A lively match played itself out on a packed Goldstones ground with hosts Maritzburg College eventually winning 16-12 and claiming a unique double over Westville. The quality of the match itself was not very high due to numerous unforced errors, however there was a big positive to take from the 70-minutes of action. It was contested by two teams that subscribed to no holds barred in their attempts to play all out to attack-minded rugby when the right opportunities presented themselves. If things didn’t go to plan on attack, players would pick themselves up and give it another full go the next chance they had. The energy levels were high and the players’ attitudes were great as displayed in their commitment. Long may this kind of adventurous spirit exist in our school rugby with players are given leeway to express themselves rather than coming across as over-coached or too afraid to make mistakes.
Westville profited only once as far as first half scoring was concerned. It started with a decision to run it back after a College exit. The likes of Shane Ball, Tonny Mahlangu and Hendrik Prinsloo all had value adding involvement in an outstanding passage of passing rugby that saw the ball moved around with vigour before Westville’s best player this season flank Devon Muller cross the try-line in the right corner. It became 7-0 in the 14th minute when Westville kicker Niel van Rooyen converted from a difficult angle. Unfortunately for Westville that was his only success from the kicking tee during the match.
College had a series of half chances via a good maul from a lineout won in a key area of the field and a couple of intercepts, with backline players Kudzai Munangi and Sthembokuhle Mpanza just not having the wheels to get away from their much quicker opponents.
Although College flyhalf Ruben van Blerk didn’t really challenge the gainline, he did produce amazingly accurate missile-like cut-out passes both ways from the pocket position to allow the College backs to feature more prominently and with tempo on attack, something that had been sorely missed in their playing patterns in recent weeks. In fact van Blerk was the fourth different College flyhalf in four games, illustrating part of the difficulties they have had to get their backline functioning on attack. Van Blerk was vital to the cause as a kicker. The young flyhalf opened his team’s account with 30th minute penalty awarded for offsides, which produced the score of 7-3 to Westville at the break.
Van Blerk doubled his team’s score to be 7-6 down, early in the second half when Westville was again pinged for being offside, following a bit of College continuity.
The key moment in the match took place in the 41st minute. After Westville’s Keegan Nicolson had won a turnover, his teammates advanced well and having produced quickball from a ruck made a bad decision to feed the ball right to a backline formation consisting of both props near the halfway line. When a bad pass between them was not held, mobile College hooker Sam Swanepoel pounced on it, fended off a tackle challenge by Shane Ball and proceeded untouched from that point to the in-goal area to score the home team’s only try.
Interestingly Swanepoel had also scored his team’s only try from long range in the match against Westville earlier in the season, which ended 13-0 that time around. Once van Blerk added the extras, College hit the lead at 13-7.
Westville replied with their second try in the 56th minute to reduce the lead to 13-12. The starting point of this try was a lineout in the College redzone. Just like with their first try, Westville got their precision spot on. Carries by the likes of Muller, Prinsloo and van Rooyen laid the platform for a blindside assault near the line where the young hooker Hendrik Prinsloo made his second telling pass of the match, this one to big prop Jordan Els who powered over in the right corner.
With a minute to go College scored the final points of the match grow their lead to 16-12 when van Blerk nailed a 45m straight penalty kick.
Only school Westville has lost to this year in KZN is College, no shame in that, well played College.
@Bonthuis: if 36 is a kid, howzit! Hope you having a great summer in the US. Yes, great hockey result for Ville!
@Grasshopper: Right here, what’s up kid? Congrats to College. Utmost respect to them. Nice to get the 1st Hockey result over them though!
Make getting whacked, slaughtered or annilated is a better way to describe it!
@Far Meadows: well, it is a large boarding school & you know what they say about boarders!
@Grasshopper: Getting ‘humped’ at College was obviously something to be terrified about…things certainly changed from the ’80s, where that sort of thing was frowned upon !
@GreenBlooded: the SA under 20’s might have given them a good run!
@GreenBlooded: Agreed – even “that” tackle on Jonah Lomu looked pretty ordinary – I think Kriel put in some bigger hits vs Ville on Saturday! It really did seem lethargic – with scrums going on for ages – and the backline not looking very explosive.
@star: Corrected on the MC website Star
Did anyone watch the 1995 RWC Final yesterday? What struck me like a bullet was how slow and lethargic it looked – and that was a final!! I reckon that Bok side from 95 would take 50 points from any Super15 team of today. The game has certainly evolved in the last 20 years. Also what struck me is how easy it was to referee. The breakdown basically took care of itself. No ‘roll away’ etc. Basically knock-on, forward pass, offside, playing on the ground and a bit of foul play by Richard Loe (who else). I wonder how ou Ed Morrison would cope with the laws nowdays? It really was like a trip back to the stone age.
@star: Thanks star. I’ll inform the school record keeper. I see both websites have a win in their favour
Sad about the Ville boy not getting a run. IMO – at the lower levels – let the boys play sport – no matter what sport. He could have benched for 3rds and 2nds as far as I’m concerned! Especially on the last match of the season (and for some school career!). Provided – Safety First and the injury is healed.
@Rugger fan: Sorry but the Westville U14C definitely won. This was the only team that beat Affies and the only unbeaten team at Westville so I think the record should correctly reflect this
.
This boy had several starts for the 1sts and covered both the back row and second row. This I believe would have been pretty useful for the 2nds who were missing both lock stalwarts ( Koen and Vermaak) and had the fullback jumping in the lineouts. Also would have added depth to the bench of the 1sts when they lost the 8th man and lock. He was told he could not bench for the 2nds unless he had played for the 3rds. Given match fitness alas that was a bridge too far.( or so I was told 
)
With regard to the debate on the benched player, I also know a Westville boy coming back from injury who would have loved to have had one last hoorah on Goldstones and redeemed his old man who got sorted on the “Stones” in 1982.
@Rugger fan: I remember in the 90’s always going to College and knowing we were going to be humped! For some reason the College boys had thicker, bigger and stockier legs and always scrummed us skinny-legged souties into the earth. We used to have some big guys but they were always jelly bellies. Wow, how times have changed and in only 20 years!
@Grasshopper:
@Rugger fan: Sounds similar to the win ratio vs Glenwood in the double header over the past decade, must higher at College in the thinner air and harder grounds ;-). Souties from the coast hate it up there…
@Rugger fan:
First set oif fixtures at Westville were a 12/24 record (50%) win ration
The return in PMB was 16/22 (72%) win ratio.
OK, even though I promised I wasn’t going to ask, the story is as follows.
The HMA allows for a player returning from injury to play for a limited time. If the coach feels like it, he can inform the opposition coach. In this case, as in one other on the day (also a matric boy on his way back from injury, although he started and was subbed), I reckon it was ill-advised, but every boy wants to run out, especially on Goldstones, on Reunion Day.
In this case it was a 20 minute stint after coming back from knee injury.
The boy is U18 and in Grade 12, so this is his last season at school.
Full results from the day (from College website):
Team Opposition Result Score
1st Westville won 16 – 12
2nd Westville won 15 – 12
3rd Westville won 8 – 7
4th Westville won 29 – 14
5th Westville won 24 – 17
6th Westville won 45 – 7
7th Westville won 31 – 0
9th Linpark lost 10 – 55
16A Westville won 15 – 7
16B Westville won 31 – 0
16C Westville won 31 – 18
16D Westville lost 13 – 17
16E Westville won 74 – 0
16F Linpark draw 17 – 17
15A Westville lost 5 – 29
15B Westville won 17 – 12
15C Westville lost 21 – 40
15D Westville won 24 – 22
15E Westville won 22 – 19
14A Westville lost 14 – 19
14B Westville lost 12 – 22
14C Westville won 30 – 21
14D Westville lost 12 – 17
14E Westville won 50 – 10
So:
Opens: College won all fixtures vs Westville ( 7/7)
U16: College lost 1 fixture vs Westville (4/5)
U15: College lost 2 fixtures vs Westville (3/5)
U14: College lost 3 fixtures vs Westville (2/5)
Total: 16/22 (plus 2 losses to Linpark and 2 fixtures scratched on the day (8ths and 14F)
@GreenBlooded: I merely brought this up as a point for consideration. I watched the 5th/4th and 3rd and he was not played in any of those Teams.
He’s a big lad and at first i thought it was Atembe from last years u16A side, but once I get a better look I could confirm it wasnt the case.
Don’t think it would have made a difference to the outcome of the 2nd Game. Westville were definitely one step behind college in the second half. We onkly woke up again in the last 5 minutes. Too late she cried!!
Overall a great day of school boy rugby.
@GreenBlooded: I am not sure. I only saw half of the 3rds game and didn’t recall seeing him. His kit was also very clean looking.
I am less interested in whether he played for a lower team than finding out his age. And not for the reasons you might think. He actually looked quite young and if still U17 might be a good prospect for next year.
@Westers:
Are we dead certain he didn’t play for a lower team?
@Gungets Tuft: He was a tall, large black kid. I think he came on at lock. Don’t know his name.
I assumed he was coming back from injury and I didn’t see it as a problem. Just an observation.
@Redblack White: Unlikely I will get to the bottom of it, because I’m not going to ask. The best course of action for Westville is to lodge an official complaint if they feel strongly about it.
If it’s true then I have my own complaint – the thirds just scraped a win. If we had a talented lock sitting on the sidelines then we needed him on the field. College might have depth in rugby, but not enough to have a “squad system”, if a single player can be called a squad on a day when we ran out 8 senior teams (our 9ths played Linpark). The 8ths match was sadly cancelled by Westville leaving the boys gutted at not playing on Reunion day.
If I’m not mistaken the Westville 8th team is a composite “Matric” team, perhaps Westville felt they could not afford the luxury of those boys playing twice.
@Redblack White: All valid points, agree.
@McCulleys Workshop: Agreed – and I am merely speculating about what potentially might have been the reason for this – maybe GT will get to the bottom of the story.
If it is the injury angle though, i stick with my opinion, in spite of the HMA. In any event, as with all rules and regulations, there is an easy way to get around the HMA – put the player on for 1 minute in the lower game, sub him, then hold him for his run in the real team. Thats dodgy though, and I would rather see a system whereby coaches can rehabilitate injured players in a responsible and legal manner.
If it was purely an extra man situation, then sure – poor form and TO must explain.
@Redblack White: I think the HMA states that no squad system is allowed and all reserves must have played in previous games.
@Rhino_67: Could be that the 2nd team sub was a 2nd team player returning from injury? Cant say for sure- didnt notice that myself. I know this has been done before, where a regular player comes back from injury and is given a run for part of the match.
Not sure I would call that a squad system though – but yeah, perhaps this type of thing should be cleared amongst coaches if it is perceived to create some advantage.
Point is, how do we deal with players returning from injury? Full game in a much lower team?Start in the team and see how it goes? A little bit of player rehab is probably a safe choice not so?
Either way, if the 2nds decided to play with a squad of 16 plus extras from lower teams, then you have a point, but maybe we can get a definite answer from someone here.
What is frustrating is we have two very able coaches like Nick Malket & John Mitchell sitting on chairs in the Supersport studio. Both these guys should be coaching, at school level even better!
@Rhino_67: The College hooker did the same thing to Westville in the first game. Once might be luck …
He nearly did it against Hilton as well, in fact would have had he trusted himself instead of slowing up and looking for the offload.
Can you canvass all those observant people in the stands for the substitutes boys name, it’s going to be a lot easier to track down. I’ll say this for the Westville supporters, they appear to be very sharp, I would never have kept track of something like that.
. Given the closeness of the open fixtures it would seem a daft move to keep 1 player aside for a squad system.
@GreenBlooded: coułd have been the mistake that cost Westville the game. Could have been a call to give Damon Lee a final run in the Ist 15 before he leaves at the end of the year. I spoke to Prinsloo before the match and he told me this was the plan, if either a lock or loose forward was to be subbed, Lee was the go to man and he would move to loose forward. MC Hooker might not of had it so easy if there was a loose forward covering in defense.
Just another question – I notice MC had a lock come on for the 2nd Team who had not played in the 3rd or 4th Team. Surely the squad system should not be used. 2nd Team subs should be 3rd Team or lower players. A few people on the stands were a bit confused. Your thoughts?
@Grasshopper: I think that is maybe the point, if many other coaches were coaching it we would have won it. We all believe, maybe patriotically blinded in our belief, that we had the best team, so why didn’t we win it? Same guys two or three years ago would have.
And the concern is not as a result of the loss at the U20 WC. The cracks have been showing for a few years now
@McCulleys Workshop: coaching should get the boys (and men) to get the ball recycled effectively without getting the scrumhlf into a messy situation, more so than skill. It is good to see the professional coaching has helped with this in KZN. However a basic skill is passing, if it is not good then it needs to be addressed, not just shuffle the backline around and hope for better. Saturday past just showed what accurate fast passing can do for a team, it shouldn’t be an advantage to have a good pass, it should be mandatory. Develop the boys and get these skills in place and then follow on with structured play, clever structured play not one-size-fits-all, one-dimensional game plan rugby.
Obviously, something is going wrong from school to U20. And where lies the problem? At the top. Meyer is asking the S15 franchises to follow his pattern and Im sure, it equally applies to the U20s and in some cases, schools. So, the few players from schools who have been taught skills from a young age, are losing those skills within two yrs after leaving school. Difficulty of work permits wont hold back the players. With the ZAR virtually in a fee fall, the players will simply emigrate, and they will do it from an even younger age. There has been a tremendous spike in immigration inquiries to Oz, despite it becoming increasing expensive, more difficult and less job opportunities- from 2-3 per agent per week to 5-10 per day PER AGENT.
Chaps we all believe there is a problem in more or less the same way, just stating it differently. Hopper you said it and having coached abroad for so long you would know better than me but I would suggest maybe other than NZ, where skill and offloading and clever ball retention are paramount, we have easily the most skilled and talented players at SBR level. So what is happening? Does the emperor really have a fine garment or is he kaalgat and stupid? I never saw Lambie kick every ball away regardless until he got into the current bok setup, I never saw Marcel Coetzee be a blinkered tackle bag smasher, he was quite capable of offloading, until he hit the bok setup. That is how you take the talent, skill, speed and every other good thing away from our rugby by making these guys fit an antiquated game plan and they end up worse off. There are hundreds of examples. I hope Whiteley doesn’t get into the bok setup because they may just ruin him too.
I have said on this forum before that we cannot judge our rugby on a more than 50% win ratio as being good. We should be at 85% which allows for two away losses against NZ and 12 wins in a typical 14 match year. Better than that (i.e. beating NZ more than 51% of the time) and then we are talking. So sure we are probably never going to be like Namibia but we can’t ever be satisfied with just being better than Namibia when we are, at school level, the world’s best or very close thereto.
@BOG: The thing is recruitment of overseas players in France is not sustainable. The French are realising that their standard of rugby is dropping by filling positions with international ‘has-beens’ from SA, Aus, NZ etc. This will stop soon. It’s not easy to get a work visa for the UK or Aus, so again this stream of players will stop. I don’t believe we will ever have a rugby standard as low as Namibia. We lose one game at the Under20 WC and it’s all doom and gloom. Jeez guys, if Nick Mallett was coaching that side we probably would have won it…..
@BOG: Well the majority of the Boks are Old Grey’s, one would hope that our strongest rugby school has proper skills training. Well from what I have seen from Grey they certainly do. Explain how we smash NZ, Pom and Aussie schools every year, but can’t at professional level…
@rugbyfan: My comments relate to skills and coaching, not SA rugby. I don’t see the parallel between SBR and the Boks as you do. What I can say is this, that great skills training and great coaching go along way at SBR level, with GC being at the forefront of this year in and year out. Often not the biggest pack and certainly not with the tallest locks, but very well drilled and coached, brilliant support play and very quick recycling of the ball.
Well,when I suggested , about 2 yrs ago, that SA would be playing in the tri-nations, a few years down the line- against Zim and Namibia, I got some angry responses. But now, that idea is not so far fetched. I also said that we will be left with the very young and very old (have beens) playing rugby in SA.The rest, will be playing elsewhere. With the ZAR in a nose dive, this is fast becoming a reality.
@rugbyfan: A bit harsh on Michael House but get the point.
It boils down to this and not knocking Michael House being unbeaten does not make you the best beating the best does. Just like SA must realize winning the world cup does not make you the best beating NZ more than 51% of the time does.
Our rugby as a whole in SA is going backwards, the worst thing that could happen is we win the world cup which will just cover all the cracks for a few days.
Since SA got into the World Cup scene our rugby has gone backwards we have developed everything around the conservative game just to win the world cup every 15 years and forget about the rest. Does not mean much when SA has won the world cup twice when our winning record against NZ has gone from 51% pre world cup to 23% post world cup. Our record against the big 7 has gone from 73% pre world cup to 51% post world cup.
And this is all based on the bigger the better/the dumber the better/and the kick more the better attitude and in the process forget about skills attitude.
@Goldstones: Talking KZN schools only, Hopper I disagree on the skills issue: I think one of the areas of huge improvement over the last few years is body position in contact, both on attack and defence, and the initial protection and retention of the ball, however from my observation once the ruck is formed the protection of the ball is not great (I thought Glenwood were good at this and cleaned out the defenders well). That generally puts the scrum-halves under pressure. I saw numerous games with pretty poor distribution by the 9’s and from there not great passing amongst the backs. Just my observation. Maybe its was a case of unsettled sides with constant changes?
Interesting article on this topic; http://linkis.com/www.iol.co.za/sport/oMq4O
@Goldstones: Ah OK, I misread you then. Having coached in the UK for 10 years, those kids certainly didn’t have the skills, power and speed of our school boys. They were embarrassing to be completely honest. Usually big but slow as sloths and these were A team under19 players. All they ever wanted to do was scrum. Something wrong happens from 18 to 21, who knows what though. I also think our Under20’s go into the World Cup under prepared. Playing a local Varsity side and 3 tests vs Argentina is not enough time to gel. They should start an Under20 Tri-nations or get the side to play Currie Cup sides as practice, at least 10 games going into the tourno. This gathering for a few weeks is not enough…
@Playa: Yep, remember guys like Brent Russell, jeez he could do damage. Look at our Sevens side, allowed to play with flair.
@GreenBlooded: I wouldn’t even take it that far back. I remember a young Morne Steyn who threatened the then darling of Loftus, Derreck Hougard’s place. A young attack minded and fearless flyhalf. One has to wonder, how much longer before we see the same deterioration in Handre Pollard. Hell, Cheslin Kolbe has probably kicked more in the last 6 games of this year’s super rugby than he has in his entire career including junior school before then.Have we seen the last of Kolbe’s counter-attacks from within his 22???
@Goldstones:
Agree 100%. Toppy used to tell us how he watched Naas Botha playing as a youngster at craven week – one of the most talented running, tackling full of flair ball players he’d ever seen. Look what Buurman van Zyl did to him? Coached all that flair out of him and made him into a clinical kicking machine who got a reputation of being too scared to tackle. I don’t think things have changed much since then.
As has already been noted – the Westville backs were throwing the ball around and trying all sorts of things in Saturday. One has to wonder whether this was because, being the last game of the year, there was no fear of being dropped next week for not executing the game plan to the letter? That’s whats lovely about club rugby in the 3rd term – you get to see some of these talented boys playing their natural game. I think you are so right – our senior coaches need to nurture and embrace this natural talent. Exploit it. Don’t mould this talent around a 30 year old philosophy which doesn’t work anymore.
@Grasshopper: quite contrary to what you understood from the post, I believe we have more skills than most other countries, we just seem to have senior coaches who love crashing the ball up and never offloading, or worse kicking away all possession, even when it is good quick possession. Of course having all of your guys is always going to be paramount, you’ll never win against good teams in tight games without 15 players on the field. As much as you may think it is a “buzz word” have a look at some of the shining SBR players from this year in three years time. My opinion anyway.
The baby Boks are a very skillful & talented bunch, they had a bad day at the office discipline wise. You cannot play 20 mins without all 8 forwards. Think back to England vs SA when Labaschagne was sent off, probably our biggest loss ever to England. I get really irritated by this buzz word, skills! All these players have skills practice, periphery vision practice etc….its complete kak to say our players lack skill. Paul Roos has just pumped two of NZ & Australia’s strongest schools, no challenge.
@McCulleys Workshop: I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately it only gets worse from the skills AWOL perspective when our usual senior coaches get hold of these boys. Look at the baby boks and see how we turn skillful rugby players into one dimensional players.
Not sure if I am alone in thinking this but Saturday was the first time (other than first ten minutes in KES game) that College, particularly the backline, looked like they wanted to play and not just execute a game plan, which thus far this season produced way too much aimless kicking. The backline has been a disaster this season despite some brilliant players. Maybe the plan was to tire the Westville pack out with a bit of back and forth but in doing so they realised ball in hand could actually work for them. Some skills and great passing and what do you know, they looked a 100% improved team from the week before. A more sure footed Kriel, being put into space, and one or two more passes finding Guma and it could have been a lot worse for WV. Also some typical College style in your face defence never hurts their cause. A bit late for what could have been a great season for some truly good players but the best team is the one that gets it right when it counts and this season in KZN it was MH without doubt.
All said it was, as usual, a fantastic day for the boys of both schools with most teams getting a close game.
From my observation of the KZN games I watched this season, it seemed basic skills went awol at times, there seemed to be the perennial SA problem of not protecting the ball at rucks and not many 9’s put their hands up, thus some talent backs seemed to be consistently under pressure, in and era where time and space is critical. I would like to see how some of the newer coaches add value, because it isn’t evident to me.
Before you all get your knickers in twist, I’m joking! Looking forward to 2016, 2017 & 2018….going to be a huge tussle! Considering my lighty was born a month ago I should be looking towards 2032!
I reckon Glenwood would beat House now….how’s that stirring spanner!
@Tarpeys: Right, KC did play Hilton twice, won the first, so they would also by on 6 with Westville, but Westville would take 2nd on a count out because they beat Kearsney.
MichaelLhouse 1 and Kearsney would be 2nd on 6 points. Beat Glenwood, College and Hilton in the first game which is the one that counts if my understanding is correct.
@Greenblooded: Just joking thought all the match officials were top draw in the 2nd team game. No complaints from my corner!!!
@Greenblooded: Yup, much to everyone’s frustration. FYI, in my humble opinion I thought that the try should have stood
@TJ:
The usual curse of the 2nd XV at all schools. Time lost during the day is always cut from the 2nd XV game so that the 1st XV can start on time.
@Pedantic: But lost to Hilton ….
Anyone trying to apply logic to this season is going to pull a muscle in their brain.
League, points, only way, as much as it pains me when College knocked over the team in second place twice.
And the Prom Queen might be easy, but she no slut. There’s only one winner. Think on the bright side, perhaps those House drone pilots will put something on YouTube
@Griffonfly: I’m a College fan, just got the wrong avatar that’s all.
@Gungets Tuft: And KC beat both College and Glenwood which then puts them in an undisputed 3rd
Glenwood then beat College to take 4th.
Thanks. How come a Kearsney supporter knows this?
@Griffonfly: it was cut short by 5 minutes in the second half because both sides took their time in the halftime break, and the game had to be fished by 14-40 hence the disparity in time.
@Gungets Tuft: yes, including those sides ;-)
@Redblack White: yes, that would be great! College leaning on the depth due to biggest BE. Factor in Ville have the smallest BE, probably Ville…
@Redblack White: Especially the U14E and F sides
@Grasshopper: Even better – who would be the top school if we take into account ALL team results??
With regard the 2nd team game that finished 15 – 12 to MC. Are the halves 25 min or 30 min per half as the 2nd half was only 25 min long but the 1st half was 30 min.
@beet: No worries – I’m relaxed – it was more for the benefit of Westers and Boertjie
@beet: On a slightly more serious note, for me been the best KZN Top 6 season since 2012, when MHS also finished first. To be able to attend games where you would not want to bet money on the outcome because teams are so closely matched takes first prize any year irrespective of who comes out on top in the end. 2012 was definitely better. Even the top team lost a couple that season and they won the title thanks to a kick out the corner just before the final whistle. You can’t ask for better than that a SBR supporter who genuinely loves the game and wants the compo to stay as healthy as possible.
@Grasshopper: But we’re not, so I’m not wondering. If I were trying (which I’m also not doing) to mitigate the fact that College weren’t the top team then I’m sure I could dredge something up.
Tell you what, I’ll throw you a bone though, Glenwood get Celebrity Son of the Year – ou Jordy spent Fathers day surfing with his old man. That’s got to be worth something , yes?
@Gungets Tuft: I cannot believe it. The man who whispered in the ear of Kingsley Holgate all those years ago that the 2nd game was not to count, now uses Hilton’s second game win over Kearsney to deny the top private school in the greater Hillcrest area (now that Curro has hit the news again) their rightful place of 2nd.
The Luncheon Rule of 2013 also suggests that in matters involving Kearsney and Westville, Westville should somehow drop a couple of places, which in 2015 would place them at 5th.
@Gungets Tuft: I wonder who the top school would be taking in the age group A team results…
@Grasshopper: Dispassionately
House – 10 points for 5 wins
Westville – 6 points for 3 wins
Glenwood, College, KC – 4 points for 2 wins
Hilton – 2 points for beating KC.
The winners shag the Prom Queen, the rest talk semantics.
@Luvthegame: one could argue Glenwood are the No2 side, caught sleeping vs Kearsney first up & beaten by a very passionate Ville wanting to make up for the loss last year. I think Glenwood were the only side to come close to House points wise and at House. If, buts & maybes…house will take the trophy this year.
@Redblack White: So much action took place in this game, that I left a lot of it out. Kriel’s tackles were significant as was one that Glover pulled off very early on in the match. In the second half College messed up an attacking lineout which had rolling maul drive coming up written all over it. Van Rooyen’s missed kicks at goal could have changed the outcome as well. I saw a little knock on by College near the end as well which should have resulted in a Westville put it to the scrum and not a College lineout at the end.
I can add this if you like:
Just before halftime after the Westville no.8 dropped a highball inside his 22m area. He was then tip-tackled by the College no.7 after the whistle had gone. It was unfortunate that the Westville no.8 was injured in incident. The College player received a yellow card.
@Redblack White:
To be honest, I didn’t see the incident on Saturday so can’t really comment. The directive from the IRB was meant to stamp this out – the fact that we still see them happening is clear evidence that the referees are not dealing with it. It’s not difficult to see why. Look at the treatment Alain Rolland received when he (quite correctly) sent Warburton off in the 2011 RWC? Craig Joubert himself caught a heap of criticism for the Elder incident which you mention. I had an incident just last week where I sent a boy off and had the boy’s father confront me afterwards. The referee is always the bad guy in these incidents even when our decisions are 100% correct. I fear it will take a catastrophic incident before this gets dealt with properly.
@beet:
Yes – this has been spoken about and there seems to be a swell of opinion in favour. Personally – I’m against. I think there will far less of a deterrent effect. It’s a team sport – the team should suffer. But then I’m a hard-arse who supports the death penalty (not for spear tackles
) so take it from whence it comes……..
@GreenBlooded: In a few American sports like basketball and ice-hockey a player can be ejected from a game without his team suffering the consequences of playing a man short. Would you foresee problems if rugby tried to implement a similar strategy at pro level with a tip tackler being automatically ejected but with his team being able to bring on a sub after 10 minutes? The offender could then face disciplinary action via the formal process, which also seems to be in need of more consistency in handing down suspensions for offences.
@GreenBlooded: It puzzles me why we see so many of these tackles still. Players know the dangers and the sanction – why do it? In most cases it is never a hard and fast tackle, more laboured and deliberate – Is it a case (to quote old Bill Flynn from Running Riot) that the brain is working at 3% at that moment?
Based on your 3 elements above, do you think the sanction was correct on Saturday?
@Redblack White:
The problem with referees dealing with the tip-tackle or spear-tackle is that it is not consistently dealt with at the top levels of the game. To put it bluntly – the top referees do not have the balls to pull the RC out at international and Super Rugby level. There was a no-nonsense directive (I will post the URL shortly) from the erstwhile IRB (Now World Rugby) which stated that the starting point of sanction for a tip/spear tackle is red-card and working backwards for ‘good behaviour’. There are 3 elements: 1. The player must be lifted up. 2. The player must be turned through 90 degrees such that his hips are higher than his head. 3. The player must be dropped on his head without regard for his safety or driven into the ground. That equals a mandatory red card. Take off a sanction for each non-offence, so if there is no drop/drive it becomes a YC and if no lift up then a penalty only.
It becomes difficult for us at schoolboy level to implement the letter of the law at schools when the top referees don’t do it at National / International level.
@beet: Hi beet – maybe you can include something in the piece about the tip tackle.
I think we can all agree that those tackles are senseless – the offenders know what will happen and on Saturday the offender was correctly sanctioned – in fact he spent around 11 1/2 minutes in the sin bin.
It is a pity that this resulted in the opposition player having to be replaced, but that is why the law deals with these matters in the appropriate way.
Perhaps a reminder to those who believe that more should have been made of it – in 2013 Craig Joubert sent off (Elder ? I think) for a similar offense (red card that time) after that, College outscored Glenwood with only 14 men on the field. Likewise on Saturday – 10 points to none while Muil was in the bin.
Not sure this made any difference to the final outcome, but lets get it out there – the incident happened and was dealt with
@Luvthegame: Thanks LuvTheGame – yep – that ref is here
– appreciate your kind words.
@Buffel: I dont know if I can quite agree with Ville being 2nd this season. College pulled a double over Ville this year and never really looked like the worse side. College should never have lost to Kearsney, missed a lot of kicks and were dominant for most of the game, 2 other games were losses by a point and GW was just a nightmare. If played on Dixons or Goldstones I believe it would have been a very different game this year. For me it is maybe College who are the 2nd best followed by Ville and then KC? IMHO! House out front by a country mile and weel done to them on a great unbeaten season. Everyone keeps on saying it is in the balance seeing that they did not play Westville but honestly, I think they would have walked over Westville based on their current form, I believe House were so good this year that they could have put one over some of the top 5 teams this year!
@Rugger fan: Thanks for that…it was my boy he ran into. I did check with the medical centre and the ref and was pleased to hear that no big damage done! Just an unlucky tackle on one of the more solid players in the side. My boy weighs in at 111 kg’s and 6’2. Credit to the Ville tackler, he went flying in…very brave. Hope he mends quickly. If the ref is out there in cyberspace, well done on what I thought was a good schoolboy reffing effort. Very balanced and fair with a lot of space for the game to flow. We have some good refs who ref the lower teams and often they are villified rather than applauded! Good on yer mate..
@GreenBlooded: I fully agree…needs new boots. Not the first time he has slipped and slided this season. Having said that…with his tackling on Saturday he could slip and slide for all I care, it was devastating. Was a great game!
For the info for those not there – a ref from upcountry (Gauteng) was appointed by SARU as this was a non-televised FNB Classic Clash
Well played to MC. The game was played and lost by our lads. Pity that the tip tackle after the whistle, just before the break, is not commented upon. All and all a great sporting event and very well organised.
A tight game of rugby with errors from both sides. College were up for it on Reunion day and wanted it a bit more and were deserving victors on the day.
The write up describes the game pretty well, with one slight exception. The turning point from a Westville perspective was the loss of their 8th man after a tackle that resulted in a yellow card for College. With little loose forward depth on the bench Westville resorted to moving HP to flank. Although he is great in the loose, playing with 4 front rowers for the whole second half was always going to be difficult.
Well done to College on the overall results in the rugby. Good to see that many of the results were pretty close. It made for a good day for all concerned.
@beet: Sorry – I gave Van Blerk the credit above – Kriel it was – must have been the added incentive having his 2 older brothers in the crowd watching him. Dan and Jesse were also part of the festivities.
@rugger fan: I believe College won 15 out of the 22 games that were played on Saturday.
No debate really. There are only 2 centres recognised centres in the CW team without Munangi. There are 3 CW players who would be considered at flyhalf ahead of Munangi BTW. Wet ball conditions in Stellenbosch are also bound to test more than just straight-line speed. All this can’t diminish the fact that Tonny has been superb most of the season.
Here are a couple of online articles about the College player:
http://www.herald.co.zw/munangi-in-kwazulu-natal-sharks-under-16-squad/
http://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2015/04/26/zim-players-shine-in-sa-schools-rugby
Where is old Bonthuis?
@GreenBlooded: I think there was something wrong with the broccoli at the Reunion dinner, I wasn’t feeling top on Saturday. Just shows, eating vegetables is bad for you. Also, timing of the lighties match at 11 was a bad one, didn’t want to miss the stirling performance of the 2nd team AR’s …
Pity, a fanta would have been just the business to sort out the food poisoning ..
@beet: Kudzai Munagi played #10 for his primary school life and also played #10 against Hilton. Talented boy and one of the nicest kids you will meet. Not going to comment on the merits of the CW selection ….. nobody wants to get me on my soapbox again
Someone just reminded me about this. Matt Kriel struggled to make an impression on attack as hard as he tried and he lost traction a few times when trying to change direction, an indication to me that he has not practiced that enough times. But what I really wanted to highlight were his first class tackles on Tonny Mahlangu. Those were textbook. I would have backed Tonny to get passed each time based on watching him against other opponents but Kriel was up to the task and saved his team at what looked to be two tries.
Tonny very unlucky not to make Craven Week based on form and ability. During the match Kudzai Munangi got into space but has nothing close to Tonny’s pace so could not get away. I realise that Munangi is able to play centre as well and that versatility must have given him the CW selection edge in the end.
@star:
The bowling club would not have done a roaring trade on Saturday – not from the College OB’s anyway. It was the Reunion Dinner the night before. I normally manage to entice ou GT across there when I’m not on duty but he was having none of it. Come to think of it – I can’t say I bumped into many College OB’s on Saturday morning who weren’t feeling a little green in the gills……..
@star: Missed the ref on the 6ths?
BTW: Anyone who did watch – the nasty injury at the end of the 6th – the Ville boy was cleared from all potential neck injuries – and only a bad concussion. Looked bad on the field! Very glad for the feedback.
@GreenBlooded: I thought I could catch up with a few bloggers at the bowling club. What a jol. Almost went MIA myself.
@Rugger fan- I watched from the 5ths on Goldstones and in most matches Westville was up at half time only to lose by a few points in the end. Home ground advantage and the emotion of Reunion day proving decisive. Well done on a fantastic day out.
It was an extraordinary hockey day for the Ville. In the 4 main games (Ist,2nd, U16A and U14A)Westville did not lose. winning 2 and drawing 2.
@Buffel: Buffel – was great – College dominated across the teams a lot more than on the 1st round results.
I know Ville turned over their losses at U15A and U14A (College were gutted to loose that one well into stoppage time – College learned a valuable lesson in taking the win and not trying to win by a bigger margin
).
College took all the Open age groups – and will wait for final confirmation – but had a much bigger win percentage this time than at Ville where it was closer to a 50/50 win ratio.
Big win for Ville in the 1st XI hockey too.
@star: I have watched the Westville team grow this season and can say with certainty that they are the number 2 side in KZN this year. Standouts were Muller, Tony and for me, Hendrik Prinsloo. This young man has all the right attributes to make it after school. He reminds me of Bismark DuPlessis in the way he dominates his opposition and would love to see him up against Wiseman of MHS . To think he has another year at school is scary . It must have been very intense at College on Saturday and well done to them for pulling it off on Founders Day.
@star:
Ou Sterretjie – I’m beginning to think you are stalking me……
I hope that by the time I hang up my whistle in 10 years or so you will have plucked up the courage to come over and say Howzit. Otherwise I will have to ask RF to point you out so that I can break the ice myself…… 
@star: “Big call with the whole school behind you to reverse a try for College due to a forward pass”
…..those biased Midlands ref ……
Well done @GreenBlooded more great games to watch with great reffing.
For those that weren’t at College
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye9oDnO3nXw
@GreenBlooded: You were like the proverbial luminous green jack in the box. First you were on Snows doing the U16A game and then you were running the line for the 2nds. Big call with the whole school behind you to reverse a try for College due to a forward pass. That took guts. Maybe I underestimated you.
After 25 minutes I thought it was game over as Westville were in complete control. They definitely lost their way after half time and certain players went MIA. That is the consistency that has been lacking this season and the reason why House are No 1. Week in and week out all their players have kept their energy and run their angles and lines. Some might argue that it is because they played a lot fewer games. This however has had nothing to do with the players who deserve every accolade. Westville’s season has produced some memorable moments including a great KERF, old boys day and win on Dixons. I would like to add that 2 consistent stars who never lacked energy or class during the season namely Tony and HP will be back again next year to entertain and carry the flag high.
I reffed on Goldstones earlier- and that cricket pitch felt like a mixture of slasto and soap on Saturday (but then that could have also been the after-effects of the reunion dinner on Friday night
).
I almost ended up on my backside once or twice too.
@Rugger fan:
And what was up with Kriel’s footing? It seemed like he forgot to put the studs in his boots. The number of times he lost his footing in a promising position with ball in hand was highly frustrating.
I must say – Ville looked great in the 1st 20 min – with College getting almost no ball. The scoreboard seemed destined to go the other way sooner or later. But College defence held.
College’s handling seemed terrible a few times with a knock resulting every time they launched a counter.
What was very impressive is those bone crunching – flying tackles on breaks by both team (especially some body on the line ones by the likes of van Blerk in cover defence).
@GreenBlooded: I know WV came down with 2 injuries in the pack in the 2nd half. Maybe he was the best option to cover loose when they examined their bench? He (like Swanepoel) both played like loosies.
I noticed that Prinsloo was moved to flank sometime during the match. Why move a star player out of his natural position? I found this very odd.
For me, College did not start well and there were lots of basic errors – they did however improve throughout and I felt they were much more cohesive towards the end.
Westville were very impressive first half but seemed a bit off the boil for the first 20 minutes of the second. Interestingly, College scored 10 unanswered points while they were down to 14 men.
From a biased point of view, I think it was fortunate that Westville did not convert their second try, albeit a very difficult angle for the kicker. Had he slotted that one, the last 10 minutes of the game might have been slightly different because College would have been trailing by one instead of leading 13 -12. This forced Westville to do the chasing and in the end the long distance College penalty and good control of the ball after the restart sealed it for College.
Altogether a very close match by two quality teams – the result could have gone either way and either team would have been deserved winners, Well done to Westville and thanks for making this a special day.
College did have a try disallowed for an alleged forward pass – happened right in front of me an looked straight