KZN Coaches & Selectors 2016

KZN move a step closer to “One School One Vote” at under-18 level

Notes:

One School One Selector : This is a much bigger deal than it will get credit for anywhere else in mainstream or social media, because in just about every region in SA, the selection process comes in for criticism due to actual or perceived favourtism. So in the absence of independent selectors, when a selection system like KZN’s intentionally or even unintentionally shifts towards a position that improves the appearance of fairness, it’s worth noting. It’s not quite there yet (hopefully “yet” really applies here) but having eight u18 selectors representing eight different interest groups as opposed to say having eight selectors who represent four or five schools, is progress.
You can read more about the new trial ranking system here: http://schoolboyrugby.co.za/?p=12951
Roland Norris : “Promoted” from Academy Week head coach to Craven Week assistant coach. “Promoted” in inverted commas because the move seems more like a demotion in a way, especially now that Craven Week and Academy Week are going to be run concurrently at the same venue. Also it wasn’t that long ago that a different Westville coach was promoted to the same CW position following his huge Grant Khomo Week success and then axed altogether after just one campaign. The “promotion” is also a blow for Westville itself because Norris is now no longer a selector. Participating as u18 selector for the first time in 2015, Norris exercised influence, which saw a higher than usual number of Westville u18 players being picked for KZN. In spite of the big role they play in KZN Tier-1, Westville has no selector or Exec member as things stand. The timing of their rugby personnel changes didn’t help their cause and WBHS will now have to wait quite a while for another opportunity to have a greater say.
Jeremy McLaren : His star is definitely on the rise. After making a name for himself at Kloof (and in youth club rugby), McLaren is rewarded at KZN level for guiding a strong KZN u16 team to success during Grant Khomo Week where the team beat WP along the way before eventually losing in the unofficial final. McLaren has now joined Glenwood, which effectively allows the school to continue on as the only one with two provincial selectors at the all-important for marketing u18 level. So strategically  the coaching acquisition comes with an added bonus for Glenwood.
Sam Mofokeng : A lot of good things are being said about the Kearsney coach, who moves into the pound seat as Grant Khomo head coach in just his second season back in KZN following a stint at St Alban’s in Pretoria. At least eight other coaches with KZN Tier-1 1st XV experience on their CV’s applied for this position, while Mofokeng is not nor has he been a Tier-1 1st XV coach, so the pressure will be on for him to produce the goods in spite of his lack of 1st XV exposure. It is however an u16 possie so it will be interesting to see how this appointment pans out.
Grant Bell : The Westville Old Boy who managed a brilliant Grant Khomo campaign in 2013, which appeared to put him on track to being given much greater responsibilities starting in 2014, was inexplicably left out of KZN duty roster altogether in 2015. He deserves a place given his past achievements and returns to the fore as Clifton official designated to serve as assistant coach at Academy Week.
Tim Orchard : Another promising coach who has been working his way up the ranks at College, gets a shot to prove himself at Grant Khomo Week as part of a coaching setup who don’t have too many years of top level experience to count on.
Ryan Kyle : The MCOB has been involved in provincial youth week rugby before a KZN CD official due to his involvement with Creston College on the South Coast. Grant Khomo Week doesn’t come close to Craven Week when measuring the pressure to deliver good results, but it is a step up from KZN CD in terms of expectations.
Jono Piek : It’s quite a surprise seeing Clifton’s Piek elevated to this position especially with Bell joining Clifton, it seemed like Piek would have diminished rugby role to play at the day boy school. With Clifton expanding their high school and trying to up their rugby profile, one might also have seen them as a growing threat to other high schools, particularly the Big-3 privates. Leaving the school size expansion aside, in terms of just being a high school, Clifton is still a very very young school so they have done remarkably well to regain an u18 decision-making role under the circumstances. This all said, the list of u18 selector applications was a bit on the thin side, with DHS’s Christo Wilkinson perhaps standing out as someone who should have been brought on board.
Kevin Smith : Smith has a strong character and has a very good eye for talent. Like a few others involved in KZN coaching he has worked a lot with kids who play rugby just after leaving school.  Obviously Smith like all the other selectors is expected to be fair when performing player rankings during trials. Even so his appointment means that for the first time in a long while, College boys who seem to have missed out on those Craven Week fringe player slots in the past, now have a voice on the inside to back their cases for selection when push comes to shove.
Bruce Collocott : After helping to put together the hugely successful Grant Khomo squad of 2015, Collocott will step aside as u16 convenor and it’s believed that he will be available to guide newly appointed Donald Ngwenya.
Donald Ngwenya : Although he’s struggled for meaningful success as a KZN Tier-1 coach at 1st XV and u16A levels, Ngwenya has been gifted with another opportunity to make a name for himself in KZN school rugby circles, this time as KZN u16 convenor. Getting the Grant Khomo selections coupled with SARU criteria enforced strategy right, is usually a lot more difficult than the challenge faced by Craven Week selectors.
Deon Gericke : The St Charles coach received a bit of harsh treatment a few seasons ago when he was shown the door after coming as a late replacement Craven Week Assistant Coach and doing duty for just that one campaign. He returns as an u16 selector.
Conal Levin: The new u16 manager. (Hopefully DHS can supply a bit of a CV to add here)
Francois Lubbe : The former Craven Week assistant coach has left South Africa for Australia.
Michael Schwartz : His omission is a surprise and is cause for concern that the new KZN Exec doesn’t quite have its finger on the pulse of SBR in the province. The former Michaelhouse 1st coach was in charge of their 100% winning record in 2015 and he’s guided them to two first place finishes in the province during his spell.
Torsten Sorensen : The physical education teacher is a new Northwood employee, having joined a noticeable rugby coaches exodus from Westville. He is now also out of the KZN set up; a set up which hasn’t exactly been a happy stomping ground for Northwood coaches seeking recognition.
Steve La Marque : The Glenwood representative failed in his bid to be reappointed as u16 manager.
Ryno Combrinck : A big loss for KZN and hopefully not a permanent one. The well-respected head of Michaelhouse rugby, credited with being the brains behind the operation voluntarily stepped down from both his positions at u18 selector and Exec level. The operation has seen MHS mould home-grown talent from Gr.8 level upwards and in the process kick-start a number of successful professional careers –
Tony Pinheiro : It was a double blow for the Glenwood deputy headmaster. During the AGM, Pinheiro missed out for the eighth time in his attempt to make it onto the Exec and this was followed up by the new Exec then acting constitutionally for the first time since Noel Ingle took charge as Chairman, deciding not to reappoint Pinheiro as an u18 selector. Pinheiro is neither a 1st XV/u16A coach nor head of rugby at Glenwood.
Barend Steyn : Kearsney’s long-serving head coach and Director of Rugby did not make himself available for re-election as a selector. He was made a ninth (extra) u18 selector in 2015 after being replaced as the Craven Week head coach (The Craven Week head coach is a selector by default).
Trompie Nontshinga : One of the reasons why he cannot be a respresentative as things stand is that is not a full-time employee at DHS.