Wildeklawer 2022 – Teams of Match Day 4

Match of the Tournament: Paarl Gim 22 Grey College 17 – the main game of Wildeklawer lived up to its top billing and will be remembered as a match of the season. Two outstanding sides gave it their all to produce a showpiece. It was so intense from start to finish. So absorbing. The opposing coaches strategies played out like a grand master chess match. The emotional outpouring after from both sets of players spoke volumes.
Player of the Tournament: Damian Markus (Stellenberg) – two unbelievable matches. He was fantastic on the first match day and then topped that by producing one of the best all-round individual performances of the season in match two. His rugby IQ is off the charts.
Forward of the Tournament: JF van Heerden (Grey College) – outstanding athletic ability for a 2m giant. He is strong, mobile, skilled. One of the best u18 rugby players on the planet. His influence on play was sorely missed after he picked up an injury during the main game against Paarl Gim.
Back of the Tournament: Shaun Ray (Paarl Gim). The man of the match of the main game. He has gone from just another name on a 1st XV team sheet to possibly the number-1 rated fullback in South Africa – the name everyone is talking about. An interesting comparison is being made between him and his head coach, the iconic Springbok Pieter Rossouw.
Comeback of the Tournament: Garsfontein 19 Paul Roos 18. Considering that the Garsies Bere are a top rated team this year with the big match wins to prove it, Paul Roos played a really good game as part of their noteworthy growth under new coach Corne Uys. For most of the match Garsies looked like they were just not going to click or reach their expected form. But BMT has defined Garsies this season and lots of the passion that their coach Johan du Plessis brings to their  programme  came to the fore just when they needed it most at 18-7 down with 7-minutes to play. A huge game-changing scrum penalty was the catalyst for a try. Then on the last play of the match, the Bere produced the magic, the pressure, the coolness, the decisiveness, the right line and scored the vital winning try.
Super Sub of the Tournament: Cameron Miell (Paul Roos). A tighthead prop was never meant to have the kind of immediate impact he has on the field. When it comes to scoring key tries, the one-man Bomb Squad is a proven certainty. His powerful frame and reach are valued assets.