The South Western Districts under-18 team will go to Craven Week this year with a genuine chance of doing well and perhaps even featuring in the main game on the final day. SWD won the unofficial Craven Week final back in 2008 when outstanding no.8 CJ Stander of Oakdale was at the helm. With the exception of 1 Lagenhoven Gymnasium player, the 2013 squad consists entire of Outeniqua (12) and Oakdale (9) players, so cohesion should not be a problem at the week long event.
Included in the line-up are SA Schools players Warrick Gelant and Duhan van der Merwe. Both players will be strong contenders to make the national team again this year. Other prospects for SA Schools colours this time around includes Dian Koen, Eduard Zandberg, Remu Malan and Dewald Human.
| # | NAME | SURNAME | SCHOOL | 2012 REPRESENTATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juandre | Dique | Oakdale | |
| 2 | Marne | Botha | Outeniqua | |
| 3 | Stefan | Grundlingh | Outeniqua | Craven Week |
| 4 | Donovan | vd Berg | Oakdale | Academy Week |
| 5 | Eduard | Zandberg | Outeniqua | SA HP u16 |
| 6 | Geor | Malan | Outeniqua | Craven Week |
| 7 | Stephan | Streicher | Oakdale | |
| 8 | Dian | Koen | Outeniqua | Craven Week – Bol |
| 9 | Remu | Malan | Outeniqua | Craven Week |
| 10 | Dewald | Human | Outeniqua | Craven Week |
| 11 | Duhan | vd Merwe | Outeniqua | SA Schools |
| 12 | Warrick | Gelant | Outeniqua | SA Schools |
| 13 | Douw | Schoeman | Outeniqua | Craven Week |
| 14 | Lorenzo | Gordon | Oakdale | Academy Week |
| 15 | Hennie | Barnard | Outeniqua | |
| 16 | Brendon | Haas | Langenhoven Gim | Academy Week |
| 17 | Nemo | Roelofse | Oakdale | |
| 18 | Anton | Smit | Outeniqua | Grant Khomo |
| 19 | Benjamin | Jv Vuuren | Oakdale | |
| 20 | Maurice | White | Oakdale | Grant Khomo |
| 21 | Gene | Willemse | Oakdale | |
| 22 | JP | Coetzee | Oakdale | Craven Week |
@BuiteBreek: I agree that Arno is a good player ,but don’t think that he will outclass Dewald Human from Outeniqua.
@Ludz: I know that Arno had some injury troubles a bit earlier in the season, missed a couple of games to. JT Jackson, who is 12 for Academy side, has been playing flyhalf for Oakdale 1st team, and Dillon Beukes, flyhalf for Academy side, has been playing 10 for the second team. Some good competition between those 3 players.
Strong Team
Good team
Well done to SWD in getting a team together without the strengths and weaknesses being discussed (and revealed) via lengthy blogging.
Biggest surprise for me would be Arno Moolman missing the cut. I thought he was a dead certainty for Craven Week selection
Welgedaan aan elkeen.Sterkte en ons kan nie wag om julle talent op die veld te sien nie.Goeie gebalanseerde span.Kan net goed gaan.Mooi man
Baie geluk aan die seuns wat verkies is. Ek glo julle sal ‘n baie suksesvolle Cravenweek beleef. Dis heerlik om te sien hoeveel van die seuns kom al van o/12 en o/13 SWD spanne deur die stelsel. Welgedaan.
Would be a bummer if this team, who lost against Paarl Gim, wins the WP Craven Week team.
Great to have seem many of these players at the KERF.
The next few weeks are going to be very interesting as all the unions release their CW sides.