Border Schools team has been announced. A blend of the three region’s powerhouses Selborne (9), Queens (7) and Dale (4) dominates the Craven Week selections. The Cambridge hooker does well to make the starting line-up and there is a Stirling prop on the bench as well.
Last year the Border team was selected on controversial grounds when players that were known to have contracts with other unions were excluded on purpose. The Border Rugby Union appears to have come to their senses this time around.
| # | Border u18 Craven Week | School | Border u18 Academy Week | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thabani Mtsi | Selborne | S Mlwayo | Queens |
| 2 | Jayson Reinecke | Cambridge | T Balekile | Selborne |
| 3 | Matthew Nelson | Selborne | Y Tembelihle | Cambridge |
| 4 | Jason Steyn | Selborne | K Bosarh | Cambridge |
| 5 | Robert Lyons | Selborne | H Coetzee | Grens |
| 6 | Damian Wolvaard | Selborne | A Schultz | Grens |
| 7 | Jedwyn Harty | Selborne | M Mahlasela | Cambridge |
| 8 | Justin Hollis | Queens | P Bester | Grens |
| 9 | Kewan Gibb | Queens | C Lentoor | De Vos |
| 10 | Lungelo Gosa | Selborne | Y Sigenu | Cambridge |
| 11 | Jerry Danquah | Queens | A Jubase | Queens |
| 12 | Simon Bolze | Queens | S Swart | Grens |
| 13 | Somila Jho | Dale | R Sirgel | Grens |
| 14 | Lilitha Jonas | Queens | Y Nyalambisa | Hudson Park |
| 15 | Ayavuya Mavuso | Dale | M Brink | Grens |
| 16 | Sinako George | Dale | U Vanda | Queens |
| 17 | Sibusiso Lali | Stirling | Z Hena | Hudson Park |
| 18 | Lona Ntsila | Queens | J Engelbrecht | Port Rex |
| 19 | Mihlali Nchukana | Dale | A Rautenbach | Queens |
| 20 | Keegan Gray | Selborne | A Zweni | Zweliyandila |
| 21 | Kyle Brown | Queens | S Maxhwane | Dale |
| 22 | Nanele Tyali | Selborne | K Deponselle | Selborne |
The Cambridge coach has just informed me that Cambridge scrumhalf, Lonwabo Madolwana, has been added to the Border Academy side. This makes it 6 players in total for Cambridge who are playing for Border.
@Playa: You on twitter? My twitter handle is @Ploegskaar1, with a pic of my ugly face so that you can recognize me, minus the pink boots
@BOG: Hahahaha!I’ll keep a very close eye on him.Hopefully it will only be the 4 year old girl that will be wearing pink boots and not him.Just as a start.
@Nemo: Dink dit was nice van hulle.maar kon hulle nie maar net vir die afrigters meegedeel het nie. Hy was af met besering teen Boland in eerste helfte. Sou nie weer gespeel het nie. Actually is dit nice dat hy nou goeie behandeling gekry het. Pluimpie aan bulle maar daar is beter maniere om dit te hanteer.
@wakker akker: ek verstaan dit is ‘n besering wat voor die toernooi opgedoen is…….. nou wonder ek wat is die ergste : om hom te laat speel met ‘n besering of om hom dokter toe te neem? Vraag is wat is die motief – eie gewin of omgee? Dalk moet ons nie te vinnig oordeel….
@wakker akker: Oom van Rensburg behoorlik afrigters kwaad gehad. Hy en sy linker hand Werner net besluit hulle vat hulle seun. Toe afrigters vir Warrick soek toe is hy net weg. Erg.
@BOG: Ja Oom, and now for the wait until the ITAC ruling, which will be on the 9th of July. Note this will not affect poultry imports from the EU, which is subject to a 25 year bi-lateral trade agreement, though.
@beet: korrek. Hy uit vir vier weke. Jammerte.
@BOG: the higher the chicken price the more beef i can sell and the less i have to speak to ploeg,win win as the saying goes
@wakker akker: Goeie idee. Ek dink ek het nou al die CW span lyse.
Ek hoor Warrick Gelant was beseer verlede naweek en sy oom Xander JvR het hom hospitaal toe geneem vir toetse. Hoop dit is nie ‘n ernstig nie.
Beet .kan ons nou nog nie begin spelers identifiseer vir Sa onder agtien nie .Dit sal intresant wees om almal se opinies te lees voor die cravenweek begin.
@QC86: @Ploegskaar: I see both of you fresh from the court hearing? You dont seem too concerned about the proposed 68% increase in surcharges on imported Roadrunners, aka “chicken” in SA – Beep Beep !@Playa: Can you please give us a report on his behaviour which will be a pre requisite for his admission to the Grey vs Grey clash
@Ploegskaar: Hahaha!!!Awesome, it would be great to meet him.
@QC86: Will do…and will try being nice
@QC86: Nah bud, Warren’s watched a few games with me and he’ll vouch that I am a well behaved spectator, an expert on the laws and never shy to share my opinions with the officials, fellow spectators and coaches
@Ploegskaar: thanx and will keep a lookout for Ryan,you guys just keep the scores coming thro and be nice to each other on Saturday you hear
@QC86: You going up with the laatie to the GK week I assume? If so, all the best and keep an eye out for the WP fullback Ryan Muller, if you get a chance, exciting player with good feet and a fat hand-off.
@Playa: I’ll be the oke running after the 4 year old with the pink rain boots on! Warren Cullinan should be there as well, come over so that I can listen to you guys trading insults
After that we can all have a go at the Pansies 
@QC86: I’ll be watching like a hawk. Also haven’t seen Queens play this year, so looking forward to seeing them in action.
@Playa: have a look when you are down in the Cape next week and tell us what you think.He is more of a 7’s player seems to need more time and space,thats why we say 12,enjoy you buggar
@QC86: Ok, I hear you.
@Ploegskaar: ja ploeg besides the odd injury.
@Playa: not to flashy but can’t kick out of hand and takes ball standing,Bolze seems to be a better FH.
@Ploegskaar: School comes first in the Border. They’ll be there.
See you at 2pm Ploegskaar on Saturday…I’ll be the good looking one of the lot
@QC86: Do you reckon he’s too flashy for 10?
Yeah, he is the type that could fit right in at 12. Of the Border flyhalves that I have see (admittedly not many), I cannot think of one to fit in there, maybe you could share.Worried about that academy side in that case.They’ll get pumped.
Will all the above players from the Tickbirds and the Baboonas be attending the CSW?
@Playa: tight 5 seem to be in short supply through out SA schools.I would play Gosa at 12 and not 10.Academy side not so good lost to the Grant Khomo boys by 5 tries to 2 the other day.
I’m surprised to see Somila Jho there.
On the whole, this looks like a solid team.Lungelo Gosa is an exceptional flyhalf.If he can click with that backline, Border could be a surprise package at Craven Week.
I worry about the tight five being dominated by Selborne.They’ll be good in the rucks and mauls, but the scrums maybe a different story.
Really good to see a full strength Border side, pity Aston Fortuin, Abongile Nonkotwana and Jose Shaw are all at the Bulls, would’ve made this side quite strong