dont catch up with them. A case in point being the current u16A. They have not done much development since u14 when they had a great season. But time will tell how much each team has deteriorated if they have. School does have another fine u14A side this year and it would be a damn shame to see those boys do badly in a few years time.
@Green Hopper: Well, either Porties is back, or DHS has fallen badly as you say (or a co0mbination of the two). We will only know once DHS has played the Durban Tier-1 schools. It just seems strange that DHS can be so strong in the U14’s for a few successive years and not be able to carry that on. Perhaps Horse #1 can shed some light – it’s a mystery to me.
good to see they are back , really shows how bad DHS rugby has come, would like to know when the lasttiem Porties beat DHS?
Go Porties – rooting for you !