Tue.14-Jul : Griquas CD 17 – 12 Zimbabwe (Zim made over 100 tackles & led 12-5 with 5 min to go)
Tue.14-Jul : Valke 43 – 27 Eastern Province CD
Tue.14-Jul : Griquas 28 – 17 Leopards
Tue.14-Jul : KwaZulu-Natal 18 – 16 Golden Lions
Tue.14-Jul : Eastern Province 41 – 31 South Western Districts
SBR Blog Team of the Day:
1 : Andrew Kuhn , Outeniqua & SWD
2 : Matt Wiseman , Michaelhouse & KZN
3 : Roux Swart , Outeniqua & SWD
4 : Adre Smith , Oakdale & SWD
5 : Handre Stassen , EG Jansen & Valke
6 : Janco Cloete , Diamandveld & Leopards
7 : Len Massyn , Monnas & Lions
8 : Kwezi Mafu , Grey HS & EP
9 : Louis Strydom , Framesby & EP
10 : Curwin Bosch , Grey HS & EP
11 : Gevanhier Blom , Midlands Sec & EPCD
12 : Erich Cronje , EG Jansen & Valke
13 : Manie Libbok , Outeniqua & SWD
14 : Xolisa Guma , Maritzburg College & KZN
15 : Riaan van Rensburg , Framesby & EP
From SARugby.net
Eastern Province and KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday stamped their authority on the second day of the Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week at the Markötter Sports Complex at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch as they registered encouraging victories in the top match-ups of the day.
Eastern Province, who took top honours at last year’s tournament, were in fine form against SWD in a repeat of the 2014 final match and registered a 41-31 victory, while KwaZulu-Natal defeated the Golden Lions 18-16 in a nail-biting encounter.
Griquas, the Valke and Griquas CD also started off their campaigns on a high note as they secured victories against the Leopards, Eastern Province CD and Zimbabwe respectively.
The third round of matches will be played on Wednesday, with hosts DHL Western Province taking on the Griffons and Boland going up against Border.
Eastern Province 41 (15) SWD Eagles 31 (3)
Eastern Province started off their clash against the SWD Eagles with a bang thanks to their ability to create point-scoring chances and to capitalise on them. The team delivered a solid display with their forwards and backs combining well, while flyhalf Curwin Bosch dictated play with distinction and backed this up with his golden boot, which allowed them to dominate proceedings throughout the match.
Eastern Province had the first say thanks to a try by Riaan van Rensburg in the third minute, and they added another in the 17th minute, while Bosch slotted over a drop goal, while SWD were only able to kick a penalty in the half. This convincing start pushed the Port Elizabeth side 15-3 ahead at the break.
The second half proved to be a try festival as the teams showed fantastic flair on attack and backed this up with fine decision-making. While Eastern Province continued to build on their solid first half with another two tries, SWD they found their rhythm on attack and the rewards followed as they scored four tries to match that of the Eastern Cape side.
Two extra penalties and another two drop goals by Bosch to take his personal tally in the match to 21 points, however, proved to be the difference between the sides on the scoreboard. These heroics earned Eastern Province a 41-31 victory.
Scorers:
Eastern Province – Tries: Khewzi Mafu, Mohamed Connelly, Lubabalo Dobela, Riaan van Rensburg. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (3). Penalties: Curwin Bosch (2). Drop Goals: Curwin Bosch (3).
SWD Eagles – Tries: Manie Libbok (2), Christo Hamman, Luvuyo Ndevu. Conversions: Manie Libbok (4). Penalty: Manie Libbok.
KwaZulu-Natal 18 (10) Golden Lions 16 (13)
The battle between KwaZulu-Natal and the Golden Lions was epic with the teams put their bodies on the line throughout the clash. The Lions opened up the scoring in the fourth minute with a penalty by Mthi Simelane, but this was cancelled out by KwaZulu-Natal as they crossed the chalk for the first try of the match. The exchanges that followed were tight, resulting in both teams opting for penalties to get points on the board.
The Lions, however, fought back and their efforts paid off with a converted try four minutes before the break, which earned them a 13-10 halftime lead.
The second half was equally intense as the teams continued to use their physicality in the hope of powering their way through the defence, but with neither side giving an inch, they opted for penalties once again, with Simelane slotting over his third three-pointer and KwaZulu-Natal’s Bader Pretorius his second.
The Sharks, however, dominated territory and this allowed them to apply immense pressure on the Lions. But the Johannesburg team absorbed the pressure well. The Durban side’s efforts eventually paid off in the final minute as Xolisa Guma crossed the tryline to secure a nail-biting 18-16 victory.
Scorers:
KwaZulu-Natal – Tries: Xolisa Guma, Mulalo Sadiki. Conversion: Bader Pretorius. Penalties: Bader Pretorius (2).
Golden Lions – Try: Tiaan Van der Merwe. Conversion: Mthi Simelane. Penalties: Mthi Simelane (3).
Leopards 17 (17) Griquas 28 (14)
The clash between the Leopards and Griquas was a physical forward battle as the teams both used their big forwards to try to force their way onto the front foot. On occasions they looked for space out wide in an attempt to sneak through to the tryline, but with the teams closely matched on attack and defence, it proved to be an epic battle until the end as only five points separated the sides on the scoreboard for a lengthy period in the second half.
The Leopards opened up the scoring in the 12th minute with a try, but back-to-back tries by Griquas’ Janco Cloete within three minutes pushed the Kimberley side into the lead. The Leopards hit back with two tries of their own minutes later to take a 17-14 halftime lead.
Griquas tightened up their defence in the second half and stepped up their attack, which allowed them to break through the determined Leopards’ defence for another two tries, one of which was by Janco Cloete to secure his hat-trick. This earned Griquas a hard-earned 28-17 victory.
Scorers:
Leopards – Tries: Marthinus Vermeulen, Edmund Rheeder, Jacobus Dreyer. Conversion: Andre Kock.
Griquas – Tries: Rian Kotze, Janco Cloete (3). Conversions: Gert Nortje (4).
Valke 43 (26) Eastern Province CD 27 (12)
A strong finish by the Valke in which they scored three tries in the last 20 minutes against Eastern Province CD, earned them a morale-boosting 43-27 victory in their opening match of the tournament. The Valke started the clash on an encouraging note with four tries in the first half to only two by Eastern Province CD, which pushed them 26-12 ahead at halftime.
The Eastern Cape side, however, came out firing in the second half with two tries in two minutes by Geoffrey Dakin and Xolile Mdlokovana, which allowed them to reduce the deficit on the scoreboard tremendously. But the Valke cancelled this out as they powered their way to a strong finish with three tries to secure a convincing victory.
Scorers:
Valke – Tries: Xander Crause (2), Erich Cronje, Ntshepe Kokong, Dylan Van der Walt, Marco Niemandt, Franklin Wagner. Conversions: Xander Crause (4).
Eastern Province CD – Tries: Geoffrey Dakin, Gevanhier Blom, Xolile Mdlokovana (2). Conversions: Geoffrey Dakin (2). Penalty: Geoffrey Dakin.
Griquas CD 17 (0) Zimbabwe 12 (7)
Griquas CD and Zimbabwe were involved in a tight tussle from the outset as both teams tried hard to breach the defence but battled to force their way through. With the Griquas CD defence holding well in the middle of the field, Zimbabwe opted to spread the ball wide and this paid off as they scored the first try of the match compliments of Ben Meredith, which proved to be the only points of the half.
The second half was equally tight as Griquas CD used their forwards in an attempt to gain ascendancy, with flank and captain Cobus Wiese leading by example, while Zimbabwe’s backs made their presence felt.
These strengths earned them each a try in the third quarter, but mistakes at crucial times by Griquas CD denied them from crossing the line a few more times. Griquas CD, however, staged a dramatic comeback in the dying minutes as they crossed the tryline twice to snatch a 17-12 victory.
Scorers:
Griquas CD – Tries: Dolf Zandberg, Wynand Terblanche, Dian Dry. Conversion: Adri du Plessis.
Zimbabwe – Tries: Ben Meredith, Tarisai Mapfumo. Conversion: Ben Meredith.
Watching SWD dismantle the Lions, I’m afraid for KZN…..
@Playa: https://www.facebook.com/WPRugbyInstitute/photos/a.168590343280484.40608.161902843949234/571060903033424/?type=1&fref=nf
@Grasshopper: Don’t worry I get you. Us economists don’t like things that are “exact”
@Bush:
@Playa: hahah funny man….
A 7m python is called an Anaconda
@McCulleys Workshop: It’s a moving target…went from being an exact number to being around there, ie “not set in stone”.
@McCulleys Workshop: Jis I hope you don’t teach at house, thats a long 7m python
@Speartackle: haha 7000 cm without any oil.
@Speartackle: I also though he said that … I’m very confused.
@Bush: Tough question.It’s more to do with distance and numbers. Every former model C school in the EC plays rugby, so the net for selection is spread very wide. Kind of like the WC being split between WP, Boland and SWD; GP being split between Valke, Lions and Bulls. Unlike the latter provinces, the distance between towns in the EC is longer than a 7m python. So Border CD would be all the towns East and North of Border, and EP CD north of EP. To strengthen the EP CD, the Grahamstown schools were recently added to that group.
Do I think it makes sense in as far as competition is concerned? NO! Especially in the case of Border CD. EP CD has somewhat improved with the inclusion of the Grahamstown schools
@Ploegskaar: En as Pelser terugskuif 8 toe, ook in die running
@Playa: Tell me why is there a Border CD and EP CD?
@Ploegskaar: Kanya Ncusane is a very good player!
@Ploegskaar: Jou man het toe lekker gejol gister, veral die 1e helfte
@Playa: Mafu is a 8, no doubt. I recon it will be between him, Kanya Ncusane and Muller Uys for top dog next year.
@Bush: Hahahahaha
@Playa: Whahaha Jis that’s long, what do you feed it???????? Hope not Hoppers
@Bush: It’s about 22 feet long
@BoishaaiPa: die Bulls en die Leeus het beter gedoen as SWD, OP, Boland en Grens, nieteenstaande die feit dat die laaste 4 unies “bevoordeel” word deur kwotas.
En ek glo as mens na die syfers oor die afgelope 10 jaar kyk, lyk die prentjie nogsteeds dieselfde.
@Speartackle: ASK PLAYA
He knows.
@Playa: With you 100%, he’s a number 8. Would not and does not fit the mould of a flank. Waste of time playing him there. Rather move him to lock or prop, you will achieve the same.
@Pedantic: No they weren’t clueless. His play has evolved to being a specialist 8.
Would you pick Habana at center today? I wouldn’t.No one even considers him as back up for that position nowadays, and yet in 2004 when he was a standout center in the currie cup, he got picked at wing for the Boks. I know he is not the greatest coach, but if you watched Habana then, I doubt very much that anyone would have accused Chester of being clueless for picking him there.
@Playa: Interesting that at Grant Khomo Mafu played 6 and Lubbe 8 for the Bulls. Those GK coaches were clueless ?
How long is a 7m python?
Schalk Burger our new No8 is 193cm…
Warren Whiteley – 193cm
Duane Vermeulen – 193cm
Kieran Read – 193cm
Sergio Parisse – 196cm
Jamie Heaslip – 193cm
Toby Faletau – 187cm
……point made…
@Grasshopper: How tall is Whiteley?
@Grasshopper: Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying Mafu is the best. All I am saying is I would not pick him as flank if he was not my first choice 8. I would either bench him, or if there is one other better 8, he would not be in my match day squad. He is not a flank.
@Speartackle: Yes Spear yes, take the piss now. I am 193cm no boots and 195cm with boots, so it depends on when and how you measure. Point was most No8’s these days are around there…
@Playa: So is Palvie 17. I’m just saying there are some amazing No8’s out there.
@McCulleys Workshop: But Grasshopper said the minimum requirement for a number 8 is 1.90m
@Grasshopper: I never said that. You’re the one who said they are better. I haven’t seen enough of them recently. I last saw them as schoolboys – and based on that, they would not be an automatic choice before Mafu in my team.
P.S. Mafu is 17 this year. He must be a helluva player for you to compare him to professional players, wouldn’t you say?
@Speartackle: He is around 190cm, it’s not set in stone but he is a tall boy….
@Die Ken: Sedert 1994 was daar 20 Finals…WP speel in 11, wen 5, OVS speel in 9 wen 5, Bulls speel in 5 wen 4, Lions speel in 5 wen 1, OP speel in 4 wen 1, SWD played in 3 won 2, KZN did not play in a final since 1990.
Lyk my die Bulls veral het baie beter vertoon sedert die kwota stelsel ingekom het!
@Playa: So SA Schools captain and now WP Under19 captain Jaco Coetzee isn’t any good and Schramm Sharks U19 No8 isn’t any good either?
@Playa: OK, but Palvie is from the Cape just schooled in KZN. He is playing at home…
@McCulleys Workshop: But Grashopper said the minimum requirement for a number 8 is 1.90m
@McCulleys Workshop: Shouldn’t No 8s be at least 190cm?
@Playa: Palvie is a tall guy, I think 187!!
@BoishaaiPa: wat was daardie syfers sedert 1994?
@McCulleys Workshop:
It seems!
@Grasshopper: Interesting that your perceived ‘better’ players are from KZN.That is a case of who you KNOW better, and not of who IS better.
@AbsolutMenlo: Yes, but most of the times some other unbeaten teams played weaker opposition…in all these years watching CW about 99% of the time the two stronger teams competed in the finals..or they beat another strong team on their way to the main game. It is not a perfect indicator, but it does show some trend.
@Playa:
So this is about Palvie.
@Playa: Yep, there are quite a few Under 19’s around….Schramm, Coetzee and Palvie to name 3. I like a proper old school No8….sorry. Mafu eclipsed Palvie on day 2, but I know what Palvie can do so would pick him ahead of Mafu at 8.
@Grasshopper: You’d have to have a truly special No.8 to have to move Mafu to flank.
@BoishaaiPa: Good argument just one problem…the final game is decided not all unbeaten teams can play in the final.
These allegations that WP is only doing well because of quotas is a bit unfounded as they have always been doing relatively well at CW even before the quota system came into play. Perhaps some unions just have an excuse now but if you look at the facts another story is been told. If you look at the stats at Craven Week from 1971 (first time they chose teams to play in “finals”) and up to 1994 when no quota system was in place for any team. During this era WP played in 10 finals (indicating that they went unbeaten until the last day) and winning 7 of these. The Bulls only played in 3 finals, the first one being in 1990..TVL played in 6 winning 3 and the OVS played in 7 finals also winning 3. KZN only played in 3 and EP in 5.This to me is a clear indicator that the regions where there are strong local schools competitions usually do well at these IPT’s. That is why WP will always do well, because of the strong competition their players face weekend after weekend. The same can be said for Freestate..The OFS CW team players in that era only consisted of Grey College players 99% of the time ..Grey plays only the top teams every Saturday and have been doing so since the late 60’s. These two regions whose players have tough games and strong competition dominate the CW Finals. In 23 years (1971-1994) they have only played each other twice in a final (Both won by WP) and thus 15 out of the other 21 years (72%) of the time either OVS or WP where there in a final. There were no quotas on those years..where were the Northern Teams then?…What was their excuse during that time?..TVL did their bit then as well but they too had a strong history of schools rugby at that stage with the local league being strong and not dominated by one school like Monnas is doing at the moment.
Good strong competition is the building blocks to higher success and that is why teams like WP and OFS did well over the years.
@Bush: OK Bush, that is your opinion. I have coached at Under20 level for 10 years. I would play him at flank at that level…
@Kempies Pa…..ek moet met Brother Bear saamstem, jou stelling van “Die gap tussen ons makro en groot skole in die Noordvaal is baie groot” kan darem nie ongestraf verbygaan nie………Ek dink jy moes eerder gese het daar het ‘n kloof ontstaan die laaste paar jaar tussen skole wat rugby baie ernstig opneem, spelers werf, proffessionele afrigting bied etc……dit het niks met groot en makro uit te waai nie.
As voorbeeld ,die volgende is Makroskole……Florida, Rustenburg, HTS Witbank, Centurion, Jeugland……die ‘gap’ is so groot dat van hulle met 50 of 60 punte verloor het teen sge groot skole.
vbe is legio…Jy het self genoem van Helpmekaar se 1stes wat Waterkloof en Jeppe gewen het. Die baie swak Ermelo 1stes vanjaar (wat nie onder die top 8 groot skole in Pumas is vanjaar nie) het selfs Marais Viljoen gewen (wat julle weer geklop het)….so kan ek 10talle voorbeelde noem….selfs my eie Ben Vorster wat al ‘n paar heavy losses teen ander groot skole moes vat vanjaar doen nie te sleg teen makroskole nie…..verloor bv 10-7 teen Eldoraigne wat natuurlik vanjaar hoogaangeskrewe is
As jy verder in ouderdomsgroepe af beweeg is jy sekerlik bewus daarvan dat groot skool Helpmekaar se 0/16A span by verre die top span in Noordvaal is die afgelope 3 jaar en nie om dowe neute nr 2 in die land gerate word nie.
In die 014s het 2 groot skole Transvalia en klerksdorp dit uitbaklei om die Nu-power trofee en moes die makro skole maar gedwee toekyk.
So kan ek aangaan en jou vertel van hoeveel keer sedert die totstandkoming van die makro en grootskole afdeling in 2006 die Beeld trofee grootskole kampioen die Beeld makro kampioen gewen het…..die heel 1ste jaar het ‘n toe sterk Ermelo grootskole gewen en Waterkloof Makro, maar Ermelo het Waterkloof in die Nu-Power gewen, die volgende jaar was Ben Vorster Beeld grootskole gewen asook al 3 van die 4 semifinaliste in die makro afdeling teen wie hul gespeel het (insluitend Kempies), maar ek dink jy verstaan wat ek bedoel.
Die grootste ironie vir my egter is dat EG Jansen nog al die jare ‘n GROOT skool is wat versoek het om in die Makro afdeling deel te neem…..en 2 jaar terug amper teruggeskuif het grootskole toe……hulle staan uit omdat hulle rugby baie ernstig opneem….maar selfs julle Nu-power kampioen is eintlik ‘n groot en nie ‘n makro skool nie..lol….so miskien moes jy net jou sin effe anders formuleer het.
Ek glo Helpmekaar gaan as groot skool ook binnekort opskuif makroskole toe en gaan baie kompeterend wees…….ek dink net hulle wil graag die Beeld trofee vir groot skole se 1ste spanne net 1 keer wen….hulle kon dit nog nooit regkry sedert die totstandkoming van die spesifieke trofee 10 jaar terug nie….al hul ouderdomsgroepe het al Beeld gewen, maar hul 1stes nog nooit nie (was 2x in die finaal, het elke keer teen Ben Vorster verloor), maar hulle word al hoe sterker en miskien gaan dit vanjaar gebeur en dan sal hul miskien besluit om op te skuif.
Maar nou ja, Potch Gim, Klerksdorp, Oos-Moot, Overkruin, Heidelberg Volkies…..en ‘n boel ander spanne kan hul dalk vroeg uit die wedloop dwing, soos teen Tuine laasjaar in kwarteind…met Klerksdorp uiteindelike wenner….maar ek dink vanjaar is dalk hul jaar.
anyway, ons almal verstaan wat jy bedoel het, en dis nie te ernstig nie, maar weereens daar is ‘n hele paar grootskole wat respek verdien en veel sterker as sommige makroskole is…….just for the record
@McCulleys Workshop: Devon Muller
@Bush:
@Playa: Hi Playa thats because his TV is a Green and White 1 inch. If Mafu had a bad day yesterday, he must be an awesome player. What I saw, he was the best Number 8 of the day. He’s never a flank.
@Grasshopper: Sadiki was in the squad all along. Who replaced Dixon in the squad. Both De Marigny and the Westville flank would have added value to the squad.
@Kempie Pa: Goeie vertonings deur Leeus by GK (o16) was myns insiens juis omdat Monnas nie die span oorheers het nie. Ewe veel Helpies as Monnas en Jeppe. Leeus o16 Akademie span het ook die Akademie week gewen so “watch the spaces”. Provinsies gaan maar deur dips en roundabouts. Gap tussen makro en groot skole nie so groot as wat jy dink of voorgee. Jou vooroordele redelik duidelik maar ek respekteer jou siening.
@Ploegskaar:
Die manier hoe Craven week spanne saamgestel word en die tyd wat die spanne saam werk voor die toernooi is nie ideal om die beste uit die spelers te kry nie. Ek glo dat die talent baie beter sal uitkom in hulle skole spanne. Miskien sal ‘n toernooi waarvoor spanne kwalifiseer bter wees om talent uit te stal. Hierdie skool vakansie is lank genoeg om so ‘n toernooi aan te bied en dan is daar geen verskoning nie.
Die gap tussen ons makro en groot skole in die Noordvaal is baie groot. Die wen van Helpmekaar oor Waterkloof is die uitsondering en is dalk meer as gevolg van Waterkloof wat uit die moeiliker kompetisie (tussen makro skole) uitgeskyf het as enige ites anders. Dit is ook dalk die rede hoekom Affies laas jaar so ‘n swak eerste span gehad het. Die talentvolle spelers wat wil rugby speel in Pretoria is dalk beter af om by skole soos Garsfontein aan te klop waar hulle afgerig sal word en ontwikkel sal word en waar hulle rugby kan speel.
Die Leeu junior rugby (Craven week tot 0/21) gaan vorentoe baie beter doen as gevolg van ‘n skool soos Monument se harde werk om goeie spanne op alle ouderdoms groepe te ontwikkel. Die Leeus se vertoning by die pas afgelope Grant Khomo is dalk net die begin. Ek verstaan nie hoe Monument alles tot by 0/16 kan oorheers en nie dit kan deurtrek na die Beeld finaal nie. Miskien is hulle spelers dan te moeg van te veel ekstra rugby (toernooie soos Wildeklawer).
@Muzi: What message was WP sending to Chait by not selecting him for Craven Week? It’s not rape is she says “Yes” you know
@Muzi: Not sure if you were at the game but I was and sorry but I thought Stassen was very weak today. He was walking around the park and calling for the ball whilst isolated on the wing. Not his best game. And I believe he was sick just before the TV interview. Perhaps he played whilst being ill.
Ek voorspel binne 5 jaar sal 80% van die WP span spelers van kleur wees……hulle het net n baie beter voorgevoel vir die game
@Die Ken: Beggars can’t be choosers, probeer maar net help
@Kempie Pa: Eintlik lyk dit of niemand van die groot of klein skole daarbo gekondisioneer is vir die vinniger pas nie. Every day is Friday Pieday met sommige, ander het dalk supplimenteer met kondisioneer verwar, kan maklik gebeur as mens soos julle oopmond praat sonder dat die lippe aan mekaar raak
@Ploegskaar: kak voorstel.
@Die Ken: Dit sal maar sukkel, al is die wortel om die beskawing te verlaat, hoe groot. Dalk ‘n korttermyn kontrak in die afseisoen, waneer Noordvaal skole piek?
@Kempie Pa: ek hoor jou, en soos jy sien, stem ek saam met jou, net gebaseer op ander feite. Vat bv Stellenbosch Hoerskool, een van hul laaities is in die Boland AW span – WDF!
@Speartackle: Dalk eerder elke tweede jaar, Desember/Januarie, vir ‘n beker en tydens ons krieketseisoen, maar selfs dan reken ek julle sal opgeneuk word, al moet ons met spykerskoene (nie daai wit Idlers waarmee jy gaan jol nie) en beenskutte speel
@Speartackle: Nee ek lyk goed soos altyd, maar voel nie so goed nie. 2015 oes, soos 2014, is maar skraal in die Suide ook. Reken dit sal net beter hier in 2016/7 gaan, moet net beter in die Noordvaal gaan, kan net beter in die Sentrale Vlaktes gaan
@Die Ken:
My voorstel is meer gebaseer op die skole in die area eerder as hoeveel mense daarr bly.
In Pretoria doen Affies goed die jaar maar die ander skole nie so goed nie. Waterkloof het teen Helpmekaar verloor as ‘n voorbeeld. Laas jaar was Affies bang vir Garsfontein maar hierdie jaar dink ek sou hulle beter gespeel het.
Vir dier Leeus is dit meestal Monument en die ondersteunende skole soos Florida val uit die bus uit. Jeppe doen darem baie goed die jaar.
Vir die Valke is dit hoofsaaklik EG en Kempies en dan baie kleiner skole.
Waneer spanne vir CW saamgestel word is die kleiner skole se spelers nie so goed gekondisineerd vir die vinniger pas soos die makro skole nie. Dus sal talent van die kleiner skole ‘n groot nadeel het.
In Kaapstad hoor ek van SACs wat ‘n goeie jaar het, Rondebosch Bishops, Belville en vele meer wat almal baie meer kompeterende rugby speel. Dus my punt dat Kaapstad ‘n goeie CW span kan bou. As dit vir WP moeilik is om die Bolandse Kalwers te laat gaan kan hulle dan PRG hou (Stellenbosch – Boland so ver ek verstaan).
@Ploegskaar: Sal Mnr Bergh dit nie oorweeg om die Slot te verruil vir ‘n paar jaar in Krugersdorp (met ‘n moontlike groter wortel, i.e. Leeus CW) nie?
@AbsolutMenlo: Ja lyk my die CW moet oor Kersfees gespeel word
@Speartackle: Die span wat die dag in die veld gestoot word is tog ‘n besluit deur die CW coaches…en kom ons vat dit n stappie verder..die tipe rugby wat die Leeus CW span die afgelope paar jaar opgedis het, was maar bra kak (al het hul n paar keer in die finaal gespeel). Dis uiters teleurstellend dat die seniorspan se spelpatroon nie sy weg gevind het ondertoe nie – en hierby sluit ek die kak spelpatroon van die 0/21s en 0/19s ook in.
@Speartackle: Die Noordvaal spanne begin eers peak na die Julie skoolvakansie…
Lions pack with only 3 Monna forwards in it…….recipe for disaster…….well done selectors and management
@Playa: I know how Kwezi can play. Been following his progress for 3 years now. I think he was below par. But i agree with you, let’s not write him off yet. Lets wait for Saturday, EP vs WP.
If Curwin Bosch is injured, Kwezi can take the kicks to the posts. He is an above average place kicker, i know.
@spot: Are you a follower of Stassen? How many games have you seen him play this year? Do you think he is not talented enough to adjust to a tighter game?
If you have only seen him on tv then don’t even bother replying
@beet: You have read my mind. I like this Stassen kid. First time i see him play. You have just confirmed my concerns, with his style of play (as a tight five) he will disappear against Eng U18, and the French U18 for that matter. Ball to run with will be scarce and your role is primarily to go toe-to-toe with those big blokes. The next day your body will tell you that you have been in a war. Maybe that is exactly the reason why he did not make SA Schools last year.
@Ploegskaar: Nee jy is heeltemaal reg…..die Noorvaal (soos jy dit noem) spanne is baie useless die jaar…….in die algemeen is al die rugby maar kak die jaar…..julle lyk (en voel) net goed as gevolg daarvan
@Speartackle: Dink jy ‘n CW beker in die toekoms sal verseker dat die Noorvaal spanne nie so kak speel en op hul moer kry teen die “friendlies en interskole” provinsies nie?
@Playa: OK, cool I am wrong then. He looked shorter than that…
@Grasshopper: According to my private detective AKA stalking skills, he is 190cm
http://www.sterlingsport.co.za/profile.php?id=111
@Playa: How tall is he then? 190cm is a minimum for an No8 these days
@Playa:
@Grasshopper: Lacks height?????That is a gross misrepresentation my friend. Perhaps he looked short to you on tv, but he definitely is not lacking in height.
Mafu looks a great prospect, but again lacks height for a No8. I see him as a flank or even a centre. EP are the team to beat for sure…..no real weakness.
@spot: The kid had a bad day. I have seen him in 5 games for Grey this year and he has been nothing short of outstanding. I am not advocating for him to be picked for SA Schools, I just don’t feel that it is fair to write him off because of one off day.
@McCulleys Workshop: Sadiki played, not a bad outing for him but he is a little small for flank in the senior ranks. Same with Xaba. Xaba is an excellent basketball player so has the ballskills, but is stuck in no man’s lands as he is not quick enough for centre. Dixon is a huge loss, his physicality was missing. Him and Palvie together would have been awesome.
@Die Ken:
Ek was ‘n kaalvoetklonkie in my Dale Junior dae in die vroër 90s. Die ag uur wedstryde teen Queens Junior in Queenstown was een van die mees pynlike ervarings van my liefde.
Queenstown winters are the cold version of hell, I tell you. (Ok, I didn’t know how to write that in Afrikaans
)
@Grasshopper: Sorry I missed the game, it sucks being an employee! Wiseman has been a tough character all season and his play in the loose phases is also good. I would like to see KZN up against EP. Do you know who replaced Dixon?
@beet: I am more surprised (as confirmed to me by Ploegie) that the SA schools squad of circa 30 players this year, is primarily picked on performance at the SARFU weeks (CW, AW, prev GK) and not based on performances in normal schoolgames throughout the past 2 years too. It is like picking a Bok team based on the the Old Lion Cup. Surely this cannot be right? Yes, your cream will rise to the top in one or 2 of the 3 games, but there must be at least 4 or 5 guys out of the 30-odd players that make it by playing blinders in 1 or 2 of the 3 games, but had nothing special to offer throughout the year. And that’s not even taking into account the numerous guys that didnt make the CW teams due to whatever doubtful reason.
Well done KZN, scrappy game but a win is a win. Grogper was an easy win this year but throw in Monnas and its a different team. Was impressed with Wiseman & Pretorius for KZN. Palvie was a little quiet, but he’ll show his true colours next game.
Not very impressed with ball control today. Area that needs attention. Also, hands in the loose scrums! Basics missing!
@phat55: JZN for your boy?
@spot: I love the RG Snyman recall. I still have fond memories of his midfield handling skills especially his Yannick Jauzion-like hands above and offload in the tackle.
Regarding Stassen and for that matter Adriaan vd Bank as well. These are two players who could easily have stuck to traditional roles and still scored high marks on the selectors clipboards but given the huge natural advantages they enjoyed over their respective opponents, it would have been a waste to not use their talents to express themselves as they did and their teams benefited tremendously as a result of their less orthodox approaches.
There are no SA Schools trials this year and I’m not sure that’s such a good thing especially for testing tight forwards. England u18 will test our guys and we need to be sure we select a tight 5 that can deliver. I was thinking as part of the school rugby evolution perhaps aside from the provincial “final” on Saturday, the selectors should be reorganising all the other players into strength vs strength teams to serve as trial matches on the Saturday.
@Speartackle: hahahaha
Who friggen cares where these okes go……..at the end of the day they all become useless playing the RSA way
@Muzi: BP definitely aint going to WP
Khwezi had a great game today. I feel he has a good chance of making the SA Schools side. His rugby has come on leaps and bounds these last few years.
More than a year ago, on 30 May 2014 i posted the following: “Kwezi Mafu “relocated” from Dale. He was selected for SA u16 HP last year when he was still 15. This will be his second year to be selected for the HP squad. He will play Craven Week and SA Schools in 2015 and 2016.”
@Muzi offered a response: “Oh, my according to @spot: Kwezi Mafu is already guaranteed a place in the 2015 and 2016 SA schools sides….enough said.”
I wish to change my statement. Kwezi was disappointing today. I so wished he would announce himself on the CW stage with a bang. I therefore would say he must wait another year and improve some more in order to make SA Schools. Edmund Rheeder is still the best No.8 on show.
I have read about Hendre Stassen on this blog but have never seen him before today. He is good, very good. He reminds of RG Snyman the SBR player. Years later and with coaching, RG now understands his role in the tight five. He is no longer playing 6,7,8,10,12 and 13. I believe Stassen will also improve in time to come. He seems to have the talent. For now let him enjoy his rugby running freely all over the field. Great to see.
@Muzi: Would also add to my guess:
Ewan Coetzee Cheetahs
All WP CW u18’s + couple of Academy guys WPRI, not sure about Kruger
Thaine Lions
Couple of JZN surprises in store that will end up elsewhere
2015 not the greatest harvest though, like 2014, over it and the hunt for the best u17 signatures already on, 2016 should be better
@Speartackle: Wat het jy gese van notas maak oor Zim? Soek jy daardie notas? Of speel die Lions teen Border CD ?
@Muzi: Wild guess is:
Pretorius, Hamman, Fouché, Adre Smit Lions
Libbok Bulls
Chait, vd Bank WP
Kuhn, C du Toit Cheetahs
That’s it for now
I won’t be surprised if the Bulls sign Mthi Simelane….he’s a black player with an added bonus of having a polished kicking accurate boot…
Matt Kriel…isn’t that Jesse and Daniel’s little brother?!?!
I enjoyed that messy scrum battle between those two black fatties in the KZN/Lions game…black on black violence…they were chirping each other like crazy..
@Die Ken:
you right on the money and who could forget that massive afro hair style….
If the Griquas impressive 8th man was playing for WP/Lions, Bulle or KZN he’d be a contender for SA schools…just saying.
@Muzi: if Libbok was 95kgs, he’d look like Bevan Fortuin, not neccesarily a good thing
Hendre Stassen is a machine…that valke inside centre was all flames though….my black brother
Mafu is like an upgraded Siya Kolisi 2.0….the man plays with a swagger no wonder the EP Kings were kissing his ass with that contract…imagine if Libbok was 95 kgs?!?! he’d be the next “bg thing” @13 in SA….why is everyone drooling over Bosch?!?! we all know what he can do…nothing new to gloat about..guppies must be sick and tired of watching Patricia Shampoodle 
after spoiling Curwin rotten with that lucrative contract… 
Bader Pretorius….on his way to WP…..what message does that send to Chait?!?!
@Rugbymal: I actually liked 2 Lions players today – Massyn and Nothnagel. Touch and go between Massyn and Vd Walt of the Valke for no7 jersey. The no8 of Griquas also very effective today
@Speartackle: hierdie onbekende knapie het nogal baie tyd om besluite te neem.
@Playa: @Speartackle: die man maak my trots! of is dit n geval van hy wil as n “kaalvoetklonkie” gesien word?
Anyways..
@Speartackle:
Nee, die Blog is ‘n goeie Afrikaans klaas. Lees al die ander ‘posts’ en jy sal sien wat ek bedoel
@Redblack White: It pains me to agree with you. I hope we will be proven wrong
@Playa: Jy gooi die afrikaans ne……..bly jy nou in Kuilsrivier?
EP and Valke should play on Thursday
@Oakdale supporter: Dankie Vader dat hy het nie ‘n kontrak na die Bulle nie. Daardie ouens moet sommer dink hy is die volgende Naas Botha, en vergeet dat hy’s a beter balspeler.
@Speartackle:
That might be true for now – but remember right now he still has the freedom to play his own game. We all know when he hits the next level he is going to be coached into a game plan and structure and who know what happens then!!!
Is Mafu a Samoan?
@beet: agree with you best game of the day
EP 10 beste speler van die dag. Hou van EP se 8 ook. By KZN wedstryd gehou van Palvie en die 9 van Sharks. Niemand by Lions my regtig impress nie.
Is daar al bepalings vir donderdag?
This last game was super exciting from an attacking point of view.
Bosch in a class of his own today.
Kwezi Mafu the SBR level player of the match.
Louis Strydom + Riaan v Rensburg of EP & Manny Libbok + Roux Swart of SWD great as well.
Beet wat dink julle van die Valke 10se spel vandag? Ons dink hy was briljant. Baie geluk aan Xander Crause Valke (10) met jou uitstaande spel hou so aan. Baie geluk ook aan Erich Cronje Valke (12) met speler van die wedstryd.
He is already better than Porcelain Pat
@Speartackle: Dis Curwin Bosch, die Sharks se nuwe aankopie. Bleddie goed, drie drop goals. Die groot verskil tussen SWD en EP. SWD het egter vir Ferreira op 8 gemis.
@Speartackle: Hehehehe…jy weet die seun Spear
Wie is hierdie OP 10?
Hy lyk nogal goed
Libbok speel soos Danie Gerber van ouds
@akw: @akw: ek stem met sy voorstel, i.e om die wynlandskole uit te skuif, maar nie met hoe hy dit regverdig nie, i.e dat Kaapstad op sy eie groot genoeg is, siende dat groot stede soos Johannesburg, Pretoria en Ekhuruleni self nie groot genoeg is nie, en ander dorpe bydra tot die unies.
@beet: I stand corrected. I thought Dahl deserved man of the match. He was outstanding!
Well done KZN you champs! Build on that boys!
Congratulations to KZN. Not a great match, though. The final try a lone bright spot, and a wing running with the ball in the correct arm. And I still believe MJ Pelser will be an awesome 6, instead of an average 12.
I am definitely watching to see what a R350000/year schoolboy rugby player looks like.
Guuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaa! What a try by Xolisa Guma. Coupled with his tackles he was my KZN motm.
What a relief for KZN. It wasn’t the best quality game especially that second half but we’ll take it.
I still remember Lion’s flyhalf Jaco vd Walt’s clutch kick at Craven Week that sank us a few years back.
Halftime KZN 10 Lions 13. Hopefully KZN can up their game by cutting out the handling errors and showing more disciple on tackled breakdown defence. We look the more urgent team with ball in hand but need to be composed and make good decisions.
@Die Ken: Ek is nie die skerpste mes in die laai nie, maar ek sweer jou argument bevestig dat Kempie Pa se argument of voorstel akkuraat is. WP en Boland is veskillende unies in 1 provinsie, dieselfde as in Gauteng. Ek kon nog nooit kop hoekom Boland krieket se stadion in die Paarl is, maar die skole val onder die WP skole unie nie.
@Kempie Pa: Ja maar, Gauteng is n provinsie en Kaapstad is ‘n stad. Siende dat die Bulle uit Pretoria, Centurion bestaan, die Valke uit Van der Bijlpark, Vereeniging, Sasolburg, Meyerton, Boksburg, Benoni, Brakpan, Kempton en Springs bestaan en die Leeus uit Johannesburg, Krugersdorp, Alberton, Randfontein en Roodepoort bestaan, kan daardie een nie gebruik word nie. Wat wel as n rede gebruik kan word is dat die Wynlandskole in ander sporte (atletiek, krieket en hokkie) onder die Bolandvlag speel.
Good luck KZN boys! Make us proud and play with your heart!
@beet:
Perhaps it is time for WP to hand the Boland towns back to Boland. Then you will have a very strong WP and Boland with very strong CD teams from the area as well.
With all the strong schools in Cape town WP should still be strong. In Gauteng we have the Bulls, Lions as well as the Valke. Cape town should be big enough to support a CW team on its own.
@BoishaaiPa: They’ve been watching too much Brian Habana
@vlei: I agree with the EC having less teams, but Border and EP combining would be a logistic nightmare. PE to KWT = 250km; PE to EL = 300km, PE to QTN = 350km.
Another challenge would be cutting down teams and still avoid the WP-Boland problem.Who would go were?
I have held the view that Border CD team play in the academy week. Stretch Border down to Grahamstown, and the farming towns around QTN. EP remain as is, and EPCD be everything North of EP. That too has its short comings.
Anyone notice how many players are running at the line with the ball in the wrong arm…that is a basic skill that can easily be coached and corrected..you cant hand off a defender coming at cross angle with the ball under the wrong arm..or protect it in the tackle. At this level players should at least have that basic under the belt.
@vlei: The distance from PE to East London is about 300km, so logistically 2 teams to service the metros and surrounding areas is justified.
The problem really is with the Border CD team who are very weak every year. They should be demoted to Academy Week where their players can at least enjoy playing competitive matches. This year’s team was an improvement but one can’t understand what purpose it serves having 2nd XV players from the major schools in the region to boost the team.
The long standing argument is why don’t the WP have another team at CW. It would be justified, especially now that they are picking an SA Schools B-team and will be looking for double the number of quality PD players and are highly unlikely to get a single candidate from Border CD.
Good luck Tristan Dixon – trusting your surgery goes well today – what irony and timing that you under the knife during the KZN match!
Hendre Stassen……what a player
Good luck Valke and Lions we need wins for Gauteng!
Good luck to KZN today! What I struggle to understand is why there are four Eastern Cape based teams. EP should combine with border, and cut it down to two teams. Opinions?
I feel for the big lad not being there. He must remember that he has got a long and promising career ahead of him though.
Go KZN .
Good luck to the KZN boys today, will be a very tough task but I know they’re super motivated to do well.
Hope Entabeni has a TV somewhere with SS1 on it