Many passionate school rugby followers of the Eastern Cape region were able to attend the Graeme Rugby Day and the Grey High Festival. I asked a handful of these supporters of the wonderful game to come up with their selections for a combined Eastern Province / Border team. Here is the net result of their combined efforts:
| # | Name | School | AgeG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Howse | Grey HS | u18 |
| 2 | Alandre van Rooyen | Nico Malan | u18 |
| 3 | Erich de Jager | Brandwag | u18 |
| 4 | Robert Lyons | Selborne | u18 |
| 5 | Junior Polomela | Grey HS | u18 |
| 6 | Johan van Niekerk | Grey HS | u18 |
| 7 | Morney Moos | Brandwag | u18 |
| 8 | Lamond Bouwer | Grey HS | u18 |
| 9 | Brody von Goevreden | Grey HS | u18 |
| 10 | Curwin Bosch | Grey HS | u17 |
| 11 | Jerry Danquah | Queen’s | u18 |
| 12 | David Britz | Selborne | u17 |
| 13 | Keanu Vers | Grey HS | u18 |
| 14 | Milani Lubelwana | Selborne | u18 |
| 15 | Liam McLoughlin | Selborne | u18 |
| 16 | Keegan Branford | Grey HS | u18 |
| 17 | JP Jamieson | Kingswood | u19 |
| 18 | Michael de Marco | Grey HS | u17 |
| 19 | Nelius van Heerden | Marlow | u18 |
| 20 | Devron Cameron | Kingswood | u18 |
| 21 | Courtney Winnaar | Dale | u17 |
| 22 | Dylan Vermaak | Grey HS | u18 |
| 23 | Thango Balekile | Selborne | u18 |
@GCollege86: Ok thanks
@CHS08: Its the no.1 prop Tango Balekile
@QC86: Do u perhaps know who the captain for the Selborne 1st team is?
@QC86: Rudi enjoy boet it will take a lot for Queens to come away with a win here. Must be hard for you with your son playing for Selborne.
From what I have seen so far Selborne have to much for Queens to handle unless they get there game plan on track some time.
@QC86:
:lol:, should be good fun this weekend.
@Ludz: yes can’t wait, the frontranker flew in from the usa to day and it sounds as if most of the team will be there.I am making grant and scrappy walk up to QTn, , just doing my bit for a QC win
@QC86: 30th reunion of that mighty Queen’s 1st XV..this weekend will bring back a lot of memories hey. Good luck Tian, Grant and the lads. They’ll need it on the Rec
@Knight-CHS07: I am so irritated with the Grey Injuries how unfortunate to have so many injuries all at once. This is their dream team. I watched these kids as u13’s, 14’s and 15’s whilst i was still studying at Varsity. i hope they beat Paul Roos. @Mike: Do you perhaps know when some of these kids are coming back?
@CHS08: I hope the CHS vs Hudson game ends just after 14:00, so we can get a glimpse of the Grey vs PRG game.
@Playa: hahahahahahahahahahahaha i will also take sabbatical if we lose to Hudson Park this weekend yhu.
@Knight CHS07: Really excited about Saturday this weekend mate. Beautiful weather.
@Playa:
yes sir i agree with you there. CHS08 and I were disappointed that Cambridge lost that one. CHS was also unlucky against Selborne as well, they lost 17-19 
in a game where they totally dominated.
@Knight_CHS07: Dale was lucky to win the second game against CHS last year.
@Playa:
Grens are a strange side hey. Last year they beat Dale yet they lost to CHS, and CHS lost to DALE twice…
@CHS08: I will go on sabbatical from the blog if we go down to Grens…NOT for 2 years in a row…UNOTSHE!!!
@Playa: What is happening at the Stormers is a travesty, Dale needs to be aware of Grens this weekend, i think Dale should put them away though. @GCollege 86:
alias “rooies”
@Playa: That Coetzer must leave the Stormers!!!!!!!!!! Nonetheless you guys must be weary of Grens they play as a team and are very passionate and would die for each other just ask Ludz what happened to the KUDU, i must say however that Queen’s was horrible that day i am sure Dale will put them away. Dale head to head counts against most schools is very impressive. i have no doubt that Dale is traditional a top 20 rugby school.
@GCollege86:
“Fire ECT” oh i must say i love that age group those boys are brilliant especially Morgan and Britz. Queens will be in trouble this weekend.
@CHS08: His name is Heinrich Niewenhuizen, alias rooies / ginger / fires ect. Played wing last year but prefer flank.
Would’ve included one or two Framesby boys……!!
@CHS08: I’d be really surprised if Hudson win this one.
Let’s think happy thoughts and not talk about the Stormers
@QC86: Ok thanks. @Playa: Cambridge really has a good team this year i will be livid if they lose to Hudson Park this weekend.
Why is Coetzer still head coach for my beloved Stormers team??? Really this is not funny anymore.
@CHS08: Boloko looks as if he will slot into the 2nd xv,but early days yet.
@QC86@Knight CHS07: i also cannot pronounce that boy’s surname all i know is that he played 14 for Selborne’s briiliant 16a team. Very good player infact that whole Selborne 16a team was magnificent. i also call him “rooikop”. Do you know what team Boloko is playing first or 2nd team?
@QC86: Lets stick to “red head” lol. I called him “rooi kop”…
because i couldn’t remember his name.
@CHS08: Courtney is there mate.
@Knight_CHS07: i know his name,spelling it a different matter.here goes.H Van Neuwenhuizen,spell check is flashing madly.
i cannot believe Morgan Steyn and Courtney could be left out of any Eastern Cape team.
@Playa: Eish san…that 2007 Baboona team was something else ey…they killed Hudson Park 57-0 that year, in a match that looked like “practice” to them
. You can view the Selborne 2007-2013 rugby results on their website.
@QC86:
lol @ “red head”. What’s his name (“red head”)? The boy has speed and agility i agree with you there
@Beet: Cambridge is also playing Hudson Park biggest game in East London this weekend.
@spilly: ja in QTN,and reunion mixed feelings for me
loose trio is Greig salem and steyn.would have liked to see red head in at flank,all 3 loose forwards and hooker all play the same type of game,we need a bit of speed in there.Voight needs to work on his mobility around the park and his work rate is not good but he is very strong.
@Knight_CHS07: They had better. Or else they will face an embarrassment close to Dale’s in 2007 when they were handed 50 points by Selborne at reunion. Thank goodness I wasn’t there to see that.
CHS vs Hudson should be a good one. But I reckon CHS will have the upper hand here…based on current form. But form counts for vokol when it comes to derbies, so we’ll see.
@Playa: Yes the game is in Queenstown, what a pity i would’ve love to see that game. I just hope Queens brings they’re A-game come match day. I’ll be @ Hudson Park this Saturday watching the CHS vs Hudson game…it should be a thriller.
@QC86 Voight is he dropped or injured all the best to Selborne who is the loose trio
@beet: Oh wonderful!!! I’d like to see that game and this Bosch kid.
@spilly: @QC86: Is the QC vs Selborne game in Queenstown?I presume it’s QC’s reunion. Based on current form, the Kudu is in for a hiding.
@QC86: True. The depth at openside is especially good in the province. I have lots to praise about Johan van Niekerk and Nelius van Heerden’s play. The Selborne no.6 was very good as well. I haven’t even had a chance to watch Morney Moos, who I’m told is really good and then the Framesby boy apparently also stood out at Pukke.
@spilly: Selborne has only on change and that is voight out and sky in at loose head.@beet: I really enjoy the talent that is around, loose farwards are plenty to
Hope some of the bloggers are going to the Queens vs Selborne game. Would be great if we could have the squads before the game and also comments during the game .Good luck to both teams.
Thango should be starting loosehead.
Well the good news for anyone attending the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival is being able to see Courtney Winnaar and Morgan Steyn. Also by watching the Grey High match on TV this Sat just after 14h00, there’s a chance to see what Bosch as to offer. There isn’t a need to play these boys off against one another, just appreciate how good they are for u17s.
In a few weeks time, Wildeklawer Day 1 will be aired. It sounds like the Kwaggas also have something special at 10 amongst others, so hopefully their game will be on the box.
I think our top u17 KZN no.10 from MHS wasn’t on top form at Grey PE but he too is special.
There is a lot of talent at flyhalf these days. I’m not sure we’re able to rave about no.9’s in quite the same way so hopefully some exceptional scrumhalves start standing out in games around the country over the next few weeks.
Winnaar played fullback at grant khomo last year and fullback for most of his rugby career, thus I picked him there, way to good to be on the bench.
@Playa: Oh ok. Thanks.
@BuiteBreek: I think this is just based on the teams that played at the Graeme Rugby Day and Grey Festival.
No place for Stefan Jansen van Vuuren. Saw him play at Oakdale and did quite a bit and caught my eye. Nice hardworking flanker with a lineout option.
@beet: I watched a fair bit of Courtney Wizzard and Morgan Steyn over the last few years, it was Curwin Bosch who I watched for the 1st time this year, he’s been impressive. All 3 are quality players and it’s such a privilege for all of us EC schoolboy rugby spectators to watch these boys
I think what’s scary about all three flyhalves (Bosch, Wizzard and Steyn) and I enjoyed watching all of them because they are all different in style, is that they are all still u17. Still one year to go and they are already so good
@Pedantic: Good point
I think a lot of the time, spectators’ opinions are skewed by the big reputations of certain players.
You may well find that “the wizard” would stand out objectively, but add the reputation of Bosch and he gets the nod.
We saw this in the Kearsney 2012 / 2013 season where the reputation of the twins outshone Schramm who was under the radar for a long time – ultimately though, the class prevails.
@Playa: The Bosch kid is really good bra, i’ll admit. I watched him against Marlow, he was superb. Mr Winnaar on the same day (Graeme Rugby Day), was in my opinion was just a bit better.
One blogger on the Grey PE Festival thread mentioned that “The Wizard” was one of the best players of the tournament (in his opinion). I suppose it’s arguable hey
@Knight_CHS07: This Curwin Bosch kid must be something special to relegate Winnaar to the bench.
Interesting list Beet…good to see Courtney “The Wizard” Winnaar on that list
. I am however disappointed that Morgan Steyn isn’t on the list.
David Britz is by far the best center i have seen thus far, that boy is going places…