Grant Hermanus, Paarl Gim current fullback and 2013 Craven Week player of the Year will start on the wing for the WP that takes on EP in the under-19 competition today. Interestingly Paarl Gim has a game against Rondebosch tomorrow.
| # | EP KINGS u19 | SCHOOL | WP u19 | SCHOOL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Murray | St Andrews | 1 | Kyle Whyte | Rondebosch |
| 2 | Jayson Reinecke | Cambridge | 2 | Martin Wipplinger | Grey College |
| 3 | Thembelihle Yase | Cambridge | 3 | Lebohang Mdakane | Treverton |
| 4 | Gerrit Huisamen | Grey HS | 4 | Ruan du Preez | Die Brandwag |
| 5 | Sintu Manjezi | St Andrews | 5 | FP Pelser | Witteberg |
| 6 | CJ Velleman | Grey HS | 6 | Charlton Jonas | HJS Paarl BH |
| 7 | Tyler Paul | St Andrews | 7 | Luke Stringer | Rondebosch |
| 8 | Wynand Grassmann | Despatch | 8 | Rikus Bothma | Paarl Gim |
| 9 | Jason Baggott | St Andrews | 9 | Brendon Nell | Paarl Gim |
| 10 | Malcolm Jaer | Die Brandwag | 10 | Ernst Stapelberg | Framesby |
| 11 | Julio Abels | Union | 11 | Grant Hermanus | Paarl Gim |
| 12 | Vincent Moss | Grey HS | 12 | Ryan Oosthuizen | Paarl Gim |
| 13 | Lindelwe Zungu | Piet Retief | 13 | Jarryd Sage | Wynberg |
| 14 | Martin Keller | DF Malan | 14 | Dewald Naude | HJS Paarl BH |
| 15 | Cameron Hertz | Kingswood | 15 | Heinrich Buhr | Boland Landbou |
| 16 | JP Jamieson | Kingswood/Grey HS | 16 | Hanno Snyman | Oakdale |
| 17 | Mathew Jackson | Westville | 17 | Mihlali Mtongana | Dale |
| 18 | James Beyl | Marlow | 18 | Francois vs Merwe | HJS Paarl BH |
| 19 | Elandre vd Merwe | Brandwag | 19 | Michael Teichmann | Glenwood |
| 20 | Qhama Mvimbi | Dale | 20 | Dylan Harlen | Grey College |
| 21 | Jason Vers | Union | 21 | Damian Stevens | HJS Paarl BH |
| 22 | Kewan Gibb | Queen’s | 22 | Brandon Thomson | Ermelo |
| 23 | Mihlali Nchukana | Dale | 23 | Adriaan Carelse | Hottentots-Holl |
| LEOPARDS Last Week | SCHOOL | FREE STATE u19 | SCHOOL | ||
| 1 | Farrel Kelly | Drostdy | 1 | Ox Nche | Louis Botha |
| 2 | Louis vd Westhuizen | Namibia | 2 | Reinach Venter | Waterkloof |
| 3 | Mogau Mabokela | Ben Vorster | 3 | Gunther jv Vuuren | Monument |
| 4 | Joshua van Niekerk | Potch Volkskool | 4 | Johan Grundlingh | Transvalia |
| 5 | Walt Steenkamp | Rustenburg | 5 | SJ Roux | Boland Landbou |
| 6 | Dolf van Deventer | Sasolburg | 6 | Willandre Kotzenberg | HTS Middelburg |
| 7 | Jacques van Zyl | Noordheuwel | 7 | Junior Burger | Duineveld |
| 8 | Tiaan Bezuidenhout | Rustenburg | 8 | Jasper Wiese | Upington |
| 9 | Wessel Kuhn | Warmbad | 9 | TJ Goddard | Tygerberg |
| 10 | Julian Delicado | Grey College | 10 | Darren Barron | Paarl Gim |
| 11 | Allen Muller | HTS Middelburg | 11 | Lorenzo Gordon | Oakdale |
| 12 | Gene Willemse | Oakdale | 12 | Andre Swarts | Grey College |
| 13 | Elden Schoeman | Vereeniging Gim | 13 | Stephen Rautenbach | Grey College |
| 14 | Sydney du Plessis | Kempton Park | 14 | Gerrie Labuschagne | Die Anker |
| 15 | Brendon Kahts | Sentraal | 15 | Sechaba Matsoele | Voortrekker (Beth) |
| 16 | Boyza Magalakangqa | Louis Botha | 16 | Heinrich de Jongh | Garsfontein |
| 17 | Roan Grobbelaar | Helpmekaar | 17 | Johan Kotze | Grey College |
| 18 | Louis Grey | Potch Gim | 18 | Hendri Storm | Outeniqua |
| 19 | Andre Potgieter | Frikkie Meyer | 19 | Nardus Erasmus | Waterkloof |
| 20 | Ferlin Vers | HJS Paarl BH | 20 | Christiaan Erasmus | Nelspruit |
| 21 | Akhona Nela | Grey College | 21 | Carel Durow | Grey College |
| 22 | Ray van der Lith | Piet Retief | 22 | Arno van Staden | Pietersburg |
| 23 | Michael Kruger | EG Jansen | 23 | Chrisjan Roux | Grey College |
| GOLDEN LIONS u19 | SCHOOL | BLUE BULLS u19 | SCHOOL | ||
| 1 | Arnout Malherbe | Transvalia | 1 | Xander van Wyk | Waterkloof |
| 2 | Pieter Jansen | EG Jansen | 2 | Francois Steyn | Affies |
| 3 | Clinton Theron | Florida | 3 | Johan van Wyk | Waterkloof |
| 4 | Estian Enslin | EG Jansen | 4 | Jason Jenkins | St Albans |
| 5 | Matthew le Roux | HJS Paarl BH | 5 | Burger van Niekerk | HJS Paarl BH |
| 6 | Derik Bezuidenhout | Affies | 6 | Martin Groenewald | Grey HS |
| 7 | Dylan Vlok | Monument | 7 | Calvonn Allison | Affies |
| 8 | Vernon Peterson | Paul Roos | 8 | Hanro Liebenberg | Drostdy |
| 9 | Johan Esterhuizen | Monument | 9 | Ivan van Zyl | Affies |
| 10 | Shaun Reynolds | Goudveld | 10 | Dewald Human | Outeniqua |
| 11 | Johan Mitchell | Affies | 11 | Duhan vd Merwe | Outeniqua |
| 12 | Gerdus vd Walt | Monument | 12 | Simon Bolze | Queens |
| 13 | Xander Cronje | EG Jansen | 13 | Peet Schoeman | Marlow |
| 14 | Godfrey Ramaboa | KES | 14 | Jixie Molapo | Ben Vorster |
| 15 | Kobus Engelbrecht | EG Jansen | 15 | Dimitrio Tieties | Noord-Kaap |
| 16 | CJ Conradie | Monument | 16 | Vuyo Khatide | Maritzburg College |
| 17 | Marius Greyvensteyn | EG Jansen | 17 | Njabula Gumede | Maritzburg College |
| 18 | Roelof Diedericks | Garsfontein | 18 | Stefaan Grundlingh | Outeniqua |
| 19 | Divan Jonck | Centurion | 19 | Denzil Hill | Jeppe |
| 20 | Pieter Labuschagne | EG Jansen | 20 | Theo Maree | Ben Vorster |
| 21 | Ronald Brown | Montagu | 21 | Remu Malan | Outeniqua |
| 22 | Dwayne Pienaar | Monument | 22 | Attie Louw | Boland Landbou |
| 23 | Arne van Rensburg | Garsfontein | 23 | Jurie Linde | Affies |
Report from SARugby.net
Bulls U19s back to winning ways, FS on the charge
August 10, 2014
The Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-19 side returned to winning ways in the Absa Under-19 Provincial Championship’s A-Division, scoring a good 36-11 away win over the Xerox Golden Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday, while the Toyota Free State extended their winning run by beating the Leopards 26-18 at Olënpark in Potchefstroom.
The DHL Western Province on Friday kept their perfect season intact by beating the EP Kings in Port Elizabeth, scoring four tries in the process.
The Free State side, which last week scored an upset win in Pretoria, has now moved to third on the log, just one point behind the Blue Bulls and four behind WP.
A summary of the weekend’s matches are:
Xerox Golden Lions 11 (6), Vodacom Blue Bulls 36 (22)
In Johannesburg, the Vodacom Blue Bulls regrouped well by beating the home side in a commanding performance. They showed much more enterprise on attack that last week, with flyhalf Dewald Human in fine form.
The Outeniqua-schooled back scored two tries in the win and ran the cutter with great authority, enjoying the platform laid by his hard-working forwards.
The five tries to one scored by the visitors reflected their dominance, especially in the first half. They scored three times in the opening 20 minutes and never really looked back after that.
Scorers:
Golden Lions (Under-19) 11 (6). Try: Gerdus van der Walt. Penalties: Kobus Engelbrecht (2).
Blue Bulls (Under-19). Tries: Dewald Human (2), Hanro Liebenberg, Matjikinyane Molapo (2). Conversions: Human (4). Penalty: Human.
Leopards 18 (5), Toyota Free State 28 (7).
The Free State started in perfect fashion by scoring a try in the second minute of the match, but scoring opportunities for the rest of the half proved difficult. The Leopards scored a late try in the half to reward some good work on attack, with the visitors going into the break with a slender lead.
It all changed early in the second half though as the Leopards were shown a yellow card. In the ten minutes that followed, the visitors scored twice and opened up a lead they never surrendered.
Scorers:
Leopards (Under-19) 18 (5). Tries: Ray van der Lith (2), Walt Steenkamp. Penalty: Brendon Kahts.
Free State (Under-19) 28 (7). Tries: Arno van Staden (2), Johan Grundlingh, Tyron Goddard. Conversions: André Swarts (2), Tyron Labuschagne.
EP Kings 10 (3), DHL Western Province 38 (16).
The visiting Capetonians had too much ammunition in their arsenal for the EP Kings, who held on well in the first half.
The home side battled to contain the impressive WP pack that laid a solid foundation and allowed their back some attacking space. WP flyhalf Ernst Stapelberg returned to his old stomping ground and reminded all the spectators of his kicking abilities, landing four penalties and two conversions.
The WP never had it their own way though and could only score their bonus point in the final play of the game.
Scorers:
EP Kings (Under-19) 10 (3). Try: CJ Velleman. Conversion: Malcolm Jaer. Penalty: Jaer.
WP (Under-19) 38 (16). Tries: Charlton Jonas, Dewald Naude, Heinrich Buhr, Rickus Bothma. Conversions: Ernst Stapelberg (2), Brandon Thomson. Penalties: Stapelberg (4).
•It was the opening weekend of the Absa Under-19 Provincial Championship’s B-Division as well.
In Welkom, Down Touch Griffons scored a 22-17 win over GWK Griquas, while in Kempton Park’s Barnard Stadium, the Valke had too much power for Border, winning 45-7.
@Bull23: And to understand the might of the Bulls TUKS 1 whipped police with only 14 players for 50 odd minutes, Impressive indeed but everybody walked away from the game feeling that the game was a bit unfair.
@Bull23: Had a long discussion with the old guard Saturday, @ Carlron Cup Finals, and all agreed – revive the amateur clubs and acknowledge them as a source of talent.
The suggestion was that contracting at u/19 level should be limited with boys forced to play club rugby. Therefore opening the pool up and have more boys playing.
The amateur clubs have a problem with teams like Tuks who is professional and an extension of the Bulls. There is talks that Tuks Fezelas and B underage group sides must be allowed to play Carlton Cup on the condition that only amateurs play for these sides. Unfortunately everyone knows that this will not happen. As we see some contracted Bulls players representing the Bulls Amateur sides in next week’s amateur week in Pietersburg. When money talks Honour walks – so true.
@vatikaki: It is sad that so many good players don’t get game time. I believe that somewhere there must be a solution to keep these quality players in the system. The current contracting system is killing the game as the youngsters just stop playing rugby. Take for instance the Joyce twins of Waterkloof did not get contracts and they are now normal students not playing rugby. If we take the players in the WP squad as well as other squads with no or little game time and add a lot of talented players who left school at the end of last year without contracts we’ll be able to have a lot of potential provincial and springbok players. The player base in South Africa is not as big as we thought for a rugby grazy country and maybe that will catch up with us in the future.
@beet: @vatikaki:
Come to think of it, the Kings have two outstanding loose-forwards in CJ Velleman and Tyler Paul. I haven’t seen or heard anything about Grassmann but the fact that he’s able to keep big strong Elandre vd Merwe out of the starting lineup, suggests there must be something to worthwhile to his game.
@vatikaki: I really feel for Dian Koen and Wiehan Jacobs if they are fit. Those are two players who looked like they were set to make a big impact on the junior rugby scene. It’s just where do players like that go to? There are so many good loosies around. Perhaps the Kings or Leopards would have been a better bet.
@Vatikaki: That is a lot of players not playing top flight rugby. Surely it would be better off for them to go on loan to other weaker Unions – not in the CC to cause any upsets, but perhaps to a region like Border for instance? This would increase the level of professionalism in the weaker region and ultimetly, strengthen SA rugby??
@Bull23:
– Thabani Mtsi I assume is injured.
– Regardt Louw in behind Daniel du Plessis, Martin Wipplinger & it seems Hannes Snyman as well now.
– Brett Paulse I assume is injured
– Graham Geldenhuys behind 5 other locks in Ruan du Preez, Johan Momsen, Dylan Harlen, FP Pelser & Michael Teichmann. Notice he played nr. 8 for the Academy side on the weekend though.
– David Ribbans in the same boat as Geldenhuys. Just back on the depth chart.
– Christo van der Merwe sitting behind Charlton Jonas, Luke Stringer, Rikus Bothma & Michael de Waal. May see game-time soon perhaps.
– Dian Koen same as Christo vd Merwe. Could see game-time soon.
– Wiehan Jacobs probably injured.
– Siya Alam sitting behind probable SA U20 flyhalf and a former SA Schools flyhalf in Ernst Stapelberg & Brandon Thomson.
– Luan Boshoff also down the depth chart at flyhalf.
– Dennis Cox is still at school.
– Pieter Rossouw must be down the depth chart with 2 SA Schools wings in Hermanus & Zas, and then also Dewald Naude & Heinrich Buhr.
– Sibahle Maxwane sitting behind 3 good centres so not likely to see game-time unless there are injuries.
– Daylan Daniels also down the depth chart at wing.
– Joel Heugh same story on the wing.
– Khanyo Ngcukana must be injured.
– EW Viljoen is injured.
@vatikaki: It seems that you have a better change to get game time at the Bulls this year. What is the reason for the bulk of WP players not playing?
U19 B Division:
Pumas 40 – 22 SWD
Falcons 45 – 7 Border
Griffons 21 – 17 Griquas
Pumas look a side on the way up so hopefully their U19’s can win promotion (and they make the U19 & U21 competition an 8-team comp).
Expecting the Leopards to win promotion to the Currie Cup next year at the expense of the Griquas so it’d be great if we mirrored all 3 competitions.
The 6 Super Rugby franchises, the Pumas & the Leopards in all 3 Premier Division grades, who then have the same fixtures every week.
At the very least have the 6 SR franchise teams fixtures match-up with each other.
Fingers crossed someone at SARU is switched on.
U19 contracted players who have yet to see action this season.
Bulls:
Stephan Ebersohn – Prop/Lock, EP Craven Week
Geor Malan – Openside, SWD Craven Week
Abongile Nonkontwana – Lock/Blindside, Bulls Craven Week, SA Under-20
Matthew Alborough – Scrumhalf, EP Craven Week
Kurt Webster – Flyhalf, KZN Craven Week
Mario Wilson – Winger, Paarl BHS 2nd XV
Thys van Wyk – Winger, Affies
Cheetahs:
Joseph Dweba – Hooker, Border Craven Week, SA U20 – returned to school
Ryno Gerber – Hooker, Sentraal
Morne de Beer – Hooker, Fichardtpark
Casper Fourie – Lock, Free State Craven Week, Played for Free State U19 last season.
Refuoe Rampeta – Openside, Free State Craven Week, SA Schools
Jandre Slabbert – Number-8, Affies
Andries Kriek – Number-8, Free State Craven Week
Ethan Sias – Winger, Bulls Craven Week
Corne Vermaak – Fullback, KZN Craven Week
EP Kings:
Kweku Borsah – Lock, Cambridge
Justin Hollis – Number-8, Border Craven Week
Nick Beswick – Scrumhalf, Grey High
Somila Jho – Centre, Border Craven Week – returned to school.
Lions:
CJ Greeff – Loosehead, Lions Craven Week
Kerron van Vuuren – Hooker, KZN Craven Week
Ernest Sumner – Tighthead, Griffons Craven Week
Rholane Ncubuka, Falcons Craven Week
Ethan Louw – Lock, Pretoria BHS
Muharua Katjijeko – Openside, Namibia Craven Week
Morne Swart – Blindside, Falcons Craven Week
Jeandre Pitzer – Flyhalf, Centurion
Fernando Kermis – Centre, Lions Craven Week
Stefan le Roux – Centre, Monnas
Richard Janse van Rensburg – Winger, Garsfontein
Erwin Harris – Fullback, Lions Craven Week, Played for Lions U19 last season
Abri Reynolds – Fullback, Monnas
Sharks:
Andrew du Plessis – Hooker, Free State Craven Week
Petrus du Buson – Lock, HTS Middelburg
Wandi Mazibuko – Blindside, KZN Craven Week
Western Province:
Thabani Mtsi – Loosehead, Border Craven Week, SA Schools
***Regardt Louw – Hooker, Paarl Gim
Brett Paulse – Tighthead, Western Province Craven Week
***Graham Geldenhuys – Lock, Rondebosch
David Ribbans – Lock, Somerset College
***Christo van der Merwe – Blindside, Paul Roos
***Dian Koen – Number-8, SWD Craven Week
Wiehan Jacobs – Number-8, Lions Craven Week
***Siya Alam – Flyhalf, Western Province Craven Week
***Luan Boshoff – Flyhalf, Paarl BHS
Dennis Cox – Flyhalf, Western Province Craven Week – returned to school.
***Pieter Rossouw – Winger, Paul Roos
***Sibahle Maxwane – Centre, Dale
***Daylan Daniels – Winger, Paarl BHS
Joel Heugh – Winger, Paul Roos
Khanyo Ngcukana – Fullback, Western Province Craven Week
EW Viljoen – Fullback, Free State Craven Week, SA Schools
***All played for the WP Academy side against France over the weekend
Players who played their first games this weekend:
Bulls:
– Desmond Stramis – Openside, Namibia Craven Week (hooker at Craven Week, played Openside on the weekend)
Cheetahs:
– Carl Durow – Centre, Grey College
Lions:
– Johan Labuschagne – Scrumhalf, Lions Craven Week, SA Schools 2012
Western Province:
– Francois van der Merwe – Tighthead, Western Province Craven Week
– Brandon Thomson – Flyhalf, Pumas Craven Week, SA Schools
– Grant Hermanus – Winger, Western Province Craven Week, SA Schools
@beet: Beet, OK, I see he is injured, but I have contact with close family of RG and I believe he is held in high regard with the Bulls. That’s where I recently heard that he is being fast tracked.
No rush, though, the kid is talented and should make it big, barring injuries.
RG is injured will be back next week. If it was not for his injury as well as Philip Orffer who has a hamstring problem, there would have been 9 Affies players in the 2 squads for todays match. Add WP and Morne from Cheetas and Thys and Heinrich – Bulls and the 2013 Affies team is well presented.
@Djou:Having the reps is awesome but at the end of the day it’s still a team sport. Maybe more credit should go to the 1st XVs that performed well without having go to players. These schools possibly relied more on good team work and deserve more credit?
@tzavosky: I went onto the Bulls website to retrieve the u19 team sheet and had a squizz at their u21 squad. No RG. The Bulls contracted some top SBR locks and then bought the likes of Willemse and Hattingh for their seniors as well, not to mention inviting Matfield back, so it’s a bit of a bottleneck in Pretoria at the moment. A few years back I reckoned Franco Mostert was a standout for their u21s but he’s had to find a new home in Jozi since. Bottom line it’s difficult to leapfrog in certain positions at Loftus at the moment.
Here is the u21 team. Between Visser, Orie and blindside flank Kirsten, they have three SA u20 locks.
Jacques Rossouw, Marquit September, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Dan Kriel, Jade Stighling, Kobus Marais, JP Smith, Ruan Steenkamp, Jannes Kirsten, Roelof Smit, Marvin Orie, Dennis Visser, Neethling Fouche, Arno van Wyk, Mox Mxoli. Replacements: Jan Enslin, Pierre Schoeman, Jean Droste, Christiaan de Bruin, Carlo Engelbrecht, Joshua Stander, Leighton van Wyk.
@Woltrui: Regarding RG, did you perhaps checked the u.21 squad? I’ve heard he’s being fast tracked for higher honours, so it may well be the case.
@Beet: @BuffelsCM: I agree – 5 is very good and 7, well, then it must have been a real top team.
Made me think. I guess another way to rank a school is in the next year – when we see the number of representatives in the u.19 and u.21 squads.
Would be interesting to rank in this way.
@beet: Absolutely Beet!! Guys like Gavin v d Berg, Wayno Visagie and Leaviel Gouws played first team last year too – it means that the conversion rate (of those that have left school) is exceptional IMO
@Djou: @BuffelsCM: I would still say 5 is a very good representation to have. 7 is brilliant.
@Woltrui: RG must be injured. He has been a 1st choice up until now.
@BuffelsCM: Johan Momsen is injured according to the WP website and is therefore not available this weekend.
@Djou: Don’t forget about Jacques Vermeulen and JD Schickerling that are playing WP U/21.
Beet do you by any chance know if RG Snyman, the regular no 5 for the Bulls is injured? I see he is not in the BB/19 squad
Tough weekend for the Lions, but you can do it !
13 ; 11 ; 15 probably where Bulls has the advantage
Paarl Gim last year’s top school only has 5 players in all the teams, including Grant Hermanus. Is that the conversion rate of a top school to provincial senior age group teams?
Hermanus will be a Springbok! No doubt in my mind about it! All aspects of his play just show the class in the boy!!!!
@iRugby: Thanks for this input.
I must say over the years I’ve witnessed many schoolboys turning out for their u19 provinces but this is the 1st time I can remember a school player being released by his school to play provincial rugby when they have a match on the same weekend. Times are indeed changing.
Anyway an exception in Hermanus’s case is probably justified because most people close to pro rugby will agree that it is extremely difficult for a player that turns 19 at school to make it in senior rugby. Losing out on that year of being a full time junior player is huge and takes a lot of effort to catch up. Very few u19s at school make it in rugby so I welcome efforts to bridge the gap.
@Beet .Grant Hermanus is a contracted player at Province and part of the arrangement was that he will be released from school duties rugbywise to play in the Currie Cup after Interschools.He was rehabilitated from his injury by Johan van Wyk at WPRI in the July school holidays to be ready for Interschools.If it was not for van Wyk he would not have been ready for Interschools