@TheGoose (Comment #33)
Did I hear the commentator correctly…? Alutha born in Namibia too?
I would love to see a Namibia team at RWC knocking over some big names, …
@beet (Comment #32)
Great story that!! 10% talent and 90% effort. James is a classic example of that, some might say too small for his position. Dylan Richardson too. Both have gone on to decent careers. Others who have all the talent BUT no work ethic never make it, I can name soooo many.
@TheGoose (Comment #33)
Bosch needs to get their season on track again. Last season they also started strongly and then derailed slightly. The loss against KES, narrow win against Millies and drubbing by HJS has halted the momentum they built up earlier in the season. They need to go on a run again to do justice to the great start their season had.
@Kaya 85 (Comment #27)
Haven’t seen any comments about Alutha Wesi from Rondebosch. He is a great number 6 and works well with Josh Neill. Any chance he is on the SA Schools or SAS A team sheet?
Pity Rondebosch don’t get as much airtime as the big schools that attend NS and Wildeklawer.
@Snelvuur (Comment #31)
Yeah, TBH I expected him to enjoy reasonable success as a junior—maybe between u19 and u21—and then fade as others caught up and overtook him. But his achievements have been nothing short of fantastic.
Looking back, when I first started out, one of the great privileges of running the blog was the opportunity to interact with some truly outstanding people behind the scenes. Among them were Gavin Melvill from the Sharks and Jacques Hanekom, who was with the WPRI at the time and is now set to lead the new Stormers Rugby Institute. The wisdom these guys shared has stayed with me for years. They opened my eyes to what goes on off the field—things like the sheer desire to succeed, the relentless work ethic needed to thrive, and yes, even the role of luck in a player’s journey.
So when I made a call on JJ, it was really just a guess. Without insight into what happens behind the scenes, you’re only seeing part of the story.
Another great example is Rudi Dames—one of the truly good coaches out there. Years ago, I put together a list of KZN Craven Week hopefuls and left out one particular player in favour of another who, at the time, was more prominent and later found some success in junior rugby. A few weeks later, I was at a Glenwood game and spoke with Rudi, who was head coach then. He told me that one of his players, the same flank I omitted from the list, was going to make it in rugby.
Honestly, I found it hard to believe. The player was solid, sure, but he wasn’t particularly tall, big, or physically dominant. But Rudi had worked closely with him and knew what really mattered: the self-determination, the work ethic, the character. That player was James Venter.
@beet (Comment #28)
Really? I always thought Jurenzo’s skills would translate quite well to the pro game. He was always more than just big: there’s no replacement for speed and great feet, and he’s always had that. Those factors are what separates him from guys like Adams and Simka for me: Jurenzo has genuine pace and even better acceleration from a standing start. He’s also added nicely to his distribution skills. His defensive reads still require some work and he drifts in and out of games, but I have no doubt in my mind that he’ll play for the Boks at some point.
@Pamos (Comment #17)
Have to agree Jurenzo’s success has surprised me. I honestly though the moments he had for the Maroon Machine u19A team would be the best highlights of his rugby career. Now he one of the best clean linebreakers in the URC
@Bert (Comment #19)
I need to get the like button back for comments like this
How good are Lohan (Luan) P and Stefan M. Losing Albert S should have been a huge setback – most schools would not recover from losing a player of his ability but AHS have depth for sure. Elwin has been great in that role.
Just to say I thought Jamie Wimble stood up at no.8 for Northwood vs Paarl Gim and Drostdy and certainly played very well and caught the eye, especially for a Gr 11.
@Snelvuur (Comment #15)
Agree. I wonder the same with Simke at DHS. They are fairly robust for schoolboy level, but not very tall compared to the type of 12’s (even 13’s) featuring currently in our domestic teams. Adams I think is quicker then Simke, but wouldn’t see them feature at 13. You also have players like Jonathan Roche at WP/Stomers now and you have another youngster like Likhona Finca coming through at the Lions. Taller, quicker, and also strong and explosive.
I find it weird to put players on the dream team or the next best team in positions they did not play in the festival. Just because they are good at one position does not mean they best best or second best in another that they haven’t even played.
Everyone said the same thing about Julius, and look at him now. I don’t think he will become a Springbok, but he will play professional rugby for at least five years.
@agter_die_pale_pa (Comment #14)
I think Adams should have moved to 6 long ago. I’m a bit concerned about him after school. In the professional game, you have Henco Van Wyk, Jurenzo Julius, Suleiman Hartzenberg and Ethan Hooker under 25 and playing 13 at a top level. Will he be able to surpass any of them? I’m not sure. He’s not as physical as guys like Van Wyk and Hooker and not as quick and elusive as the rest. Markus Muller is a generational talent and a perfect contemporary. And then you have Tiaan Basson coming through the year below him who’s as physical as Adams and probably two or three yards quicker.
@Snelvuur (Comment #13)
If Adams and Muller are the two best centers come August, I would play Ethan at 12 and leave Muller at 13. Not sure if Ethan has played 12 before but I would almost prefer him there, irrespective of who plays 13.
@beet (Comment #12)
Christian Vorster is a brilliant player. It might be controversial, but I’d have him at 12 for SA Schools with Muller at 13. I think they’d be better together than Muller at 12 and Adams at 13.
@TheGoose (Comment #11)
No all the others are eligible.
A few alternatives: Dylan Stumke of Menlo, Phano Letsie of Jeppe, Lizwe Mtetwa of Glenwood, Bradley Myburgh of Grey HS, Jonathan Harding of Diamantveld, Christian Vorster of Oakdale
@OUD ANKER (Comment #5)
Yeah just thinking about it now – there would be strong support for All Stars – Ruben Groenewald based on his season long form and who has been a 5-star general this year for sure. Then Darius Erwee in the Impressive XV based on his recent rise to prominence and how Wildeklawer enhanced his claims to be recognised as one of the best in SA. Ethan van Biljon also right up there. Not his best consistency at WK but no doubt about his massive potential to go far in rugby which is evident in every game.
Here’s an interesting one: which team would win in a match of the Big 5 in one team vs the Best of the Rest in the other. The teams are just what I’ve cobbled together off the top of my head and shouldn’t be taken too seriously, but please suggest players I might have missed!
Big 5:
1. Jordan Jooste (HJS)
2. Altus Rabe (PRG)
3. Deon Botes (Affies)
4. Migael Turner (Gim)
5. AJ Meyer (Grey)
6. Luan Potgieter (Affies)
7. Elwin JV Vuuren (Affies)
8. Gert Kemp (PRG)
9. Liam de Villiers (HJS)
10. Travis Pheiffer (PRG)
11. Jordan Steenkamp (PRG)
12. Markus Muller (Gim)
13. Ethan Adams (Grey)
14. Tiaan Basson (PRG)
15. Lamla Mgedezi (Grey)
@JongMatie (Comment #6)
Hoe het jy vir Jurenzo uit jou span gelaat…hy is ligjare beter as Marcus Muller…en waar is Stoffels…hoe kon jy hom weggelaat het..skokkend!
Thanks @beet – this kind of content is hugely appreciated.
The All Stars XV looks a lot like a potential SA Schools side. A few additional names will likely be in the running from teams not at Wildeklawer (and maybe that were – or were part of SAS teams in 2024):
SA Schools 2024
1 – Andre Poulton – Jeppe – SAS A
1 – Jordan Jooste – HJS Paarl Boys – SAS A
6 – Briint Davids – Milnerton – SAS A
7 – Josh Neill – Rondebosch – SAS
11 – Junaide Stuart – Garsfontein – SAS A
15 – Zekhethelo Siyaya – Westville – SAS
Daruis Erwee is quietly making a name for himself….deadly goalkicker ,top class defender ,and when on attack you’d do well to watch him carefully….he’s a very well balanced player
@TheGoose (Comment #33)
Did I hear the commentator correctly…? Alutha born in Namibia too?
I would love to see a Namibia team at RWC knocking over some big names, …
Garsies 4 en 10 moet A span wees. Imagine hulle in Gim, BH, Affies of PRG span. By a country mile.
@beet (Comment #32)
Great story that!! 10% talent and 90% effort. James is a classic example of that, some might say too small for his position. Dylan Richardson too. Both have gone on to decent careers. Others who have all the talent BUT no work ethic never make it, I can name soooo many.
@beet (Comment #26)
Please give us that like button (or at a laughing one would also be nice)
@TheGoose (Comment #33)
Bosch needs to get their season on track again. Last season they also started strongly and then derailed slightly. The loss against KES, narrow win against Millies and drubbing by HJS has halted the momentum they built up earlier in the season. They need to go on a run again to do justice to the great start their season had.
@TheGoose (Comment #33)
Good player. Last year also played 12 for part of the Bosch season. Received high honours in SA SBR. u19 this year.
@Kaya 85 (Comment #27)
Haven’t seen any comments about Alutha Wesi from Rondebosch. He is a great number 6 and works well with Josh Neill. Any chance he is on the SA Schools or SAS A team sheet?
Pity Rondebosch don’t get as much airtime as the big schools that attend NS and Wildeklawer.
@Snelvuur (Comment #31)
Yeah, TBH I expected him to enjoy reasonable success as a junior—maybe between u19 and u21—and then fade as others caught up and overtook him. But his achievements have been nothing short of fantastic.
Looking back, when I first started out, one of the great privileges of running the blog was the opportunity to interact with some truly outstanding people behind the scenes. Among them were Gavin Melvill from the Sharks and Jacques Hanekom, who was with the WPRI at the time and is now set to lead the new Stormers Rugby Institute. The wisdom these guys shared has stayed with me for years. They opened my eyes to what goes on off the field—things like the sheer desire to succeed, the relentless work ethic needed to thrive, and yes, even the role of luck in a player’s journey.
So when I made a call on JJ, it was really just a guess. Without insight into what happens behind the scenes, you’re only seeing part of the story.
Another great example is Rudi Dames—one of the truly good coaches out there. Years ago, I put together a list of KZN Craven Week hopefuls and left out one particular player in favour of another who, at the time, was more prominent and later found some success in junior rugby. A few weeks later, I was at a Glenwood game and spoke with Rudi, who was head coach then. He told me that one of his players, the same flank I omitted from the list, was going to make it in rugby.
Honestly, I found it hard to believe. The player was solid, sure, but he wasn’t particularly tall, big, or physically dominant. But Rudi had worked closely with him and knew what really mattered: the self-determination, the work ethic, the character. That player was James Venter.
@beet (Comment #28)
Really? I always thought Jurenzo’s skills would translate quite well to the pro game. He was always more than just big: there’s no replacement for speed and great feet, and he’s always had that. Those factors are what separates him from guys like Adams and Simka for me: Jurenzo has genuine pace and even better acceleration from a standing start. He’s also added nicely to his distribution skills. His defensive reads still require some work and he drifts in and out of games, but I have no doubt in my mind that he’ll play for the Boks at some point.
@Pamos (Comment #17)
He could get a call up…
Or he could opt for Namibia, play at RWC and take it from there.
@agter_die_pale_pa (Comment #14)
Agree…plus a very good crash ball option.
@Pamos (Comment #17)
Have to agree Jurenzo’s success has surprised me. I honestly though the moments he had for the Maroon Machine u19A team would be the best highlights of his rugby career. Now he one of the best clean linebreakers in the URC
@TheGoose (Comment #4)
Lamla Mgedezi
The Christian Cullen of Mzansi Africa.
Also just to advise
Briint is now know as Brillint!
@Bert (Comment #19)
I need to get the like button back for comments like this
How good are Lohan (Luan) P and Stefan M. Losing Albert S should have been a huge setback – most schools would not recover from losing a player of his ability but AHS have depth for sure. Elwin has been great in that role.
Ausie Vorster is very good…
Lizwe Mtetwa is my dark horse for obvious reasons; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1291803255990518
@Lem (Comment #22)
Markus “die Lemoenkloof Lem” Muller!
Agree , Muller is the inform center @ 13 , I would play Adams @ 12
Just to say I thought Jamie Wimble stood up at no.8 for Northwood vs Paarl Gim and Drostdy and certainly played very well and caught the eye, especially for a Gr 11.
@Snelvuur (Comment #15)
Agree. I wonder the same with Simke at DHS. They are fairly robust for schoolboy level, but not very tall compared to the type of 12’s (even 13’s) featuring currently in our domestic teams. Adams I think is quicker then Simke, but wouldn’t see them feature at 13. You also have players like Jonathan Roche at WP/Stomers now and you have another youngster like Likhona Finca coming through at the Lions. Taller, quicker, and also strong and explosive.
The loosies of Affies are excellent. They hunt in a pack. Not flashy but very effective.
I find it weird to put players on the dream team or the next best team in positions they did not play in the festival. Just because they are good at one position does not mean they best best or second best in another that they haven’t even played.
@Snelvuur (Comment #15)
Everyone said the same thing about Julius, and look at him now. I don’t think he will become a Springbok, but he will play professional rugby for at least five years.
@Snelvuur (Comment #8)
Dit sal nou vir jou ‘n game wees, maar ek dink ek sal my geld op die rest sit. Wens ons sal so n game kon sien wel!
@agter_die_pale_pa (Comment #14)
I think Adams should have moved to 6 long ago. I’m a bit concerned about him after school. In the professional game, you have Henco Van Wyk, Jurenzo Julius, Suleiman Hartzenberg and Ethan Hooker under 25 and playing 13 at a top level. Will he be able to surpass any of them? I’m not sure. He’s not as physical as guys like Van Wyk and Hooker and not as quick and elusive as the rest. Markus Muller is a generational talent and a perfect contemporary. And then you have Tiaan Basson coming through the year below him who’s as physical as Adams and probably two or three yards quicker.
@Snelvuur (Comment #13)
If Adams and Muller are the two best centers come August, I would play Ethan at 12 and leave Muller at 13. Not sure if Ethan has played 12 before but I would almost prefer him there, irrespective of who plays 13.
@beet (Comment #12)
Christian Vorster is a brilliant player. It might be controversial, but I’d have him at 12 for SA Schools with Muller at 13. I think they’d be better together than Muller at 12 and Adams at 13.
@TheGoose (Comment #11)
No all the others are eligible.
A few alternatives: Dylan Stumke of Menlo, Phano Letsie of Jeppe, Lizwe Mtetwa of Glenwood, Bradley Myburgh of Grey HS, Jonathan Harding of Diamantveld, Christian Vorster of Oakdale
@Snelvuur (Comment #8)
Are any of these (other than Simka from DHS) U19 and not eligible for SA Schools?
@OUD ANKER (Comment #7)
Also over the course of the season Stefan McDonald has been an yster. He has delivered some big performances.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #5)
Yeah just thinking about it now – there would be strong support for All Stars – Ruben Groenewald based on his season long form and who has been a 5-star general this year for sure. Then Darius Erwee in the Impressive XV based on his recent rise to prominence and how Wildeklawer enhanced his claims to be recognised as one of the best in SA. Ethan van Biljon also right up there. Not his best consistency at WK but no doubt about his massive potential to go far in rugby which is evident in every game.
THOUGHT EXPERIMENT: BIG 5 VS BEST OF THE REST
Big 5:
1. Jordan Jooste (HJS)
2. Altus Rabe (PRG)
3. Deon Botes (Affies)
4. Migael Turner (Gim)
5. AJ Meyer (Grey)
6. Luan Potgieter (Affies)
7. Elwin JV Vuuren (Affies)
8. Gert Kemp (PRG)
9. Liam de Villiers (HJS)
10. Travis Pheiffer (PRG)
11. Jordan Steenkamp (PRG)
12. Markus Muller (Gim)
13. Ethan Adams (Grey)
14. Tiaan Basson (PRG)
15. Lamla Mgedezi (Grey)
Best of the Rest:
1. Kai Pratt (Oakdale)
2. Clinton Agu (Noordheuwel)
3. Proppies vd Berg (Garsfontein)
4. Juvan Burden (Stellenberg)
5. Driaan Augustyn (Oakdale)
6. Briint Davids (Milnerton)
7. Josh Neill (Rondebosch)
8. Marko Kok (Waterkloof)
9. Jayden Brits (Landbou)
10. Ethan van Biljon (Stellenberg)
11. Jadon Ocks (Landbou)
12. Zingce Simka (DHS)
13. RJ Davids (Rondebosch)
14. Junaide Stuart (Garsfontein)
15. Zekethelo Siyaya (Westville)
@JongMatie (Comment #6)
Hoe het jy vir Jurenzo uit jou span gelaat…hy is ligjare beter as Marcus Muller…en waar is Stoffels…hoe kon jy hom weggelaat het..skokkend!
BEST OF THE BEST
1 Jordan Jooste
2 Altus Rabe
3 Adriaan vd Lingen
4 Jorden Joubert
5 Truspe Schoeman
6 Steph vd Merwe
7 Quinton Potgieter
8 Gert Kemp
9 Liam de Villiers
10 Travis Pheiffer
11 Jordan Steenkamp
12 Jayden Joubert
13 Marcus Muller
14 Tiaan Basson
15 Dawid Badenhorst
Bring maar enige ander gekombineerde span in SA…(Hierdie span sal hul man in n CW finaal kan staan)
6 Paul Rosers
5 Boishaaiers
4 Gimmies
No mention anywhere of a certain young general Ruben Groenewald at number 10..??
GREAT CONTENT!
The All Stars XV looks a lot like a potential SA Schools side. A few additional names will likely be in the running from teams not at Wildeklawer (and maybe that were – or were part of SAS teams in 2024):
SA Schools 2024
1 – Andre Poulton – Jeppe – SAS A
1 – Jordan Jooste – HJS Paarl Boys – SAS A
6 – Briint Davids – Milnerton – SAS A
7 – Josh Neill – Rondebosch – SAS
11 – Junaide Stuart – Garsfontein – SAS A
15 – Zekhethelo Siyaya – Westville – SAS
Impressive Others
2 – Charles Whitehead – Paarl Gim
7 – Gert Kemp – Paarl Gim
10 – Liyema Nela – Hilton
13 – Lizwe Mtwtwa – Glenwood
Would be interested in other standouts to look out for.
@beet (Comment #2)
Agree with you ,the kid grabbed his opportunity big time.
@Smallies (Comment #1)
If one has to consider just the last few weeks – he has to be by a country mile the biggest surprise package in SBR
Daruis Erwee is quietly making a name for himself….deadly goalkicker ,top class defender ,and when on attack you’d do well to watch him carefully….he’s a very well balanced player