@Kattes-Strofes: Die 0/19’s vd Leeus is ‘n puik span. Vir my as geharde Transvaal/Leeu ondersteuner was dit veral verblydend om so baie ex-Leeu skole spelers in die span te sien. 5 uit die begin 8 voorspelers is Leeu skole outjies. Ek’s verseker bietjie partydig, maar soos hulle in boks verwys na “pound for pound”, so is die span “pound for pound” die beste rugbyspan in SA……
Leeu welpies behou hul 0/19 Curriebeker titel met oortuigende 55 – 24 sege oor Vrystaat in die finaal.Die Leeus se toekoms lyk rooskleurig met verlede jaar se 0/19 kampioenspan ,wat WP met 60 -19 in die finaal geklop het, en vanjaar se span, wat volgende jaar saam, hul 0/21 span sal vorm. Dan is hul skole span mos ook die nie-amptelike Cravenweek kampioene.Van laasgenoemde span, het ook die grootste meerderheid kontrakte by die Leeus geteken. Dit sal verseker dat hul 2018 0/19 span ook weer baie kompeterend behoort te wees.Tans 9 Boishaai manne (vanaf 2015) by hierdie Leeus junior spanne betrokke.
@Laevelder: Hulle games het verskil. Albei het puik gespeel. Snyman meer soos die tradisionele #6 terwyl JC meer bal probeer dra het. JC het ‘n baie goeie kort afstand drie gedruk. Snyman was ‘n masjien op die grond. In die 1e helfde het die Leeutjies die meeste van die balbesit geniet. Baie daarvan te danke aan Snyman. Die losvoorspeler wat my oog gevang het op die dag was egter Travis Gordon wat nie net sy rol as #7 puik vertolk het nie, maar ook die lynstane vir die Leeus oorheers het op die aanval en verdediging. Hy is ook beloon met ‘n drie.
Die Leeus gaan verseker aanstaande jaar mooi moet kopkrap wanneer Kwagga van Niekerk ook in die prentjie is, veral as daar planne is om Snyman of Gordon by die o21 groep aan te wend wat my glad nie sal verbaas nie.
@Hooit: Ek het slegs die 2de helfte gesien. Vrystaat het hul kanse in daardie 35 minute beter gebruik, takties goed gespeel en puik verdedig.
Ter versagting vir WP: Wian Van Zyl, die losskakel, wat volgens alle berigte ‘n puik seisoen gehad het, is tydens 1ste beweging af met ernstige skouerbesering. Sy plaasvervanger is ook in 1ste helfte af met kniebesering. WP is dus erg ontwrig met 13 op 10, 15 op 13, 11 op 15 en 23 op 11. Onnodige foute soos bal dood skop of oor kantlyn skop (met afskoppe), het ook nie gehelp nie. Voorspelers het goed geskrum maar is paar keer gestraf vir voor die tyd skrum. Lynstane kon beslis beter gewees het… veral “contesting”.
Belowende beweging is dikwels nie afgerond nie deur verkeerde opsies en ook goeie verdediging deur Vrystaat.
@Kattes-Strofes: Beste ding ooit om die kontrakte te snoei. Jy sal nou sien hoe perform daai manne. Uiteindelik moet spelers weer speel on plek te verdien.
@Ploegskaar: Ploegie ! Vir WP se part hoop ek jou inligting is korrek. Ek het egter verneem dat die snoeisker maar kwaai ingelê is wat kontraktering betref. Ek weet egter nie of dit ook betrekking het op vanjaar se 0/19 spelers nie. Het darem al agtergekom dat die meeste groot unies teken gewoonlik skoliere aanvanklik vir n jaar, en met uitsonderings vir twee jaar. Tydens jaar twee (wanneer die manne o/21 moet speel , al is hulle nog o/20), word daar gewoonlik ook taamlik rof gesny onder die klomp. Verreweg die meeste manne wat daarna kontrakte aangebied word, kry dan nog n jaar (hul laaste o/21 jaar). Dit is gewoonlik absoluut die uitsonderings wat vir n langer tydperk ge-kontrakteer word.
@Kattes-Strofes: WP doen die jaar goed want hulle het ‘n groep met werklike talent, eerder as vorige groepe wat op gerekende talent en opgeblaaste skolereputasies WPRI kontrakte gekry het. Boonop het ‘n paar van hierdie groep ook reeds 2 of 3 jaar verlengings op kontrakte gekry. Die beleid gaan ysters bo pierewaaiers wees vorentoe, wat goed voorspel vir die toekoms.
@Quagga: Kwagga ! Die Leeus het n ongelooflike talentvolle 0/19 groep, met baie diepte. Trouens ! Met daardie span behoort hulle almal onder stof te loop.En meestal doen hulle dit ook. Die uitsondering is egter WP. Alhoewel WP volgens my nie dieselfde gehalte spelers as die Leeus het nie, het hulle tog daarin geslaag om vir die Leeus beide kere te troef vanjaar. Ek is seker dat die feit dat Sean Erasmus vanjaar die span bystaan as n konsultant, het baie hiermee te doen.Glo ook dat die twee spanne dan ook vanjaar in die eindstryd weer sal kragte meet.
@Hooit: Sorry to budge in here. Semis on 21 Oct and finals on 28 Oct. Beet ! I agree with your comments regarding the Sharks u.19 side. However ! I do not think it is a question of budget restraints. They offer some of the best contracts to juniors, but are very selective.They draw some of the best talent around the country. As you well know, Curvin Bosch was signed for a record amout at the time. This year they have already secured the services of some high profile players such as Muller Du Plessis (Paarl Gim), Thaakir Abrahams and Vian Fourie (both Boishaai), and this is only the ones that I know of.
Also ! The Sharks u/21 side is much more competitive over the years, and this with a lot of the same players that struggled at u/19 level. So I do believe that other problems (such as coaching) are to blame
@beet: Sharks does not seem to have budget constraint for the 2018 u/19 team or maybe it is that all the money gets invested in a few players.
Do you have confirmed dates for semi final and Final?
I’ve watched 4 Sharks u19 games this season so I’m on track to achieve my average of 5 per year. I feel the less I say the better. I understand the Sharks emphasis on senior rugby along with their junior budget constraints coupled with the difficulties the Sharks have with marketing their junior programme, but it’s not great for the overall development of junior players in SA if a big union like the Sharks cannot put out a very competitive team to challenge the other big guns. The Sharks team on paper is not strong but they have had u19 teams that look equally weak on paper yet produced better rugby and results.
In the games I’ve watched the Sharks have had their moments and some players have performed well but as a team they haven’t delivered a full 70 min effort. In most seasons gone by including last year the team has started relatively poorly and improved in the second round. This year they seem to be going backwards as the compo has gone on. It was frustrating to hear that they have done only one video session all season and that was right at the beginning. If true, this means that just about every top rugby school in SA is doing more to prep players for matches than the Sharks are. It does ask serious questions about the u19 coaching and the management of the coaches and perhaps explains why the results seem to be getting worse rather than better.
I think the u19 compo might be better served with the introduction of University XV’s from the Western Cape and Gauteng, as those two teams could be relatively strong.
WRT to the Sharks, they should have a better team in 2018 but parents of those players should perhaps make a few waves to ensure their kids receive training and match opportunities on par with other big unions who look like they are putting a lot of effort into u19 rugby.
Anyone know how the schoolboys did at the Blue Bulls? Would be nice to hear from that side.
I was one (of perhaps 50 people ) who attended the Lions vs FS match and Kwagga van Niekerk of Monnas made a good debut. Mark Snyman seems to be a regular starter as #6 and he played a real #6 game being a complete menace on the floor. Travis Gordon was particularly good in the loose when he came on, and Asenathi Nhlabakanye performed well when he came on. The Lions scrum looked a lot more solid when the bench was injected, but it has to be said that the game was won already at that stage. Wow that ex-Boishaai back Gianni Lombard has talent, but the player who impressed me the most was ex-Affies centre Louritz van der Schyff. Thoroughly enjoyed the match, but had to miss the u21 game due to another appointment (sorry oom Kattes).
@Quagga: Sorry to say! The game plan did Mark no favours. He did a couple of good things, and also had a run or two.However! unfortunately it came to nothing.
@Kattes-Strofes: Thank you for the feedback oom Kattes! Perhaps too much then of the choppping and changing we can see in the team sheets. I notice quite a battle for the WP no 6 jersey beween Serdyn and Du Plessis. Wonder how Mark Snyman did against Serdyn?
@Kattes-Strofes: Sorry ! Wanted to say that this was a carbon copy of last year,s u/19 final. However, the shoe was on the other foot this time, with the Lions fielding a star studded line-up, against a WP side with far fewer big names.
@Quagga: Hi Quagga. I was at the match. The Lions played against a gail force wind in the 1st half, but managed to only trail by 15-5 at halftime. It was expected that they will soon take control of proceedings in the 2nd half, with the wind at their backs.However, it was WP that started to dominate. The Lions failed to make any use of the strong wind, and tried unsuccesfully to keep ball in hand. This was also the case when they were under huge pressure near their own goal-line.Using the wind, would have relieved the pressure, and also gain huge ground. WP defended brilliantly, and also made full use of their scoring oppertunities. This was in contrast to the Lions, who lacked cohesion, and played as individuals.
This was almost a carbon copy of last year,s final, when the unheralded Lions u/19 side, totally outplayed the star studded WP.
Does anyone have info on the U19 GL vs WP match. Seemed like a bit of a one-horse race. Would love to hear about the match. Also just once again interesting to see how the teams chop and change some players and positions around in what seems to be a very dynamic and even at times chaotic season for that age group. Gone are the egos and the comforts zones of schoolboy rugby. Players need mental toughness to get through those junior age groups it seems.
What about a talented specialized flyhalf like Ruben van Blerk, who is in the Sharks training Squad. That kid has for amazing talent. Maritzburg College flyhalf for 2015/16.
Thanks Beet. Sal Bulle nog nie afskryf nie manne ? Begin nou eers bietjie gel . WP , GL en FS games was tuff , maar die scores justify nie die games . Goeie wen teen Sharks met twee geelkaarte 1min uit mekaar het Sharks kans gegee om twee driee te druk , maar Sharks is nie n span om te onderskat . Wat ek net nie lekker verstaan is die tye vir Saterdag se games met die Leeus se Super Final ?
A big thankyou to Beet and other SBR bloggers for this thread and information regarding the U/19 Tournament.Information is hard to come by and it is always interesting to see the progress of ex SBR players. Some bloggers dont see this thread as SBR,but i tend to disagree.
@Kattes-Strofes: Leeus het op die sirene gedruk, gemaklike wen vir WP. Bly Deon Carstens het na ‘n besering ook sy debut uiteindelik gemaak. Luiperds met Dorfling en Steenkamp van HJS & Landbou op 9 & 10 het die Sharks ook goed gepiets
@ROOIBUL: Ek sien op die Suparugby facebook blad dat daar groot ontevredenheid is oor die hantering van die wedstryd tussen die WP en Leeus deur die skeidsregter. Nou ja ! Ek kan nie hierop kommentaar lewer nie (was mos nie daar nie). Nietemin, n goeie sege vir die WP, en die naby uitslag bevestig net weer my oppinie dat dit die twee voorste aanspraakmakers op die titel tans is. Maar daar is nog n hele paar wedstryde in die eerste rondte oor, voordat die spanne mekaar weer takel in rondte twee.
@chief: Ja Mamon,maar wie kan hul verkwalik,net sodra mens dink jy het die antwoord,duik daar 3 nuwe probleme op.Rugby en Sbr staan voor baie groot uitagings,Mamon,teikens,kwyende getal spelers ens.Wat my egter verbaas is dit wat ons kan doen,wat nie geld kos nie,is om saam te werk en hierdie probleme saam te pak.Maar nee,eerste prioriteit is eie ek,die establishment,daarna ek en dan die establishment.Ek moet egter se dat SARU en selfs die Bulle probeer,daar is positiewe tekens ook.SBR moet vb volg,maar baie bloggers glo hierdie was die keerpunt by Bulle skole…
Ek dink stem ‘n 100% saam met wat jy sê oor die vergoeding van jong spelers, maar as ons unies nie die groot geld betaal vir skool seuns nie hoe behou ons hulle van oorsee se spanne.
Ek wil ‘n voorbeeld gebruik van Jaco van Tonder wat SA laat glip het laas jaar en hy kan net sowel aangaan om eendag Frankryk te teenwoordig.
@Kattes-Strofes:@Hooit: ok,maar niemand luister vir ons nie,dink net hoeveel world cups op alle vlakke sal ons wen as SARU toepas wat op hierdie blog voor gestel word
@Grizzly: @Grizzly: @Grizzly: Ek het ook gedink dat dit die geval is, maar verlede seisoen was daar nie eers nog n coach aangestel nie, so wie het dan die 0/19 kompetisie gevolg, om die talent te identifiseer. Ek weet dat Louis Koen en Hans Scriba het kontak gemaak met die verskillende coaches van die unies, om hul gevoel oor spelers te toets. Maar soos jy seker weet, elke coach gaan mos maar vir sy eie speler opkom, wat enigsins bietjie talent toon.
Die kompetisie is verseker die ideale platform om as basis te gebruik vir die kies van jou Junior Bok span. Dit is nou al n hele paar keer bewys dat die insluiting van vorige jare se SA Skole spelers nie noodwendig die beste keuses was nie. Daar is net n te groot verskil tussen skole rugby en profesionele rugby, waar die jong manne hul brood moet verdien uit rugby.
Hopelik sal die coach en sy helpers dus vanjaar se kompetisie gebruik om die kern van volgende jaar se Junior Bokkies te identifiseer.
Wat betref die vergoeding van junior spelers. By verreweg die meeste unies, word die groot meerderheid van skool spelers slegs vir n jaar, na skool, geteken. Die vergoeding is ook glad nie so baie as wat die meeste mense dink nie. Daar is wel n baie klein persentasie spelers wat sommer groot geld verdien. Hulle is egter die uitsonderings , en baie beperk.
Spelers moet dan toon dat hulle wel die vermoë, en werks etiek het, om rugby n loopbaan te maak. Dit is gewoonlik hier waar n hele klomp die pot mis sit.
@Grizzly: Wat ek sal doen rondom vergoeding is om n plafon in te stel,se bv 15k per maand.Dit sal kleiner unies in staat stel om talent te hou,en die goeie speler wat nie rerig van prov wil verander nie om te bly.Sodoende sal n speler wat sou bench by bv WP begin by die luiperds ens.Ek verneem Rikus se kontrak is klaar groter as Muller sin.In my opinie gaan hierdie n ewel word wat die unies gaan in haal.As saru nie vinnig in gryp nie gaan jnrs meer geld as sekere super spelers verdien
@Kattes-Strofes: Oom katte,ek stem saam oor die 0/20,s,maar dink jy nie SARU het juis die 0/19,s in gebring met die oog op JWC?Daar is net te min tyd in die jaar sou hulle eers moet speel om te kyk wie is beste?Wat van as die toernooi vroeg in die jaar is soos hierdie jaar?Die JWC het baie belangrik geword en die plaaslike toernooi is proewe vir afrigter en bestuur span.Ek dink die toernooi dikteer SARU se besluit rondom dit.Soos dit is,is die tyd faktor klaar stresfol.
@Kattes-Strofes: die bulle het glad nie sleg gelyk laas week teen die leeus nie, baie beter as hulle opwarmings wedstryd. Dink hulle groot gelol is in die middelveld, want hulle het baie bal gekry om meer te hardloop. Die leeus se span is warm, gaan interessant wees om te sien wat gebeur die naweek.
Na afloop van die jongste uitslae (WP 28 – Vrystaat 12; Leeus 39 – Bulle 21; Luiperds 17 – Sharks 17) wil dit voorkom of dit n Leeus teen WP eindstryd gaan wees.
Alles is egter nog glad nie verlore vir die ander spanne nie. Verlede jaar se kampioenspan, die Leeus, het ook drie van hul eerste 4 wedstryde verloor. Daarna het hulle egter skoonskip gemaak , en al 10 hul laaste wedstryde beklink.
So daar is beslis nog hoop ! Die Bulle is volgens my tans die groot teleurstelling, met hul vertonings.
Results of the weekend : Lions 43 – Leopards 12; Sharks 42 – EP 13; Free State 24 – Bulls 12.
Baie interesante uitslae die naweek.Op die vroeë stadium wil dit lyk of die Sharks n heel skaflike span vanjaar het, en dat die Leeu welpies n sterk aanspraakmaker gaan wees om hul titel te verdedig. Daaraanteen wil dit voorkom of die Bulle nog nie lekker op dreef is nie, en veral tans agterlangs bietjie sukkel. Dit is egter nog maar die begin van die kompetisie, en sake kan nog baie verander vorentoe.
EP losing to the Sharks by a big margin. Looks like it’s gonna be a long season for the boys, their recruiting wasn’t good this year. Probably for the fighting wooden spoon with Leopards.
En daar klop die FS die magtige Bulletjies – 24 vs 12. Ek vermoed die bulle het FS heeltemal onderskat. FS agterlyn was kookwater, maar voor sukkel hulle nog in die skrums. Die bulle her ‘n lekker groot pak voorspelers, maar agter het dinge maar bietjie gelol.
@warriors7:Die no agt van pionier Ewart Potgieter is n univ pel van my se seun hy het oor weeg om sy jonger seun Kloof toe te stuur maar wou eers wag dat Ewart klaar matriek skryf ek het so by myself gedink hy maak n fout om nie altwee te skyf vir die blootsteling nie maar wys jou maak nie saak of jy van n bekende rugby skool af kom nie, ek dink baie van ons maak die fout.Sy oupa was eens op n tyd as ek dit reg het die swaatgewig boks kamp.
At my age I normally cannot remember what I heard yesterday, but I believe I did hear that SARU intends hosting a large group of under 19/20s at the Stellenbosch Institute at the beginning of 2018 for a period of 4/5 months. Am I dreaming ?
@BoishaaiPa: I think WP and the Bulls can field quality B teams and perhaps the Lions as well but not convinced the Sharks or Free State can.
Like you I would love to see the exposure of junior rugby improved through marketing and other efforts. This year I watched a half of Maritzburg College 10ths play Grey College 10ths and there were more people watching along with me than turns out on average to watch an u19 CC game. And the u19 CC is usually a very entertaining brand of rugby as well. I’m not sure if the unions common feeling is that increasing the profiles of junior players makes them more marketable and therefore more costly to retain.
@beet: I understand the need for u/19 player to get some gametime, but I still believe that an u/20 competition will benefit our players more when looking at the u/20 JWC. Therefore I would suggest that each province should have a u/20 A and B squad that competes in the competition. Scrap the u/21’s and make the u/20 competition bigger and better and more attractive with more games. Play it at the same time the Super rugby games are played. Make it huge with 15 or 16 teams..Most Provinces like WP, Sharks, Bulls, Lions and maybe Freestate can easily field 2 teams of strength from u/19’s and u/20’s. There is 10 teams already..throw in Leopards, EP, Border, Boland, Falcons etc and you the makings of a huge comp with lots of exposure for players.
@Kattes-Strofes: About the Leopards. They had a poor u19 season by their own standards last year but they have produced some very good u19 teams over the years with the help of Pukke. Never star-studded lineups but always able to deliver. It helped having motivated people like Andre Tredoux on board who would look in every corner for overlooked talent and find guys like Lood de Jager and SP Marais and many others.
The enigma for me regarding the Leopards was what went wrong after u19 because more or less the same players would run out for them two years later in u21 but were unable to produce the same results. I guess somewhere in between the two age groups the bigger unions were upping the tempo with their full-time players while the Leopards part-time varsity student lifestyle seem to kind of take its toll on their guys. Obviously a few players would also get spotted and move to bigger unions during this time period.
But overall they do great work for SA rugby. Was sad when the Leopards seniors got boardroom decision dumped out of the Currie Cup A section a few years back after all their hard work to fight off relegation for a few seasons – a lot of hard work went into that effort. It’s hard to recover from that sort of setback. Nevertheless it was a reality of SA’s situation at the time and was inevitable.
@BoishaaiPa: This decision to combine u19 and u21 was tabled and scrapped a few years ago. The poorer B-section unions however adopted it and make use of it for financial purposes. I think u19 is great as it allows for more players straight out of school to participate and provides more opportunities. In days gone by between u19 and u21, they set up a good 3 year development cycle for junior players. Obviously a lot of that is changing with player drain, players being fast-tracked more often coupled an overall decline in the standard of senior rugby in SA.
From watching u19 rugby over the years I’ve felt that a W/Cape Combined Universities team as well as Gauteng Combined Universities team would have added value to the tournament and given even more exposure to youngsters. I’ve been watching for many years so remember very well what it was like prior to EP’s short rise to prominence a few years back. There would be 6 reasonably competitive teams incl the Leopards and one one season wonder complete walkover team who would be relegated at the end of the year.
Having the u20 compo would effectively half the number of required players in any given year. Like you said an u20 set up would be useful in the sense of u19’s compete against u20’s and therefore upping their readiness to compete at the u20 Champs a year later. But this only works if a preset number of places (quota of a different kind) for u19’s in teams are guaranteed. It would seem pointless to have a handful of u19s competing while the bulk are watching the rugby from the stands because they cannot displace the u20 players in the teams. The real problem in SA rugby is what happens between January and May in the lead up to the u20 Champs. There is no structure and not enough emphasis on finding competitive teams (not invitation teams) for the Baby Boks to play so that they can properly identify best players and then simulate the competitiveness of u20 Champs rugby an advantage that the 6N teams clearly have.
@BoishaaiPa: @Kattes-Strofes: I could not agree more with you, I also started my interest in the 0/19 because of personal interest.
Wouldn’t it be better to have a system where no schoolboy is allowed to be contracted by a union and have a 0/20 competition between all the universities. If all the universities get support from SARO to keep al the school players in the same union unit a player turned 20. Only then can a union contracts a player for the under 21 curry cap competition, because with a system like this we can get more talent exposure before the unions get there hands on all the talent that they don’t even use. And have the talent spread more evenly. Just a simple example!
@BoishaaiPa: Ek stem saam met jou oor die o/20 kompetisie. Die grootkoppe, in konsultasie met die mediese verteenwoordigers, voel egter blykbaar dat daar n te groot risiko is,veral wat betref beserings, tussen die ouderdoms groepe. Soos ek hoor, is hulle veral bekommerd oor die vaste manne se gesondheid.
Wat jong stutte betref, moet daar spesiale toestemming verkry word om op senior vlak mee te ding, wat bitter min gebeur.Dit is gewoonlik net agterspelers en loosies, wat vroeg tussen die senior manne vrygelaat word.
@Kattes-Strofes: Sadly the u21 compo is watered down these days. You blink and you miss it coz it’s very short. Hopefully it means a lot to the players involved as there is still a cup to play for.
@OudUppie: I got Qaba’s school = Cambridge. If you get a chance, please ask for help with a few of the FS players still missing their school names on the list.
@Kattes-Strofes: @Umtata: @Playa: The Sharks list is just of known names at this stage not selected players. By the end of the week all will be made clear who’s in and who’s not.
Hopefully SD has a long and prosperous career at the Sharks.
I still remember Bangi Kobese from his short stay in Durbs – what a special attacking talent he was.
@Kattes-Strofes: Dit gaan al jare lank so aan..Mens moet omtrent krap om iets te lees omtrent die 0/19 en 0/21 kompetisies…of iets te siene te kry!..Ek moan al jare lank daaroor!…Ek dink hulle moet eerder die twee kompetisies skrap en net een 0/20 een maak..Dit bring ons in lyn met die JWC en sal die 0/19’s beter voorberei as hulle al n jaar vroeer teen die ouer groep begin speel. Meeste van ons top 0/21’s is al klaar in die Supersport kompetisie of speel Super Rugby…Daar is nie regtig n doel aan die 0/21 liga nie!
Good to see so many bloggers that are interested in the u/19 Currie Cup competition. I must admit, that if it was not for personal reasons last season, I would not have followed this thread so faithfully. However, after keenly following last season,s battle for the title, I am now hooked on this subject. It proved to be very enlighting to see who of the schoolboy stars make it on the junior big stage, and how many drop out.
Apart from the u/19 competition, and again for personal reasons, I will also keenly follow the u/21 competition, and try and contribute some info for interested bloggers.
The u/19 and u/21 competition, as well as the First Division,s u/20 competition, gets very little, if any, exposure from our mainstream media. Only the finals are broadcast on TV.
@Speartackle: Actually from loose forward/number 8 to hooker. Think wrongly shown as prop.
He played for Tuks u.20 at hooker in the Young Guns-finals. He used to play at hooker when younger.
@Kattes-Strofes: Leopards gaan verseker kompeterend wees. Lekker pak voorspelers en as hulle nie gister so baie ongedwonge foute gemaak het nie kon die telling heel anders gelyk het. FS het swaar gekry in die skrums en dit het die agterlyn onder druk geplaas.
@warriors7: 100% Correct. There is way too many players slipping through the net because of the lack of proper competition. Stop exorbitant contracting of juniors, get more players into the system, invest in coaching will go a long way to strengthening SA rugby again.
@warriors7: The Currie cup 1st division unions, such as Boland, SWD, Border etc., have a under 20 competition. The Super rugby unions, plus the Leopards, compete in a u/19 and u/21 competition.
I do not know the reasons for this, but this is how it is for a number of years.
There should be a second division for the other teams like SWD, Boland , Border , Pumas , Griquas , Griffons..To fill up the teams maybe the unions with big squads like WP and bulls can have a team in this division. Will also help them as fringe players will have a chance to show their talents
@Kattes-Strofes: As mens in ag neem dat die Luiperds unie nie die finansies beskik om groot name te lok nie, kan hulle hierdie jaar wel kompeterend wees. Daar is baie talent daar, nou net die manne se koppe kry om nie die wedstryde teen die groter unies voor die begin van die wedstryd al te verloor nie!
@OudUppie: Goed om te sien dat die Luiperds vanjaar blykbaar weer kompeterend sal wees. Hulle het nie n goeie seisoen verlede jaar beleef nie.
Die Leeus het toe soos ek verwag het, te veel skietgoed gehad vir die OP manne.
Die wedstryd tussen die WP en die Bulle was ook n riller ,as mens na die eindtelling van 17-15 kyk.Het enige iemand miskien bietjie meer inligting oor die stryd ?
Wasn’t Prinsloo (sharks) at the bulls earlier this year ? Nice to see the Pionier guys in the bulls team coming from a small school. Sharks only have 4 on the bench ?
Matthew King (EP) went from flanker to prop to hooker in 3 years… Anyway I’m backing the lions to win it !
@Kattes-Strofes: Interessant dat Ricky Duarttee 11 speel vir die Lions. Hy was onder meer in Gim en Boishaai voor dat hy Stellenberg toe is. Hy was oorspronklik ‘n skrumskakel. Hy is nie groot nie maar het ‘n hengse groot hart!!
Ek sien ook dat Khanye 6 speel en nie 8 nie.
Dankie vir almal se terugvoering oor van die manne.
Grizzly, Abner moet blykbaar eers sy twee oorblywende wedstryde vir Boishaai speel, voordat hy vir WP oorweeg sal word. Ek weet hulle gebruik die manne op skool ook gewoonlik maar spaarsaam, om nie die seuns se skoolwerk te veel ontwrig nie.
Musi ! Yes ,you are right. The Bulls do have a very strong team on paper. However, they would still need to remain focussed and put in the hard yards on the training grounds.I have seen a number of talented boys going off the rails after school.
@Kattes-Strofes: Ek sien Garsies voed deur die hele SA,so as n ou verby al die nonsenspraat ens kyk,lyk die bydra van ons skool tot jnr rugby nie te sleg nie.
@Kattes-Strofes: Bulls looking good this year….many of these players were part of the tukkies U20 side that beat maties in the final down in the cape….
Thanks for the teams, Beet ! Looking at these teams (Lions, Bulls and WP), I am going to make an early predition that the eventual champion will come from one of them.
Also noticed a number of interesting selections.
The Lions did not select Gianni Lombaard and Wandisile Simelani (are they rested after junior world cup, or are they injured?) and 2016 SA Schools prop, Nathan Macbeth, from Monnas,is strangely not in the starting line-up, but is one of the reserves. They are also still missing the services of injured Ruan Vermaak (lock) and PJ Botha (hooker).
WP,s team also includes quite a number of new signings from other provinces. The whole 2016 Boishaai and SA Schools front row, Reece Bezuidenhout, Daniel Jooste and Adam Neethling, will be playing from the bench. I am also missing (I do not know if there is a valid reason for this, such as injuries etc.) a number of local big name players that is at the WP Institute. These include players like Wian van Zyl (no.10/15 Paarl Gim), Joshua Vermeulen (no.15 Paul Roos), Deon Carstens (no.9 Boland), Liam Larken (no.2/6 SACS) and Athi Maxwala (no.2/6 Boland). Maybe someone with more info on these players can keep us posted.
@Kattes-Strofes: Die 0/19’s vd Leeus is ‘n puik span. Vir my as geharde Transvaal/Leeu ondersteuner was dit veral verblydend om so baie ex-Leeu skole spelers in die span te sien. 5 uit die begin 8 voorspelers is Leeu skole outjies. Ek’s verseker bietjie partydig, maar soos hulle in boks verwys na “pound for pound”, so is die span “pound for pound” die beste rugbyspan in SA……
Leeu welpies behou hul 0/19 Curriebeker titel met oortuigende 55 – 24 sege oor Vrystaat in die finaal.Die Leeus se toekoms lyk rooskleurig met verlede jaar se 0/19 kampioenspan ,wat WP met 60 -19 in die finaal geklop het, en vanjaar se span, wat volgende jaar saam, hul 0/21 span sal vorm. Dan is hul skole span mos ook die nie-amptelike Cravenweek kampioene.Van laasgenoemde span, het ook die grootste meerderheid kontrakte by die Leeus geteken. Dit sal verseker dat hul 2018 0/19 span ook weer baie kompeterend behoort te wees.Tans 9 Boishaai manne (vanaf 2015) by hierdie Leeus junior spanne betrokke.
@Quagga: Dankie..goeie feedback!
@Laevelder: Hulle games het verskil. Albei het puik gespeel. Snyman meer soos die tradisionele #6 terwyl JC meer bal probeer dra het. JC het ‘n baie goeie kort afstand drie gedruk. Snyman was ‘n masjien op die grond. In die 1e helfde het die Leeutjies die meeste van die balbesit geniet. Baie daarvan te danke aan Snyman. Die losvoorspeler wat my oog gevang het op die dag was egter Travis Gordon wat nie net sy rol as #7 puik vertolk het nie, maar ook die lynstane vir die Leeus oorheers het op die aanval en verdediging. Hy is ook beloon met ‘n drie.
Die Leeus gaan verseker aanstaande jaar mooi moet kopkrap wanneer Kwagga van Niekerk ook in die prentjie is, veral as daar planne is om Snyman of Gordon by die o21 groep aan te wend wat my glad nie sal verbaas nie.
@Hooit: Ek het slegs die 2de helfte gesien. Vrystaat het hul kanse in daardie 35 minute beter gebruik, takties goed gespeel en puik verdedig.
Ter versagting vir WP: Wian Van Zyl, die losskakel, wat volgens alle berigte ‘n puik seisoen gehad het, is tydens 1ste beweging af met ernstige skouerbesering. Sy plaasvervanger is ook in 1ste helfte af met kniebesering. WP is dus erg ontwrig met 13 op 10, 15 op 13, 11 op 15 en 23 op 11. Onnodige foute soos bal dood skop of oor kantlyn skop (met afskoppe), het ook nie gehelp nie. Voorspelers het goed geskrum maar is paar keer gestraf vir voor die tyd skrum. Lynstane kon beslis beter gewees het… veral “contesting”.
Belowende beweging is dikwels nie afgerond nie deur verkeerde opsies en ook goeie verdediging deur Vrystaat.
@Hooit: Japan is beter as die Bokke!
Dit is soos Japan wat die Bokke wen. Wat was die rede?
@OudUppie: Geluk my ou maat. Lyk my die voorspellers en slim mense het die pot misgesit!
Cheetahs!!!!!
U19 Semi. Freestate 32 – 27 WP
@Laevelder: Did not watch. Quagga u can answer
Is there a score for u21s?
@Hooit: As jy die game gesien het..hoe het JC P en Mark S teen mekaar opgeweeg?
U19 semi final. Lions 43 – 31 Bulls
@Kattes-Strofes: Beste ding ooit om die kontrakte te snoei. Jy sal nou sien hoe perform daai manne. Uiteindelik moet spelers weer speel on plek te verdien.
@Ploegskaar: Ploegie ! Vir WP se part hoop ek jou inligting is korrek. Ek het egter verneem dat die snoeisker maar kwaai ingelê is wat kontraktering betref. Ek weet egter nie of dit ook betrekking het op vanjaar se 0/19 spelers nie. Het darem al agtergekom dat die meeste groot unies teken gewoonlik skoliere aanvanklik vir n jaar, en met uitsonderings vir twee jaar. Tydens jaar twee (wanneer die manne o/21 moet speel , al is hulle nog o/20), word daar gewoonlik ook taamlik rof gesny onder die klomp. Verreweg die meeste manne wat daarna kontrakte aangebied word, kry dan nog n jaar (hul laaste o/21 jaar). Dit is gewoonlik absoluut die uitsonderings wat vir n langer tydperk ge-kontrakteer word.
@Kattes-Strofes: WP doen die jaar goed want hulle het ‘n groep met werklike talent, eerder as vorige groepe wat op gerekende talent en opgeblaaste skolereputasies WPRI kontrakte gekry het. Boonop het ‘n paar van hierdie groep ook reeds 2 of 3 jaar verlengings op kontrakte gekry. Die beleid gaan ysters bo pierewaaiers wees vorentoe, wat goed voorspel vir die toekoms.
@Quagga: Kwagga ! Die Leeus het n ongelooflike talentvolle 0/19 groep, met baie diepte. Trouens ! Met daardie span behoort hulle almal onder stof te loop.En meestal doen hulle dit ook. Die uitsondering is egter WP. Alhoewel WP volgens my nie dieselfde gehalte spelers as die Leeus het nie, het hulle tog daarin geslaag om vir die Leeus beide kere te troef vanjaar. Ek is seker dat die feit dat Sean Erasmus vanjaar die span bystaan as n konsultant, het baie hiermee te doen.Glo ook dat die twee spanne dan ook vanjaar in die eindstryd weer sal kragte meet.
@Hooit: Sorry to budge in here. Semis on 21 Oct and finals on 28 Oct. Beet ! I agree with your comments regarding the Sharks u.19 side. However ! I do not think it is a question of budget restraints. They offer some of the best contracts to juniors, but are very selective.They draw some of the best talent around the country. As you well know, Curvin Bosch was signed for a record amout at the time. This year they have already secured the services of some high profile players such as Muller Du Plessis (Paarl Gim), Thaakir Abrahams and Vian Fourie (both Boishaai), and this is only the ones that I know of.
Also ! The Sharks u/21 side is much more competitive over the years, and this with a lot of the same players that struggled at u/19 level. So I do believe that other problems (such as coaching) are to blame
@beet: Sharks does not seem to have budget constraint for the 2018 u/19 team or maybe it is that all the money gets invested in a few players.
Do you have confirmed dates for semi final and Final?
I’ve watched 4 Sharks u19 games this season so I’m on track to achieve my average of 5 per year. I feel the less I say the better. I understand the Sharks emphasis on senior rugby along with their junior budget constraints coupled with the difficulties the Sharks have with marketing their junior programme, but it’s not great for the overall development of junior players in SA if a big union like the Sharks cannot put out a very competitive team to challenge the other big guns. The Sharks team on paper is not strong but they have had u19 teams that look equally weak on paper yet produced better rugby and results.
In the games I’ve watched the Sharks have had their moments and some players have performed well but as a team they haven’t delivered a full 70 min effort. In most seasons gone by including last year the team has started relatively poorly and improved in the second round. This year they seem to be going backwards as the compo has gone on. It was frustrating to hear that they have done only one video session all season and that was right at the beginning. If true, this means that just about every top rugby school in SA is doing more to prep players for matches than the Sharks are. It does ask serious questions about the u19 coaching and the management of the coaches and perhaps explains why the results seem to be getting worse rather than better.
I think the u19 compo might be better served with the introduction of University XV’s from the Western Cape and Gauteng, as those two teams could be relatively strong.
WRT to the Sharks, they should have a better team in 2018 but parents of those players should perhaps make a few waves to ensure their kids receive training and match opportunities on par with other big unions who look like they are putting a lot of effort into u19 rugby.
Anyone know how the schoolboys did at the Blue Bulls? Would be nice to hear from that side.
I was one (of perhaps 50 people
) who attended the Lions vs FS match and Kwagga van Niekerk of Monnas made a good debut. Mark Snyman seems to be a regular starter as #6 and he played a real #6 game being a complete menace on the floor. Travis Gordon was particularly good in the loose when he came on, and Asenathi Nhlabakanye performed well when he came on. The Lions scrum looked a lot more solid when the bench was injected, but it has to be said that the game was won already at that stage. Wow that ex-Boishaai back Gianni Lombard has talent, but the player who impressed me the most was ex-Affies centre Louritz van der Schyff. Thoroughly enjoyed the match, but had to miss the u21 game due to another appointment (sorry oom Kattes).
@Quagga: Sorry to say! The game plan did Mark no favours. He did a couple of good things, and also had a run or two.However! unfortunately it came to nothing.
@Kattes-Strofes: Thank you for the feedback oom Kattes! Perhaps too much then of the choppping and changing we can see in the team sheets. I notice quite a battle for the WP no 6 jersey beween Serdyn and Du Plessis. Wonder how Mark Snyman did against Serdyn?
@Kattes-Strofes: Sorry ! Wanted to say that this was a carbon copy of last year,s u/19 final. However, the shoe was on the other foot this time, with the Lions fielding a star studded line-up, against a WP side with far fewer big names.
@Quagga: Hi Quagga. I was at the match. The Lions played against a gail force wind in the 1st half, but managed to only trail by 15-5 at halftime. It was expected that they will soon take control of proceedings in the 2nd half, with the wind at their backs.However, it was WP that started to dominate. The Lions failed to make any use of the strong wind, and tried unsuccesfully to keep ball in hand. This was also the case when they were under huge pressure near their own goal-line.Using the wind, would have relieved the pressure, and also gain huge ground. WP defended brilliantly, and also made full use of their scoring oppertunities. This was in contrast to the Lions, who lacked cohesion, and played as individuals.
This was almost a carbon copy of last year,s final, when the unheralded Lions u/19 side, totally outplayed the star studded WP.
Does anyone have info on the U19 GL vs WP match. Seemed like a bit of a one-horse race. Would love to hear about the match. Also just once again interesting to see how the teams chop and change some players and positions around in what seems to be a very dynamic and even at times chaotic season for that age group. Gone are the egos and the comforts zones of schoolboy rugby. Players need mental toughness to get through those junior age groups it seems.
What about a talented specialized flyhalf like Ruben van Blerk, who is in the Sharks training Squad. That kid has for amazing talent. Maritzburg College flyhalf for 2015/16.
Thanks Beet. Sal Bulle nog nie afskryf nie manne ? Begin nou eers bietjie gel . WP , GL en FS games was tuff , maar die scores justify nie die games . Goeie wen teen Sharks met twee geelkaarte 1min uit mekaar het Sharks kans gegee om twee driee te druk , maar Sharks is nie n span om te onderskat . Wat ek net nie lekker verstaan is die tye vir Saterdag se games met die Leeus se Super Final ?
A big thankyou to Beet and other SBR bloggers for this thread and information regarding the U/19 Tournament.Information is hard to come by and it is always interesting to see the progress of ex SBR players. Some bloggers dont see this thread as SBR,but i tend to disagree.
@Kattes-Strofes: Weet jy wat ek geleer het in die laaste 3 jaar, is dat min dinge in ons rugby regverdig is!
@Kattes-Strofes: Leeus het op die sirene gedruk, gemaklike wen vir WP. Bly Deon Carstens het na ‘n besering ook sy debut uiteindelik gemaak. Luiperds met Dorfling en Steenkamp van HJS & Landbou op 9 & 10 het die Sharks ook goed gepiets
@ROOIBUL: Ek sien op die Suparugby facebook blad dat daar groot ontevredenheid is oor die hantering van die wedstryd tussen die WP en Leeus deur die skeidsregter. Nou ja ! Ek kan nie hierop kommentaar lewer nie (was mos nie daar nie). Nietemin, n goeie sege vir die WP, en die naby uitslag bevestig net weer my oppinie dat dit die twee voorste aanspraakmakers op die titel tans is. Maar daar is nog n hele paar wedstryde in die eerste rondte oor, voordat die spanne mekaar weer takel in rondte twee.
@warriors7: yes
Leopards definitely punching above their weight this year , very impressed coaches definitely doing something right. Leopards is pukke region right ?
Lions U/19 lost to WP 30-25
@chief: Ja Mamon,maar wie kan hul verkwalik,net sodra mens dink jy het die antwoord,duik daar 3 nuwe probleme op.Rugby en Sbr staan voor baie groot uitagings,Mamon,teikens,kwyende getal spelers ens.Wat my egter verbaas is dit wat ons kan doen,wat nie geld kos nie,is om saam te werk en hierdie probleme saam te pak.Maar nee,eerste prioriteit is eie ek,die establishment,daarna ek en dan die establishment.Ek moet egter se dat SARU en selfs die Bulle probeer,daar is positiewe tekens ook.SBR moet vb volg,maar baie bloggers glo hierdie was die keerpunt by Bulle skole…
@Grizzly:
Ek dink stem ‘n 100% saam met wat jy sê oor die vergoeding van jong spelers, maar as ons unies nie die groot geld betaal vir skool seuns nie hoe behou ons hulle van oorsee se spanne.
Ek wil ‘n voorbeeld gebruik van Jaco van Tonder wat SA laat glip het laas jaar en hy kan net sowel aangaan om eendag Frankryk te teenwoordig.
@Kattes-Strofes:@Hooit: ok,maar niemand luister vir ons nie,dink net hoeveel world cups op alle vlakke sal ons wen as SARU toepas wat op hierdie blog voor gestel word
@Grizzly: @Grizzly: @Grizzly: Ek het ook gedink dat dit die geval is, maar verlede seisoen was daar nie eers nog n coach aangestel nie, so wie het dan die 0/19 kompetisie gevolg, om die talent te identifiseer. Ek weet dat Louis Koen en Hans Scriba het kontak gemaak met die verskillende coaches van die unies, om hul gevoel oor spelers te toets. Maar soos jy seker weet, elke coach gaan mos maar vir sy eie speler opkom, wat enigsins bietjie talent toon.
Die kompetisie is verseker die ideale platform om as basis te gebruik vir die kies van jou Junior Bok span. Dit is nou al n hele paar keer bewys dat die insluiting van vorige jare se SA Skole spelers nie noodwendig die beste keuses was nie. Daar is net n te groot verskil tussen skole rugby en profesionele rugby, waar die jong manne hul brood moet verdien uit rugby.
Hopelik sal die coach en sy helpers dus vanjaar se kompetisie gebruik om die kern van volgende jaar se Junior Bokkies te identifiseer.
Wat betref die vergoeding van junior spelers. By verreweg die meeste unies, word die groot meerderheid van skool spelers slegs vir n jaar, na skool, geteken. Die vergoeding is ook glad nie so baie as wat die meeste mense dink nie. Daar is wel n baie klein persentasie spelers wat sommer groot geld verdien. Hulle is egter die uitsonderings , en baie beperk.
Spelers moet dan toon dat hulle wel die vermoë, en werks etiek het, om rugby n loopbaan te maak. Dit is gewoonlik hier waar n hele klomp die pot mis sit.
@Grizzly: The 1st u/19 and u/21 games are played in Jun. Maybe a u20 tourno in Mar to May.
@Grizzly: Wat ek sal doen rondom vergoeding is om n plafon in te stel,se bv 15k per maand.Dit sal kleiner unies in staat stel om talent te hou,en die goeie speler wat nie rerig van prov wil verander nie om te bly.Sodoende sal n speler wat sou bench by bv WP begin by die luiperds ens.Ek verneem Rikus se kontrak is klaar groter as Muller sin.In my opinie gaan hierdie n ewel word wat die unies gaan in haal.As saru nie vinnig in gryp nie gaan jnrs meer geld as sekere super spelers verdien
@Kattes-Strofes: Oom katte,ek stem saam oor die 0/20,s,maar dink jy nie SARU het juis die 0/19,s in gebring met die oog op JWC?Daar is net te min tyd in die jaar sou hulle eers moet speel om te kyk wie is beste?Wat van as die toernooi vroeg in die jaar is soos hierdie jaar?Die JWC het baie belangrik geword en die plaaslike toernooi is proewe vir afrigter en bestuur span.Ek dink die toernooi dikteer SARU se besluit rondom dit.Soos dit is,is die tyd faktor klaar stresfol.
@Kattes-Strofes: die bulle het glad nie sleg gelyk laas week teen die leeus nie, baie beter as hulle opwarmings wedstryd. Dink hulle groot gelol is in die middelveld, want hulle het baie bal gekry om meer te hardloop. Die leeus se span is warm, gaan interessant wees om te sien wat gebeur die naweek.
Na afloop van die jongste uitslae (WP 28 – Vrystaat 12; Leeus 39 – Bulle 21; Luiperds 17 – Sharks 17) wil dit voorkom of dit n Leeus teen WP eindstryd gaan wees.
Alles is egter nog glad nie verlore vir die ander spanne nie. Verlede jaar se kampioenspan, die Leeus, het ook drie van hul eerste 4 wedstryde verloor. Daarna het hulle egter skoonskip gemaak , en al 10 hul laaste wedstryde beklink.
So daar is beslis nog hoop ! Die Bulle is volgens my tans die groot teleurstelling, met hul vertonings.
Bulls losing 3 in a row after all their recruitment is shocking
Luiperds 17 – Sharks 17!
Results of the weekend : Lions 43 – Leopards 12; Sharks 42 – EP 13; Free State 24 – Bulls 12.
Baie interesante uitslae die naweek.Op die vroeë stadium wil dit lyk of die Sharks n heel skaflike span vanjaar het, en dat die Leeu welpies n sterk aanspraakmaker gaan wees om hul titel te verdedig. Daaraanteen wil dit voorkom of die Bulle nog nie lekker op dreef is nie, en veral tans agterlangs bietjie sukkel. Dit is egter nog maar die begin van die kompetisie, en sake kan nog baie verander vorentoe.
EP losing to the Sharks by a big margin. Looks like it’s gonna be a long season for the boys, their recruiting wasn’t good this year. Probably for the fighting wooden spoon with Leopards.
@Playa: Good one
More Stormers fans than Bulls fans at Loftus
…must be Garsie parents 
En daar klop die FS die magtige Bulletjies – 24 vs 12. Ek vermoed die bulle het FS heeltemal onderskat. FS agterlyn was kookwater, maar voor sukkel hulle nog in die skrums. Die bulle her ‘n lekker groot pak voorspelers, maar agter het dinge maar bietjie gelol.
Weet iemand wat van KP de Jager (Bulle) geword het.. is hy beseer?
@warriors7:Die no agt van pionier Ewart Potgieter is n univ pel van my se seun hy het oor weeg om sy jonger seun Kloof toe te stuur maar wou eers wag dat Ewart klaar matriek skryf ek het so by myself gedink hy maak n fout om nie altwee te skyf vir die blootsteling nie maar wys jou maak nie saak of jy van n bekende rugby skool af kom nie, ek dink baie van ons maak die fout.Sy oupa was eens op n tyd as ek dit reg het die swaatgewig boks kamp.
@robbie: Hope not…
At my age I normally cannot remember what I heard yesterday, but I believe I did hear that SARU intends hosting a large group of under 19/20s at the Stellenbosch Institute at the beginning of 2018 for a period of 4/5 months. Am I dreaming ?
@BoishaaiPa: I think WP and the Bulls can field quality B teams and perhaps the Lions as well but not convinced the Sharks or Free State can.
Like you I would love to see the exposure of junior rugby improved through marketing and other efforts. This year I watched a half of Maritzburg College 10ths play Grey College 10ths and there were more people watching along with me than turns out on average to watch an u19 CC game. And the u19 CC is usually a very entertaining brand of rugby as well. I’m not sure if the unions common feeling is that increasing the profiles of junior players makes them more marketable and therefore more costly to retain.
@beet: I understand the need for u/19 player to get some gametime, but I still believe that an u/20 competition will benefit our players more when looking at the u/20 JWC. Therefore I would suggest that each province should have a u/20 A and B squad that competes in the competition. Scrap the u/21’s and make the u/20 competition bigger and better and more attractive with more games. Play it at the same time the Super rugby games are played. Make it huge with 15 or 16 teams..Most Provinces like WP, Sharks, Bulls, Lions and maybe Freestate can easily field 2 teams of strength from u/19’s and u/20’s. There is 10 teams already..throw in Leopards, EP, Border, Boland, Falcons etc and you the makings of a huge comp with lots of exposure for players.
@Kattes-Strofes: About the Leopards. They had a poor u19 season by their own standards last year but they have produced some very good u19 teams over the years with the help of Pukke. Never star-studded lineups but always able to deliver. It helped having motivated people like Andre Tredoux on board who would look in every corner for overlooked talent and find guys like Lood de Jager and SP Marais and many others.
The enigma for me regarding the Leopards was what went wrong after u19 because more or less the same players would run out for them two years later in u21 but were unable to produce the same results. I guess somewhere in between the two age groups the bigger unions were upping the tempo with their full-time players while the Leopards part-time varsity student lifestyle seem to kind of take its toll on their guys. Obviously a few players would also get spotted and move to bigger unions during this time period.
But overall they do great work for SA rugby. Was sad when the Leopards seniors got boardroom decision dumped out of the Currie Cup A section a few years back after all their hard work to fight off relegation for a few seasons – a lot of hard work went into that effort. It’s hard to recover from that sort of setback. Nevertheless it was a reality of SA’s situation at the time and was inevitable.
@BoishaaiPa: This decision to combine u19 and u21 was tabled and scrapped a few years ago. The poorer B-section unions however adopted it and make use of it for financial purposes. I think u19 is great as it allows for more players straight out of school to participate and provides more opportunities. In days gone by between u19 and u21, they set up a good 3 year development cycle for junior players. Obviously a lot of that is changing with player drain, players being fast-tracked more often coupled an overall decline in the standard of senior rugby in SA.
From watching u19 rugby over the years I’ve felt that a W/Cape Combined Universities team as well as Gauteng Combined Universities team would have added value to the tournament and given even more exposure to youngsters. I’ve been watching for many years so remember very well what it was like prior to EP’s short rise to prominence a few years back. There would be 6 reasonably competitive teams incl the Leopards and one one season wonder complete walkover team who would be relegated at the end of the year.
Having the u20 compo would effectively half the number of required players in any given year. Like you said an u20 set up would be useful in the sense of u19’s compete against u20’s and therefore upping their readiness to compete at the u20 Champs a year later. But this only works if a preset number of places (quota of a different kind) for u19’s in teams are guaranteed. It would seem pointless to have a handful of u19s competing while the bulk are watching the rugby from the stands because they cannot displace the u20 players in the teams. The real problem in SA rugby is what happens between January and May in the lead up to the u20 Champs. There is no structure and not enough emphasis on finding competitive teams (not invitation teams) for the Baby Boks to play so that they can properly identify best players and then simulate the competitiveness of u20 Champs rugby an advantage that the 6N teams clearly have.
@BoishaaiPa: @Kattes-Strofes: I could not agree more with you, I also started my interest in the 0/19 because of personal interest.
Wouldn’t it be better to have a system where no schoolboy is allowed to be contracted by a union and have a 0/20 competition between all the universities. If all the universities get support from SARO to keep al the school players in the same union unit a player turned 20. Only then can a union contracts a player for the under 21 curry cap competition, because with a system like this we can get more talent exposure before the unions get there hands on all the talent that they don’t even use. And have the talent spread more evenly. Just a simple example!
@BoishaaiPa: Ek stem saam met jou oor die o/20 kompetisie. Die grootkoppe, in konsultasie met die mediese verteenwoordigers, voel egter blykbaar dat daar n te groot risiko is,veral wat betref beserings, tussen die ouderdoms groepe. Soos ek hoor, is hulle veral bekommerd oor die vaste manne se gesondheid.
Wat jong stutte betref, moet daar spesiale toestemming verkry word om op senior vlak mee te ding, wat bitter min gebeur.Dit is gewoonlik net agterspelers en loosies, wat vroeg tussen die senior manne vrygelaat word.
@Kattes-Strofes: Sadly the u21 compo is watered down these days. You blink and you miss it coz it’s very short. Hopefully it means a lot to the players involved as there is still a cup to play for.
@OudUppie: I got Qaba’s school = Cambridge. If you get a chance, please ask for help with a few of the FS players still missing their school names on the list.
@Kattes-Strofes: @Umtata: @Playa: The Sharks list is just of known names at this stage not selected players. By the end of the week all will be made clear who’s in and who’s not.
Hopefully SD has a long and prosperous career at the Sharks.
I still remember Bangi Kobese from his short stay in Durbs – what a special attacking talent he was.
@Kattes-Strofes: Dit gaan al jare lank so aan..Mens moet omtrent krap om iets te lees omtrent die 0/19 en 0/21 kompetisies…of iets te siene te kry!..Ek moan al jare lank daaroor!…Ek dink hulle moet eerder die twee kompetisies skrap en net een 0/20 een maak..Dit bring ons in lyn met die JWC en sal die 0/19’s beter voorberei as hulle al n jaar vroeer teen die ouer groep begin speel. Meeste van ons top 0/21’s is al klaar in die Supersport kompetisie of speel Super Rugby…Daar is nie regtig n doel aan die 0/21 liga nie!
Good to see so many bloggers that are interested in the u/19 Currie Cup competition. I must admit, that if it was not for personal reasons last season, I would not have followed this thread so faithfully. However, after keenly following last season,s battle for the title, I am now hooked on this subject. It proved to be very enlighting to see who of the schoolboy stars make it on the junior big stage, and how many drop out.
Apart from the u/19 competition, and again for personal reasons, I will also keenly follow the u/21 competition, and try and contribute some info for interested bloggers.
The u/19 and u/21 competition, as well as the First Division,s u/20 competition, gets very little, if any, exposure from our mainstream media. Only the finals are broadcast on TV.
@Umtata: To think he only started playing rugby in Grade 11 makes the story even more special!
Glad to see one of the triplets from Dale in the starting line up for the Sharks.
@meleond: luiperds is altyd sterk danksy die PUK
@meleond: Very good suggestion!
@Speartackle: Actually from loose forward/number 8 to hooker. Think wrongly shown as prop.
He played for Tuks u.20 at hooker in the Young Guns-finals. He used to play at hooker when younger.
@Kattes-Strofes: Leopards gaan verseker kompeterend wees. Lekker pak voorspelers en as hulle nie gister so baie ongedwonge foute gemaak het nie kon die telling heel anders gelyk het. FS het swaar gekry in die skrums en dit het die agterlyn onder druk geplaas.
Interesting Luke Fortuin going from Lock to number8 to loose head in a few months
@warriors7: 100% Correct. There is way too many players slipping through the net because of the lack of proper competition. Stop exorbitant contracting of juniors, get more players into the system, invest in coaching will go a long way to strengthening SA rugby again.
@warriors7: The Currie cup 1st division unions, such as Boland, SWD, Border etc., have a under 20 competition. The Super rugby unions, plus the Leopards, compete in a u/19 and u/21 competition.
I do not know the reasons for this, but this is how it is for a number of years.
There should be a second division for the other teams like SWD, Boland , Border , Pumas , Griquas , Griffons..To fill up the teams maybe the unions with big squads like WP and bulls can have a team in this division. Will also help them as fringe players will have a chance to show their talents
@meleond: Border too
Hoekom speel die Griffons, Pumas, Griekwas nie in hierdie kompetisie nie?
@Kattes-Strofes: As mens in ag neem dat die Luiperds unie nie die finansies beskik om groot name te lok nie, kan hulle hierdie jaar wel kompeterend wees. Daar is baie talent daar, nou net die manne se koppe kry om nie die wedstryde teen die groter unies voor die begin van die wedstryd al te verloor nie!
@OudUppie: Goed om te sien dat die Luiperds vanjaar blykbaar weer kompeterend sal wees. Hulle het nie n goeie seisoen verlede jaar beleef nie.
Die Leeus het toe soos ek verwag het, te veel skietgoed gehad vir die OP manne.
Die wedstryd tussen die WP en die Bulle was ook n riller ,as mens na die eindtelling van 17-15 kyk.Het enige iemand miskien bietjie meer inligting oor die stryd ?
Wasn’t Prinsloo (sharks) at the bulls earlier this year ? Nice to see the Pionier guys in the bulls team coming from a small school. Sharks only have 4 on the bench ?
Matthew King (EP) went from flanker to prop to hooker in 3 years… Anyway I’m backing the lions to win it !
FS 36 vs Leopards 24 Lekker harde game.
@Kattes-Strofes: Interessant dat Ricky Duarttee 11 speel vir die Lions. Hy was onder meer in Gim en Boishaai voor dat hy Stellenberg toe is. Hy was oorspronklik ‘n skrumskakel. Hy is nie groot nie maar het ‘n hengse groot hart!!
Ek sien ook dat Khanye 6 speel en nie 8 nie.
Dankie vir almal se terugvoering oor van die manne.
Grizzly, Abner moet blykbaar eers sy twee oorblywende wedstryde vir Boishaai speel, voordat hy vir WP oorweeg sal word. Ek weet hulle gebruik die manne op skool ook gewoonlik maar spaarsaam, om nie die seuns se skoolwerk te veel ontwrig nie.
Musi ! Yes ,you are right. The Bulls do have a very strong team on paper. However, they would still need to remain focussed and put in the hard yards on the training grounds.I have seen a number of talented boys going off the rails after school.
@Kattes-Strofes: Wian van Zyl is beseer.
@Kattes-Strofes: Waar is Abner?
@Kattes-Strofes: Ek sien Garsies voed deur die hele SA,so as n ou verby al die nonsenspraat ens kyk,lyk die bydra van ons skool tot jnr rugby nie te sleg nie.
@Kattes-Strofes: Deon Carstens het sy knie gedoen in voorseisoen, rehab gaan goed en sal later in aksie wees
@Kattes-Strofes: Bulls looking good this year….many of these players were part of the tukkies U20 side that beat maties in the final down in the cape….
@Kattes-Strofes: Joshua Vermeulen is o20 die jaar.
Thanks for the teams, Beet ! Looking at these teams (Lions, Bulls and WP), I am going to make an early predition that the eventual champion will come from one of them.
Also noticed a number of interesting selections.
The Lions did not select Gianni Lombaard and Wandisile Simelani (are they rested after junior world cup, or are they injured?) and 2016 SA Schools prop, Nathan Macbeth, from Monnas,is strangely not in the starting line-up, but is one of the reserves. They are also still missing the services of injured Ruan Vermaak (lock) and PJ Botha (hooker).
WP,s team also includes quite a number of new signings from other provinces. The whole 2016 Boishaai and SA Schools front row, Reece Bezuidenhout, Daniel Jooste and Adam Neethling, will be playing from the bench. I am also missing (I do not know if there is a valid reason for this, such as injuries etc.) a number of local big name players that is at the WP Institute. These include players like Wian van Zyl (no.10/15 Paarl Gim), Joshua Vermeulen (no.15 Paul Roos), Deon Carstens (no.9 Boland), Liam Larken (no.2/6 SACS) and Athi Maxwala (no.2/6 Boland). Maybe someone with more info on these players can keep us posted.