| TIME | DATE | TEAM | TEAM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12h00 | Fri.07Aug | SA u18A | 29 | 14 | Italy u18 |
| 14h00 | Fri.07Aug | England u18 | 15 | 7 | France u18 |
| 16h00 | Fri.07Aug | SA Schools | 42 | 11 | Wales u18 |
| 13h00 | Tue.11Aug | SA u18A | 8 | 33 | England u18 |
| 15h00 | Tue.11Aug | Wales u18 | 32 | 10 | Italy u18 |
| 17h00 | Tue.11Aug | SA Schools | 12 | 5 | France u18 |
| 11h00 | Sat.15Aug | SA u18A | 20 | 20 | Wales u18 |
| 13h00 | Sat.15Aug | France u18 | 25 | 17 | Italy u18 |
| 15h00 | Sat.15Aug | SA Schools | 23 | 16 | England u18 |
Teams per game
| SA SCHOOLS | Wal | Fra | Eng | SA SCH “A” | Ita | Eng | Wal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cabous Eloff | 1 | 17 | 1 | 1 | Abram Venter | 1 | 1 | 17 | |
| 2 | Johan Grobbelaar | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Marnus vd Merwe | 17 | 2 | 2 | |
| 3 | Carlu Sadie | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Ignatius Prinsloo | 3 | 3 | 18 | |
| 4 | Hendré Stassen | SAA | SAA | 4 | 4 | Reinhard Nothnagel | 26 | 4 | 4 | |
| 5 | Ruben de Villers | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | Hendré Stassen (C) | 5 | 5 | SAS | |
| 6 | Johan Visser | inj | 20 | 6 | 6 | Zain Davids | 6 | 6 | SAS | |
| 7 | Ernst van Rhyn (C) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | Kamva Dilima | 19 | 7 | 19 | |
| 8 | Hacjivah Dayimani | 20 | 8 | 8 | 8 | Phillip Krause | 7 | 8 | 6 | |
| 9 | Embrose Papier | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | Jason Olivier | 21 | 9 | 21 | |
| 10 | Curwin Bosch | 10 | 15 | 10 | 10 | Eddie Fouche | 22 | 10 | 22 | |
| 11 | Manie Libbok | 11 | 22 | 11 | 11 | Ryan Muller | 14 | 11 | 11 | |
| 12 | Heino Bezuidenhout | 24 | 12 | 12 | 12 | Cornel Smit | 24 | 12 | 12 | |
| 13 | Stedman Gans | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | Cyprian Nkomo | 12 | 13 | 23 | |
| 14 | Nico Leonard | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | Tyreeq February | 23 | 14 | 14 | |
| 15 | Andell Loubser | 15 | 23 | 15 | 15 | Riaan van Rensburg | 25 | 15 | 15 | |
| 16 | Nico Peyper | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | André Lategan | 2 | 16 | 16 | |
| 17 | Ashwyn Adams | 17 | 1 | 17 | 17 | Christopher Klopper | 16 | 17 | 1 | |
| 18 | Dewald Maritz | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | Mashao Mukhari | 18 | 18 | 3 | |
| 19 | Kwezi Mafu | 8 | 19 | 19 | 19 | Ruan Vermaak | 27 | 19 | 5 | |
| 20 | Zain Davids | SAA | SAA | 20 | 20 | Kwanda Dimaza | 20 | 20 | 7 | |
| 21 | Jondre Williams | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | Khanya Ncusane | 8 | 21 | 8 | |
| 22 | Damian Willemse | 22 | 10 | 22 | 22 | Matthew Dahl | 9 | 22 | 9 | |
| 23 | David Brits | 12 | 24 | 23 | 23 | Bader Pretorius | 10 | 23 | 10 | |
| 24 | Wandisile Simelane | 23 | 11 | 24 | 24 | Abner van Reenen | 13 | 24 | 13 | |
| 25 | Salmaan Moerat | 4 | 26 | 25 | 25 | Mujaahid vd Hoven | 11 | 25 | 24 | |
| 26 | Manuel Ras | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | Earll Dourie | 15 | 26 | 25 | |
| 27 | Ruben van Heerden | 19 | 4 | inj | 27 | PJ Steenkamp | 4 | inj | inj | |
| 28 | Cobus Wiese | 6 | 6 | inj |
Match Reports from SA Rugby.net
Day 1 :SA Schools teams start U18 International Series on high note
8th August 2015
The SA Schools and SA Schools A teams on Friday started the Under-18 International Series on a high note at the City Park Stadium in Crawford, Cape Town, as they registered encouraging victories against Wales and Italy to make their presence felt early on.
The SA Schools team delivered a solid performance on attack and defence against Wales for a 42-11 victory, while the SA Schools A side overcame a closely-fought first half against Italy for 29-14 win.
In the other clash England defeated France 15-7.
The teams will battle it out in the second round in George on Tuesday before returning to the City Park Stadium on Saturday 15 August for the closing round of the Series.
SA Schools 42 (13) Wales 11 (6)
The first half between the SA Schools team and Wales was tense as both teams used their forwards and backs effectively. The hosts opened up the scoring in the 6th minute with a penalty by flyhalf Curwin Bosch, but the visitors levelled the scores minutes later with a penalty by flyhalf Billy McBryde.
While the SA Schools opted to retain possession on attack and apply pressure, Wales tried to pin them in their own half through tactical kicks. With both defensive systems holding well, however, the first half was dominated by penalties. Bosch added his second penalty in the 26th minute to edge his team into the lead, but this was again cancelled out soon after as McBryde slotted over another.
The hosts, however, finally broke through the Welsh defence in the 31st minute with a try by scrumhalf Embrose Papier, who picked up the ball from a ruck and dived over the chalk following a series of pick-and-goes. The successful conversion pushed the SA Schools 13-6 ahead on the scoreboard.
Bosch had a golden opportunity to inflate the score with another try on the stroke of halftime, but he stepped into touch en route to the tryline following a stunning line break in the middle of the field.
The SA Schools team came out firing in the second half and signalled their intentions in the first minute with a fantastic try by centre Stedman Gans to stretch their lead to 18-6. Gans added another try in the 44th minute after receiving a pass following a poor chip kick by Wales, while hooker Johan Grobbelaar crossed the line for their third try soon after from a charge-down, to stretch the lead to 32-6.
Unfortunately for Wales their hopes of clawing their way back into the match in the closing minutes were dashed as fullback Rhun Williams received a red card for a dangerous tackle. This paved the way for Bosch to add a penalty, while lock Ruben de Villiers scored the SA Schools team’s fifth try to increase their score to 42-6. Wales fought back with a try the last minute to reduce the deficit to 42-11, but this was merely a consolation after struggling to make their presence felt in the match.
Scorers:
SA Schools – Tries: Embrose Papier, Johan Grobbelaar, Ruben de Villiers, Stedman Gans (2). Conversions: Curwin Bosch (4). Penalties: Curwin Bosch (3).
Wales – Try: Kieran Williams. Penalties: Billy McBryde (2).
SA Schools A 29 (9) Italy 14 (7)
The SA Schools A team opened up the scoring in their clash against Italy with a penalty in what was a tightly-fought first quarter. Both teams took a few minutes to find their rhythm on attack early on, but as the game progressed they made better use of their point-scoring chances.
The hosts did well to retain possession in the first half and they supported this with a solid defensive effort, but an intercept try by Italy centre Andrea Bronzili in the 22nd minute allowed them to score the first try of the match. In return, SA Schools A flyhalf Bader Pretorius slotted over two penalty kicks in the second quarter to hand his team a narrow 9-7 lead at the break.
Pretorius increased the hosts lead to 12-7 shortly into the second half with another penalty, but Italy hit back with their second try of the match compliments of a strong shove by the
ir forwards, which pushed them 14-12 ahead.
This, however, sparked the fighting spirit in the SA Schools A side, as they bounced back with tries by wing Ryan Muller and Zain Davids, while replacement flyhalf Eddie Fouche slotted over a long-range penalty minutes before the final whistle to seal an encouraging 29-14 victory.
Scorers:
SA Schools A – Tries: Ryan Muller, Zain Davids. Conversions: Bader Pretorius, Eddie Fouche. Penalties: Bader Pretorius (4), Eddie Fouche.
Italy: Tries: Andrea Bronzini, Giordano Baldino. Conversions: Roberto Dal Zilio (2).
Day 2: SA Schools, England unbeaten in U18 International Series
11th August 2015
The SA Schools team and England on Tuesday remained unbeaten in the Under-18 International Series after registering their second round of victories in the competition in an exciting day’s play at Outeniqua Park in George.
The SA Schools team defeated France 12-5 in a hard-fought encounter to close off the day’s play in front of a passionate crowd, while England thumped the SA Schools A team 33-8.
These teams will square up against one another in the final round of the competition at the City Park Stadium in Crawford, Cape Town, on Saturday in what will prove to be the competition decider.
In the other match Wales defeated Italy 32-10.
SA Schools 12 (9) France 5 (0)
The SA Schools team signalled their intentions early on against France as they applied pressure on attack from the outset, which earned fullback Curwin Bosch a penalty in the eighth minute to hand the team a 3-0 lead. The following exchanges were tight as both teams used their forwards in an attempt to gain ascendancy and defended well, which resulted in them opting for penalty goals to earn points. The scrums and mauls were particularly physical as both teams put their bodies on the line.
Bosch tripled the hosts’ score to 9-0 in the 31st minute as he added two more penalties. France, meanwhile, tried hard to make their presence felt and managed to work their way five metres out from the SA Schools’ tryline three times in the last 10 minutes of the half, but the solid defence denied them from crossing the tryline.
The second half was equally tense, and with neither team giving an inch on defence, Bosch slotted over his fourth penalty 15 minutes after the break to extend their lead to 12-0.
The hosts came the closest they had been to the tryline in the match soon after by taking advantage of a gap in the defence, but wing Wandisile Simelane was bundled into touch metres from the tryline. France hit back by forcing their way close to the hosts’ tryline twice in the closing minutes, and their strong-minded approach paid off as Thomas Darmon crashed over in the 70th minute to reduce the deficit to 12-5. France struck again in the dying seconds after being awarded a penalty, but the SA Schools team defended like demons to secure the 12-5 victory.
Scorers:
SA Schools – Penalties: Curwin Bosch (4).
France – Try: Thomas Darmon.
SA Schools A 8 (3) England 33 (26)
England started their clash against the SA Schools A team with a bang as they scored their first of four first-half tries in the first minute compliments of fly half and captain Max Malins.
The visitors dominated territory and possession in the opening 40 minutes by stringing together phases and forcing the SA Schools A team to defend for long periods, and they earned the rewards as they accumulated 26 points in the half. In return the hosts were only able to slot over a penalty compliments of flyhalf Eddie Fouche, as they battled to breach the defence. Despite trailing far behind, however, the hosts defended well on their tryline at times, but the visitors’ tenacity allowed them to break through in the end.
England scored their fifth try six minutes into the second half as Theo Brophy Clews navigated his way through the defence, but this proved to be their only points in the second half as the hosts tightened up their defence and retained possession on attack.
The SA Schools A team’s determined efforts to force their way over the tryline finally paid off in the last 10 minutes as Abner van Reenen forced his way over the chalk to reduce the deficit to 33-8. They continued to show their fighting spirit until the final whistle, but they were unable to add to their score as England’s defence held.
Scorers:
SA Schools A – Try: Abner Van Reenen. Penalty: Eddie Fouche.
England – Tries: Gabriel Ibitoye, Josh Bayliss, Max Malins (2), Theo Brophy Clews. Conversions: Max Malins (3), Theo Brophy Clews.
Day 3: SA Schools finish U18 International Series unbeaten
15th August 2015
The SA Schools team on Saturday finished the Under-18 International Series unbeaten as they defeated England 23-16 in a hard-fought and physical encounter at the City Park Stadium in Crawford, Cape Town.
The SA Schools team were smart on attack as they retained possession for long periods, while they put their bodies on the line on defence throughout the match. SA Schools flyhalf Curwin Bosch, meanwhile, kept the scoreboard ticking with his accurate goal kicking.
The victory for the SA Schools team allowed them to finish the Series as the only unbeaten team, while they also avenged their defeat against England in last year’s series, which marked their first defeat in four years in the Under-18 International Series.
The SA Schools A team, meanwhile, drew 20-20 against Wales following a late surge by the visitors to force their way back into the match. The SA Schools A side built up a 10-3 lead early in the match, but the strong Welsh pack allowed them to force their way back into the game to level the scores late in the second half.
In the other match France defeated Italy 25-17.
SA Schools 23 (10) England 16 (6)
England opened up the scoring with a penalty in the opening minutes, but they were soon forced to defend as the SA Schools team put together phases and worked their way close to the tryline. The home team’s determined efforts to starve England of possession and score finally paid off in the 22nd minute after hooker Johan Grobbelaar dashed through a gap in the defence before being tackled, which scrumhalf Embrose Papier capitalised on to dive in the first try. Bosch added a penalty soon after to stretch their lead to 10-3.
England hit back with a penalty of their own to trail by only four points, and with neither team able to add to their score the SA Schools entered the break 10-6 ahead.
England fought back with intent after the break as they got their hands on the ball and forced their way through the defence to score their first try compliments of Max Malins to edge their way into an 11-10 lead. But this was short-lived as Papier found space out wide and passed the ball to Hacjivah Dayimani who touched down. Bosch converted the try and added two penalties to push the hosts 23-11 ahead.
Both teams were reduced to 14 players in the minute following a scuffle up-front, and despite neither team having a numbers advantage England managed to force their way through the defence in the last minute to go down 23-16.
Scorers:
SA Schools – Tries: Embrose Papier, Hacjivah Dayimani. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2). Penalties: Curwin Bosch (3).
England – Tries: Ali Crossdale, Max Malins. Penalties: Theo Brophy Clews (2).
SA Schools A 20 (10) Wales 20 (8)
Wales applied early pressure on the SA Schools A team as they retained possession and strung together phases, but they were forced to settle for a penalty as they battled to penetrate the defence. The hosts, however, hit back with back-to-back tries within two minutes by flanker Phillip Krause and flyhalf Bader Pretorius after fantastic breaks on attack for a 10-3 lead.
Wales fought back with intent with their strong forwards and managed to force their way over the tryline to reduce the gap on the scoreboard to 10-8 before the break.
The SA Schools A team came out firing in the second half with flanker Kwanda Dimaza dodging his way around a defender and diving over the tryline to extend their lead to 17-8. They added a penalty to stretch their lead to 20-8. Wales, however, forced their way back into the match with a converted try by Josh Macleod to reduce the deficit to 20-15.
They added another try nine minutes later compliments of prop Leon Brown, but an unsuccessful conversion left the scores level at 20-20. Both teams defended like demons in the dying minutes, which forced them to settle for a draw.
Scorers:
SA Schools A – Tries: Bader Pretorius, Kwanda Dimaza, Phillip Krause. Conversion: Cornel Smit. Penalties: Cornel Smit.
Wales – Tries: Josh Macleod, Leon Brown, Morgan Sieniawski. Conversion: Billy McBryde. Penalty: Callum Hall.
Our rugby is in deep trouble. At primary school level only size counts and skills is ignored. Very few schools develops the skills of the boys. I followed this years under 13 and 12 WP trails. Boy it was a shock. The only thing these selector’s seem to be interested in was size. I have seen some awesome talent dropped for size, time and time again.
I know doc craven said that a good big guy will always be better than a good small guy. It seems to me that in our rugby, selectors don’t understand what doc meant. Our rugby selectors and coaches think he meant a big guy is always better than a small guy. The result of that thinking is clear….real SA stampkar rugby.
The WP under 18 CW team were awesome, because they played rugby the way it should be played in the modern era. They attacked the space not the man and they offloaded in contact. They supported the ball carrier not with the mindset to clean but with the mindset to receive the ball and keeping the ball alive.
Rugby is a simple game if players have the skills. Skills gets developed you don’t just plug it from the air. I coach wrestling and I had the pleasure to coach with a top Russian coach for four years. He always told me to boss a skill you have to repeat that skill at least 45000 times. Then you can say you have mastered that skill. Arnold Palmer said that he won two major’s before he had confidence in his driving. It took him that long to master that skill.
Why in rugby we South Africans think talent and size is more important than technique and practice? Our kids don’t learn the right skills when they are small and then we are surprised if our national teams play stampkar rugby. We shouldn’t be we bread stampkar rugby players from primary school. Do yourself a favor and go and watch NZ small kids rugby programs all about skill very little about contact.
My hope is that the rugby powers realize that our rugby is not where it should be and that the development at primary school level should be changed. Maybe we should go back to letting the youngsters play in weight classes like the old days. That way skills will become important again and size won’t matter anymore.
En daar speel hulle almal stil teen die Engelse . Bosch en Papier was weer puik soos gewoonlik….
@Buffel: What does a player do that missed the first 7 months due to injury, and then gets told that the squad is selected, sorry for missing out, other than becoming disillusioned and give up.
I imagine plan B then quickly becomes plan A. Hopefully parents make sure plan B is in place, before signing these junior contracts.
@kosie: Now I am confused.
You concur with Buffel that the Lions is a good call, but the situation you explain is a Lions situation.
@BoishaaiPa: Ek stem, die NFL se draft stelsel help om die speelveld meer gelyk te maak.
Maar dit maak te veel sin, so daar is geen kans dat die rugby owerhede daarna sal kyk nie.
I was very surprised that Jondre Williams was not introduced yesterday. Embrose Papier saved what looked like a certain try but he didn’t have his best day as far as distribution is concerned.
@Kattes-Strofes: Sê ek ook!! Maar die Leeus speel ‘n mooi brand rugby en dis nie moeilik om opgewonde langs die veld te raak nie. Sterkte vir jou seun en sy rugbytoekoms.
@Buffel: @kosie: That is why I have been promulgating a draft system for juniors like they have in American football. That way we can spread the talent over a larger area or unions and more players will get playtime. Competition will be more even and more players will be able to come through the system from junior rugby into senior teams. Players should only be eligible to qualify as “professionals” after they did a 2 year stint in the jnr leagues, say at age 21. There must be a salary cap for juniors, and the weaker unions get first choice of players to pick. Those that chose to go to university will not be in the mix, but will be able to play for that province they reside in if picked, but not eligible for “salary” as they would not be deemed professional. You can create enough competition by adding a few unions into the mix.
@Buffel: I can concur. An SA schools prop from 2014 is fighting it out with 2 other candidates to get a game. He has not had any game to date and has not warmed the bench either.
@Kattes-Strofes: A good call to Join the Lions. Province, like the Bulls , contract as many as possible but then find yourself fighting for a place against 3 or 4 in that particular position.
That is one of the reasons we lose players because they become disillusioned and give up.
@Kattes-Strofes: Ha ha, very diplomatic. Suppose on the senior level it will still be WP/Stormers.
@Djou: A lot of credibility and integrity at the Lions. To answer you as diplomatically as possible. I will support the team in which he plays. Bloed is dukker as water.
@Kattes-Strofes: With your son moving to the Lions, will you become a Lions supporter?
my take on the whole Springbok SAGA.
Yes we lost but let us put it in perspective before we all go out and hang ourselves.
We were 15 minutes away from playing for the Cup and our boys did us proud in those 2 games.
Saturday was the perfect time to see if Jean was up to speed as it was a dead rubber and he is clearly not ready and I don’t think will be ready come World cup time. Ruan will play in that it is in the Northern hemisphere but was poor on the day. No spark to speak of. The ref was a joke- missed a lot on the day and once again Mr Ramond Twat was at his best. We have had a huge problem with him in the past so nothing has changed. We will get through the prelim rounds and challenge for the cup.
SA Rugby in die wildernis………..daar is absoluut geen balvaardighede meer teenwoordig in ons strukture maar die klomp ‘kenners’ prys Saterdag na Saterdag die standaard van skolerugby……en die pappies klap ewe hard hande saam………….menere……….ons rugby is in sy moer
Some school players that I know is contracted by the Lions for 2016.
Props; Luyolo Qinela – Southdowns – Bulls
Douglas Bruce- Smith – Klerksdorp – Leopards
Niel Bezuidenhout -Affies – Bulls
Leo Kruger -Paarl Boys – WP
Chergin Fillies -Waterkloof – Bulls
Hookers; HP van Schoor -Oakdale -SWD
MC de Jongh – Paarl Boys
Justin Brandon – Monnas -Lions
Locks ; Reinhard Nothnagel – Monnas – Lions
Adre Smith – Oakdale – SWD
Gideon Botha -Potc Gim.
Loosies ; Len Massyn – Monnas – Lions
Renaldo Ferreira – Oakdale – SWD
Henro Liebenberg -Monnas – Lions
Edmund Rheeder -Klerksdorp -Leopards
Scrummies ;Bradley Thain – Paarl Boys – WP Academy
Divan Henning – Affies – Bulls
Flyhalves ; Bader Pretorius – Michaelhouse – Sharks
Xander Crause – EG Jansen – Falcons
Eddie Fouche – Affies – Bulls
Centres ; Ernst Beumer -Monnas
Siyabonga Khalishwayo -Middelburg – Pumas
Jan- Louis Le Grange – Paarl Boys
Wayne van der Bank -Menlopark -Bulls
Wings ; Runan Venter – Waterkloof – Bulls
Tareeq February – Paarl Boys – WP
@Kattes-Strofes: not looking for excused for the SA A side getting thumped but a few things to consider. Quite a few of the squad have played together since U16, for the U18s last year or this year in the Rugby Europe U18 Championship so know each other while the SA lads have just met. They has also rotated their squad for this game so I suspect the 1st choice guys will be back in for the SA Schools game.
@Andre T:
Sjoe! What a poor performance of our SA’A’ side. In the set pieces, especially the scrums, we got murdered. Wonder if that is the reason that some of the boys failed to get contracted? Also, the handling and option taking was poor, to say the least. Granted, this is a good England side. However, I expected more fire and effort from our lads. Some players that did well at Cravenweek, looked totally out of their dept at this level.Hope the SA side can restore some pride later on, and on Saterday.
@Grasshopper: I think the Boks could do better at King of Thrones………………imagine Banana with long hair……..Stevie Wonder
Even old scrum coach Pieter De Villiers is in talks with Sebastian Chabal to teach our team about Samson…
@Andre T: It must be long and straggly like Jannie and old Vic, also grow a beard. He believes in Samson powers! Schalk has been instructed to grow his hair and beard this month too…
@Grasshopper: I also heard that but apparently HM wants Wiese to change his hairstyle first
@Andre T: hahahah, yeah he looks exactly like that kid. I heard Heyneke was chatting to Kobus Wiese regarding a return to add some bulk up front…
@Andre T: I also hear he is in desperate talks with Bakkies …………………even Clyde Rathbone could be in the mix
@Grasshopper: Yes but Lood is considering going back to Two and a half men
@Andre T: Meyer loves his Old Crocks club too. Lood has shown he is more than capable of filling in Matfield’s boots….
Well 8-33 not so bad against a team who’s best school side would most probably not even beat De la Salle College
Lately it is better to follow Pieter de Villiers’ tweets than the Bok team
@Grasshopper: But apparently Meyer believes you don’t need skills in rugby
@BoishaaiPa: Even Pieter de Villiers is looking like hot property now…..
@BoishaaiPa: yes, like Heyneke, he is an awesome guru
@Grasshopper: Well, then I have been watching different games than you..as has a few better informed rugby guru’s,
@Andre T: Same with Warren Whiteley, he played 10 until grade 11. Although Heyneke has thrown out our most skillful loose forward….
Rumour has it that Willem Alberts might get a shot at 10…..after all he played flyhalf till u/16’s at Monnas
@Playa: Yes Playa, you know it all so I’ll leave it there…
@BoishaaiPa: One óff’game, make that about 5. He certainly hasn’t done much in the games he has played, bar one where the All Blacks were stuffed and not really in it. For me Pollard is not the answer at flyhalf, but time will tell….
@Speartackle: you’re joking right? they’re getting a pakslae. 33 – 3 down after 48 mins. England made plenty of changes to the team that beat France U18.
@Grasshopper: Hahahahaha! Tell me you’re being facetious, please! Pollard is yet to rock my world, but no, no not Fred, you’re not going to bring Fred into this.
@Ploegskaar: Boeta gaan defnitief Tuks en Bulle toe.
@bhkgpa: Then it is about time now please
After watching the first half of the SA A game I really feel very confident about the future of SA rugby specially after Saturday’s massacre
@Grasshopper: sorry Fred who? surely you cannot compare him with pollard! Form is temporarily but class is permanent. We have not by far seen the best of Pollard!
@Grasshopper: Cant believe you still think that..one “off” game and suddenly he is bad?..Show me one player that plays a perfect game everytime…Don’t compare players if they haven’t played at the same level yet..that is unfair to both of them! Pollard has shown previously against AB’s that he can handle the pressure. The whole team was bad on Saturday..you want to drop everyone now?..
@Ploegskaar: The current tighthead , NJ Oosthuizen from Marlow. He too is a YSTER.
This pack hasn’t got 6’7 locks but shit, they play a hard brand of rugger and don’t give up. Of the 5 games, they have been behind in 4 at halftime only to come back strongly in the second 35.
They just need to come out of the blocks firing and build a lead rather than play catch up. Saying that, they are the shining light of EP rugby at the moment and carry the mantle well.
@Buffel: In related news, the Kings have also signed up Carel Greeff, one of my favourite players, on a 2-year contract. Now there’s an YSTER for you
@Muzi: Last I heard Boeta was heading to the Lions, but then again, he was initially going to the Cheetahs, so landing up at the highest bidder/Bulls would not surprise me in the least.
With Bart having confirmed Bader Pretorius, Xander Crause and Eddie Fouche (albeit as a 12), it may well turn out to be a good move. Boeta certainly meets the Big Bulls Boot criteria for 10/15’s
@Pedantic: that’s GREAT NEWS. Pity it doesn’t come with 1 x SIZE loose forward from KC. Its not too late- I believe Barend Smit from the Lions signed 2 contracts- One at the Sharks and one at the Lions. Somehow got out of the Sharks one is now currently captain @ the Lions.
@Muzi: I am glad for Thysa, but what’s the news on Arno van Wyk? Rated him as one of the best schoolboy 2’s in 2012 and he looked set to take the step up. I will be watching JT’s progress with interest, he certainly has the physical attributes, whether he makes it or not will fall squarely on his shoulders.
WRT to Bankies, believe it or not, he was not on WP’s radar, but fortunately they followed sound advise and signed him up. Two good 10’s with Duimpie Willemse set to join 2017 will provide good depth
I remember everyone on this blog slagging me for not supporting Pollard, hmmm I wonder if they rethinking this. Fred Zeilanga is leaps better under pressure and Lambie/Jantjes should be our WC flyhalves..
@Buffel:
I absolutely 100% agree with you…IMHO Adriaan Van Der Bank, Damian Willemse and Bader Pretorius were the best @10’s in the CC….under pressure Curwin Bosch is woeful…thank god Bulls didn’t waste money on him…watch when he gets to senior rugby he’ll be exposed…just have a look at Handre Pollard…you know I rate him highly but boy is he KAK at the moment…
@Buffel: Word has it the Kings have snagged another few very decent KZN boys for 2016 – they really doing their homework there.
That SWD @10 Christo Hamman decided to follow JT Jackson to the Bulls…..
@Muzi: Sorry, Bosch not as huge a loss as one thinks. The price tag that he comes with could pay for at least 3 top SBR players.
My issue is with his defence. It is average at best and with today’s brand of rugby you cannot hide. He is also going to be second fiddle to the current Sharks 10 in Tristan Tedder. You have Morne Joubert at fullback so he will have his work cut out to force his way into the team.
@Ploegskaar: Thanks for the expert feedback
What you have described there really requires common sense – a union investing a few hundred K into a player should do their homework – not sure if they do.
@Muzi: Ja- I think it will be huge. There are a number of sides that can’t wait for the return fixture- WP, LIONS,CHEETAHS.
It would make a fitting final.
that’s for sure.
@Buffel: Mafu was smart business..Bosch is a massive loss for Cheeky..
@Ploegskaar: Bulls must have good connections with your school
…..Matthys Basson is staying for another two years..at least we didn’t throw him in the bin…that JT Potgieter is a handful @12…strong lad…Gavin Van Den Berg is having a great season…I really really really wanted Adriaan Van Der Bank…why sign him up if you have Jordan Chait?!?! doesn’t make sense long term…stock pilling like the Bulls with De Beer, Stander, Marais and Tian Schoeman. 
Don’t be surprised if the Kings get a few requests from parents and players for next year.
@Buffel: That return fixture between the EP Kings and Bulls Under 19’s will be the game of the season….REVENGE AND LOFTUS
AMBUSH!!!! 
@Pedantic: Wow that massive bloke from Kearsney?!?! Tristan Dixon is a massive loss for the Sharks…three kriel brothers at the Bulls…we were heavily involved in moving Guma from the Cape to College..he’s been getting special treatment from the Bulls…
Talking from first hand experience, last year in KZN it was a shambles and the recruiting was non-existent . They preached a good song at the capping ceremony only to lose a majority of the CW side to other unions, mainly the Lions. We are Sharks people yet no matter what we said, we were left out to dry .
Robbie Kempson saw something in my boy and offered him a very good contract which was probably the best thing that could have happened to him.
They are currently at the top of the pile in the U19 division and are playing a tough, no nonsense brand of rugby. In fact we got more interest from the Bulls and WP when the silly season started than our own home union but that is water under the bridge.
Add to this 11 of the side are players of color and are there on merit. Kings keeping their boys at home after school and it pays dividends .
@Pedantic: Jeez, that is quite difficult to answer. I don’t want to pass myself off as an expert, I am certainly not one, but first up I would say a player definitely has to tick the basic physical requirements for a position and at a minimum be able to meet the conditioning/fitness targets for that position.
The important part is the mental toughness and commitment as you mentioned, and that is where I feel some recruiters fall short. You need to profile a player by doing homework on his his background, attending a few practices and trials instead of one or two matches, speaking to current and ex coaches, having a chat to team mates, opponents and friends. It’s also important to get info on what he does in the off-season and pre-season, that usually provides clues about dedication and character. Signing a player is an investment after all
@Ploegskaar: How would one distinguish between good SBR players and players with the potential to go pro?
Do you think the transition from good SBR to pro has more to do with physical attributes or mental toughness and commitment? If the latter has anything to do with it, a recruiter really wouldn’t know at the time of signing.
@Muzi: You can add Landbou centre JT Potgieter to that list as well. Otherwise that is a decent list of signings, as always, but I am still not convinced that recruiters, even at the Bulls, have the ability to distinguish between good school players and players that will make it as pro’s. I think the new u20 compo will sort that out though
@Pedantic: No argument there, lack of uni is a huge problem, but the fact that the wheels are turning so slowly is definitely not helping either. Gary Goldfinger will have to get involved at the bottom, to ensure success at the top, or get someone in there that knows his stuff. Instead of signing up FS players, I would have signed up Andre Tredoux for that job long ago. His record on a shoe-string budget speaks for itself, I can only imagine what he would do with some decent backing
@Muzi: The problem is not only Varsity Cup – the guys want to attend a University that actually has lectures – half the time UKZN are having some sort of protest action.
@Muzi: Guma is still Gr11 so I don’t think he will join them in 2016.
You can add the following to your list:
Embrose Papier
Tiny Mukhari
Tristan Dixon
Matt Kriel
@Goldstones: Coaching, apparently!
Bulls should have promoted Nollis Marais as the CC coach two years ago…because of “Boetie Boetie” and FL we have lost youngsters like WSS, Jacques Du Plessis, Francois Venter, Rohan Janse Van Rensburg….black players like Travis Ismael, Kefenste Mahlo, Duncan Matthews, Mox Mxoli, Warrick Gelant and Marvin Orie finally have a coach that is willing to give them a fair opportunity hence why they will stay long term…it was great to see Dries Swanepoel enjoying his rugby again…Jake White is after him…I believe Nollis and Xander are kissing his ass at the moment…Jan’s mate looked class against the Cheetahs…
@Pedantic:
I think Ryan Strudwick is trying to sort out that gemors created by Hans Scriba…with your junior structures…at least the KZN Impi will be playing Varsity Cup in 2016….Sean Erasmus should have been given a full time role at the Under 21’S or Under 19’s….Barney is suffering from a talent drain…when Sharks become successful at Under 19 and Under 21 level then things will start falling into place…
@Ploegskaar:
Bulls 90% of the time ALWAYS target elite quality players…WP and Gert Smal were too scared of losing players to the Bulls after that famous article about the list of 60 players was released in Die Burger newspaper..hence some of the “ordinary signings”….Xander and Werner are masters at this business….
I haven’t been paying close attention..only know of the following players…
Louwtjie Steenkamp(Grey College) and Sentle.lehoko (Grey College) missed most of the season due to long term injuries….
I.G Prinsloo,
Nico Peyper,
Hendre Stassen,
Ruben van Heerden,
Stedman Gans,
Johan Grobbelaar,
Manie Libbok,
Heino Bezuidenhout,
Xolisa Guma
…….not bad for the Bulls in the future…
@Ploegskaar: The challenge for the Sharks is the lack of a local University – one that the boys would actually want to attend.
From what I see, they have been more pro-active this year than in the past, but how do you compete with WP, Bulls, FS, Lions and even EP who all have world class Varsities on their doorstep? Dahl a case in point .. he was never going to stay in KZN for that reason and he is not the only one, I’m quite surprised they managed to sign Xaba for that particular reason.
@Ploegskaar: what exactly is the academy doing anyway if not recruiting and developing talent?
@Ploegskaar: Exactly, you lose them and in the process you show them and a number of others that their efforts are either not noticed or considered good enough!
@Goldstones: The sad thing is, even on “hearsay” as clever dick Pedantic would point out, I informed a person at the Sharks Academy last year already that signing Pretorius and Dahl should be first priority this year. If you don’t pick up two players of that calibre, you are in deep shit, no question.
I dont know the depth of the Sharks u19 and u21 teams but watching them get beat by the Pumas on Friday night would worry me if I supported them. Thomas du Toit is probably the only player in that team that I would like to see in a blue and white hooped shirt. There seems to be a distinct lack of young talent in the squad.
@beet: @Ploegskaar: pity we don’t want to take this school boy recruitment seriously, this function should be in tune with the rest of the union’s efforts and the order of action should be recruiting, developing and training to a sharks culture and to be the best. You cannot count on buying from FS every so often and reinventing your game at top team level.
@Kattes-Strofes: WP, similar to the Lions, have undone some very good signings with some very ordinary ones. I expected that from WP, being fed a hodgepodge from the Jnr “administrators” that seldom know arse from face every year, but I expected more from the Lions.
Andre has done well under trying circumstances, as always, while the Sharks are useless, as always, and I quote “investing in Snr players, as that is what matters to the public”.
A number of people on the forum have pointed out that the Sharks are not giving their home players a sense of loyalty, this could be alleviated by at least announcing the local acquisitions for next year. I would have taken a long hard think about building that loyalty so we don’t end up with what’s left over after other unions have had their pick. The theory of stepping up from SBR to senior rugby not being guaranteed is totally true but gambling that the “leftovers” (meant in the nicest possible way) will step up is not in any way going to be a cheaper route to success. They need to start making some rugby decisions for next year and going forward because although it is a business, it is a rugby business and right now we are so way off the mark in our rugby on the field.
@beet: Beet. Heard from a reliable scorse that Johan Grobbelaar, The WP and Paarl Gim hooker, have signed with the Bulls. Also Ig. Prinsloo, the Cheetahs and Grey Bloem prop.
WP has a super u/19 squad for 2016, with no less than 9 SA schools players and a further 5 SA ‘A’ players. Add to this ,a good bunch of Cravenweek stars from all around the country, and one gets the pixture.
The Bulls and the Lions have also been busy rounding up some real quality players and the Cheetahs ,as always, have been spending their somewhat limited resources, wisely.
@Goldstones: Yeah unfortunately the Sharks have a long history of playing cards close to chest so even when they have signed players, its very secretive. The Bosch signing being case in point, still not made official but looking set to be the exception to the Sharks rule as a worst kept secret.
For locals I think the Sharks have Klopper, Palvie, Xaba, Mukendi, Mchunu and have secured the College hooker Swanepoel via the Academy. It might be worth their while to hold onto a few Westville boys and a Kearsney centre as well if they can.
From outside KZN I just know of Salie, Schoor, now Day coming. Like Kattes says there still appear to be a few good players up for grabs. Ploegie also makes a good point about looking gift horses … and sadly about recruitment structures. The Sharks failed to realise they are up against some really good recruiters from other provinces who also have the benefit of having better overall package deals to offer kids. The Sharks really couldn’t afford to lose the year in the market and all just because someone holding rank underestimated the value of school recruitment and decided that an inexperienced and uninterested recently retired former flyhalf needed a job.
@Goldstones: Heard the PRG front row and Day, prop from Bishops, are heading your way. The structures and systems are not very good though, they had at least 5-6 good players on a platter which were picked up by other unions since, due to slow/no reaction time
@pietretief: Jip!! You are right. However, it is still strange that a number of SA Schools players are still without a contract.
I think that the new proposed competition[ only u/20 teams] instead of the current u/19 and u/21 competition, may have an influance on the number of juniors that the various unions target.
If this new competition is approved, as is expected,I think that only a very select group of juniors will be contracted in the future.
@Kattes-Strofes: would you trust the system, alot of talent is falling short of CW.
@Goldstones: I see some potential for your Sharks. A number of the SA School’s players in the two squads do not have contracts.Some props and hookers still available, as well as a few others according this list.Christopher Klopper just one potential Shark that I have picked up.
What does seem strange is that a number of other props , hookers and others have been signed by the big unions. Some of these did not even make Cravenweek or Academy week Well ,is it a sign of the times that the various scouts do not trust the system anymore ?
Interesting stats above, so the Sharks have signed one player for 2016 and not a single local boy. Would be interesting to get their views and policies on recruiting young talent. It’s not just ensuring you have no young talent but it also tells your KZN boys that they are not being considered as valuable by their own union.
Jeepers……no news on SA Schools today??????/
Were they that pathetic that not one person has commented on it????
Ek hoop nou regtig nie hulle gaan vir Abner van Reenen op vleuel speel en ek dink ook steeds dat Jordan Chait in die groep moes wees
A couple of new players have been called up as injury cover.
Cornel Smit effectively for Josh Vermeulen
Chris Klopper for Pieter Willem Koegelengberg