Please stick with me here as I attempt to share some of my opinions which actually just echo things said already mentioned by bloggers in earlier comments. Also please share your own thoughts on player/team performances.
Team of the Day: Monument
Player of the Day: Hendre Stassen (EG Jansen)
Forward of the Day: Juan Lemmer (Monument)
Back of the Day: Kyan Braithwaite (Westville)
Spirit: Glenwood and Westville
Match of the Day: Could not decide, all 6 games were good
Team of the Day: Monument (vs Affies)
The battle of the Witbulle turned out quite differently than I expected. It felt like the two schools reversed roles based on their respective Thursday performances. On Thursday during their game against Framesby, Monnas looked flat and had to hold on for desperate life to win that one. Later that day Affies played a brilliant all-round game against Selborne – the match was characterised by the way they arrived early and in numbers at the breakdown and amongst the backs there was good understanding and innovation. Based on this backdrop I thought Affies would take Monnas. I was very wrong!
At this point it’s worth mentioning the unwritten rule of festival rugby that requires schools to give all players an opportunity to start. The reshuffle worked for Monnas but not for Affies. Affies broke up their amazing loose-forward trio and made five changes in the backline. As hard as they tried and they did give it their best, they just could not reach the same level of cohesion as Thursday. This was most evident in their defensive patterns at times but also showed on attack. Monnas by comparison were in a fired up take no prisons type mood. They came up with the determination and variation required. In the first half, Monnas who were on the same page as a team, made big plays that produced points in the form of tries: 1) boxkick, indecision at back by AHS, collision by AHS players trying to get bouncing ball, last man standing equals arriving Monnas speed merchant wing Waldo Kriel, catch, run, try! 2) Lineout, Roodt to Herbst, well-coordinated rolling maul, dive over try for flank Gavin Delport! 3) Turnover, ball quickly through the hands, space on the outside, Waldo Kriel turns on the afterburner and leaves his marker for dead! 4) AHS kick away more possession, Monnas return with a big carry by no. 8 Juan Lemmer, one of many in part of his impressive work during the match, great recycling, ball through the hands, try for Kriel – Hat trick! At 27-7 at halftime it was effectively game over.
Forward of the day: Juan Lemmer
The powerful no.8 was part of Monnas success was just about not allowing Affies to get firm footing during this match, which required players like to step up on defence. He was just outstanding as a ball-carrier, making many metres.
Player of the Day: Handre Stassen (EG Jansen)
Others might have a different opinion on this one but for me, the 2m tall under-17 EG Jansen lock is in a different league as far as talent is concerned. He just looks like the real deal, a future senior level start in the making. During their game, the EG pack with Stassen in the mix did most things right. They scrummed well, their lineout both offensive and defensive was good, their rucking and ball running was of a high standard. They dominated their opponents Glenwood in this facet of the game.
Spirit: Glenwood (shared with Westville)
For those 15 boys and subs who put on the green jerseys and run on the rugby field and then show the great character as they did against a top rated EG Jansen, I just love their work. Against Jansies, in the face of huge physical onslaughts, this gutsy Glenwood team would not stand down to the challenge. The Green defensive wall took a hammering yet kept their shape and their commitment levels high and even used their initiative to turn defence into attack. On three occasions, EG Jansen in trying to advance an offensive in the Glenwood half, moved the ball away from their the pack of forwards, erred and Glenwood pounced to turn these mistakes into tries on the other side of the field. Some might say the luck of the bounce was on Glenwood’s side even still the Glenwood alertness and finishing was speed based and outstanding. As part of the team effort, names of x-factor players like Jaco Coetzee, Sparks Ngcobo and fullback Morné Joubert, who was nothing short of brilliant during this EG game, crop up just about every time they play. In these last two games though, my favourite Glenwood player has been flank James Venter, who has been adding some serious value to the Green Machine cause. Also hats off to the newish coaching partnership of Rudi Dames and Mike Vowles, who have quickly developed into quite a team themselves and prepare the team so well.
Backline player of the Day: Kyan Braithwaite (Westville)
I think for many, the scrumhalf and captain was player of the day. He didn’t put on a flawless display but it was still unbelievably good – like a 9.9 out of 10 good. Some of Kyan’s individual skills gave me goose-bumps and his decisions made too good! If ever a team needed a leader by example in the face of the toughest challenge of them all aka Grey College, this was it. He has a good rugby brain which he combines with attributes such as neat footwear, speed and soccer skills to make things happen.
Spirit: Westville (shared with Glenwood)
What I loved about Westville is they didn’t run on just to defend and live off scraps against Grey College, they went out there to play the style of rugby they wanted to play, which included taking the game to Grey and they did this with a great deal of self-belief. I think the only doubters were people like myself who prior to kick-off thought that Grey would steamroll them. Grey didn’t play with the same degree of fluency as they did against EG, in fact there were times when they looked rather average and nothing like a team regarded as the country’s best but a large part of that un-Grey-like performance was down to the heart shown by Westville. As their confidence grew, Westville’s attacking game improved and at one stage, with the scores deadlocked at 20-20 with just 5 minutes left to play, it was Westville who were attacking Grey when a pass was intercepted, resulting in a try for Grey’s outstanding flank Henry Slabbert.
Westville games have become highly entertaining. They play an attractive brand of rugby. What’s making it great is (a) the outstanding coaching of Grant Bell and Torsten Sorensen and (b) the fact that they are able to rely on many different players to step up and do special things. I mentioned how good Braithwaite was above. Other players include Nathan Meilhon, the 120kg body-checking flank with genuine x-factor ability, no.8 Teagan Erasmus who does little things all over the park that add up to so much, Wayne Smith, the straight hard running inside centre, Cody Thomas, the powerful tighthead, flank Adrian Heystek who has been a revelation, utility back Bradley Smith and the latest hero of the cause Renier Pieterse, who’s lineout work is impressive.
I know we have a somewhat easier fixture list but the teams we have come up against so far are top draw. Westville, Grey PE, PBHS, HTS MIDDELBURG,DALE and now E.G.Jansen and add a very physical Northwood side to the list , we can be proud. So far lost 2 games of which one we could have turned over.
We did tour Northern Natal where we won both fixtures handsomely . So of the 7 we have had 2 reversals.
We will take those results and look forward to a very demanding series of fixtures against MHS,COLLEGE and GLENWOOD. Hilton still an unknown quantity this year and must not be taken lightly, specially at home.
Glenwood, Grey PE, Grey Bloem, Affies and Monnas must have the toughest fixture list in SA….just crazy! By the end of the season Glenwood would have played about 10 of the top 20, 3 if which will be top 5!
I agree , GCB deserved the win and they are looking potent. I am really looking forward to GCB vs Monnas today , think that GCB have the full game and skill set to win against any SBR team on the planet.
also looking forward to GCB vs Glenwood later in the season , and Monnas , and Affies – love SBR season!!!
@BOG: yep, we are all celebrating coming close to Grey, that is a compliment especially when your sides usually lose by 50 or more…
Just one thing surprizes me. With so many accolades, compliments and praises going to GCBs opponents and individuals in those teams, has anyone noticed the scores?
Great result for Glenwood against a tough opposition.KERF fixtures have setup the season nicely.The rugby at KERF has been top class , I find the tempo faster than what I saw at Grey PE festival and looking forward to all teams moving into top gear for Wildeklawer. I have been reading that many on the forum are saying it is too much rugby with too little recovery.
Will this impact on the quality of the rugby played on the last day of KERF & Wildeklawer? New top player and top team elements emerging in the modern game.
@Griffon: Yeah that would be good to do, it’s just that I’m not sure unbeaten Hilton can be done any justice in the selections right now. Not many will be able to compare the likes of Gouws, Dahl, Blewett, Marx and Loftus to other candidates.
This Sat is tough as well to choose Hilton. Game of the day has to be Michaelhouse vs Westville. Plus there is Northwood vs Jeppe to weigh up against Hilton vs Kearsney
@beet: I must agree I thought Braithwaites boots where very nice and well looked after
Tristan Dixon from KC also looks like a very good lock!! Immelmann was wasted on the wing IMO but Westville did manage to keep him isolated!! Adrian Grieg is indeed a good player along with the 21 from Monnas!! Thanks for all the hard work and dedication to the cause!!
@ Beet : Having watched most of the top KZN schools play. How about you compile a “Craven Week” from what you’ve watched and from the bloggers comment ?
@Boom: Awesome stuff! between 19:20 and 19:42, your opinion on Morne Joubert has not changed.
Look maybe one day I’d like to claim know it all status but for now I’m happy for anyone who is willing to comment on players. Trust me no one is going to count my opinion from the stands any more than yours, so it’s all good. If you feel Morne is player of the day and you can put it in black and white for all to see, that’s what matters most.
Only the 2 at Kearsney
@Boom: Which Selborne games have you watched this season?
I dont think they played well by any means. Far from their best.
I still think that Joubert had the game of his life. I have never seen a full back pull of tackle after tackle like that. It was unbelievable
@Boom: The Selborne openside flank is Adrian Grieg. He is one of many good Eastern Cape openside flanks around at the moment.
The Selborne flyhalf is Morgan Steyn. He had standout performance. From what I’ve seen before, when he plays well, Selborne plays well. Selborne played well against Framesby but I’ve seen them play better.
@beet: thanks Beet :-)
My player of the day had to be Morně Joubert. Without his try saving tackles, solid defence and never say die attitude in the first half, Glenwood would’ve had a very different result. For me he was clearly the standout player of the day.
Another 2 players stood out for me. Not sure of their names, but the Selborne flyhalf and the #6. That flanker was everywhere. He won a few turnovers and made many telling tackles. The flyhalf can read a game well and his possitional play was spot on.
@Grasshopper: Ja you are right. I’ve removed the dig. Let this article just be a celebration of the achievements of the boys.
Those dig / debates can be saved are for another day.
@Grasshopper: I agree that other schools are also recruiting, but bringing a player in a week before a major festival is pushing it a bit don’t you think. There is probably a boy been playing his guts out in the 2nds for the last few weeks who has just missed out on a great opportunity to play in one of the top festivals in the country.
Good article bar the dig in the beginning, not sure why everyone has to always mention recruitment policy when all the other schools are doing the exact same thing. It’s not right but what else can bloggers and Old Boys do or say bar asking the head to change, which we have done. Northwood, Hilton, Westville etc have all brought in boys….anyway rant over, 6 from 6 is a good start for the boys in green!