The Youth Week season is upon us. Most of the selection drama is past tense, and now it’s time to enjoy the events to the fullest. One recurring discussion point in the lead-up is the ever-increasing travel expenses that parents are generally expected to cover. While the under-13 Craven Week and under-16 Grant Khomo Week appear to be run as cost-effectively as possible, questions continue to be raised about whether the under-18 Craven Week and its B-team counterpart – the under-18 Academy Week – have evolved sufficiently to keep up with changing times.
Here are my personal thoughts on some changes I would like to see:
1. Targets
This has always been a sensitive topic. In my view, Craven Week has been a resounding success in terms of transformation. Targets are often frowned upon and sometimes equated to a form of racial segregation or even discrimination. However, as a mechanism for encouraging the development of players of colour in schoolboy rugby, it has been remarkably effective.
The challenge now is to move away from a blanket, national approach and rather reform targets into a more regionally tailored, achievable system. This should foster development and growth – instead of promoting loophole exploitation, window-dressing, or abandonment of impossible to achieve transformation efforts altogether.
2. SA Schools vs SA Under-18
Having two separate teams is frustrating and makes little sense.
There should be only one team. If needed, it could be named the “SA Schools – SA u18” team, but it must remain a single entity. Even the SA “A” team could be rebranded – perhaps as the “SA Gazelles” – and issued dark blue jerseys. This would still signify a notable achievement, but the honour of wearing green and gold to represent South Africa at under-18 level should be reserved solely for those selected to the main team.
3. Use Craven Week to Finalise SA Schools Selection
It appears that this approach is already being implemented, as the SA Schools team was announced before the Saturday fixtures. I fully support this.
At provincial level too, the burden of midweek trials is outdated. These trials fail to account for how physically demanding schoolboy rugby has become, and they no longer serve the interests of player welfare.
Craven Week should provide an opportunity for players to play themselves into contention – but it should not be the sole determinant of selection.
4. Consider Making the Tournament a Two-Match Event
Building on the above point, perhaps Craven Week should be reduced to two matches per team. This would be more cost-effective.
Saturday could still host the grand final, while Friday and Saturday could also be used to work with a selected core group of players not involved in the final – even incorporating trial matches as curtain-raisers. All other teams and players not called up could return home after their Wednesday/Thursday commitments.
However, for the example that follows below, I’ve stuck with the traditional three-match format.
5. Scrap Academy Week (Sort of)
This isn’t as harsh as it may sound. In my version, a slimmed-down Academy Week would be absorbed into the main Craven Week – rather than continue as a separate, high-cost, low-profile event.
6. Ditch the Boring Opening Ceremony
It’s astonishing that both the chairman and the current sponsor’s representative – both involved in education – manage to deliver such painfully long-winded and forgettable speeches.
Worse still, they are usually followed by someone even more boring. These sessions could be replaced by engaging 30-second TikTok-style videos that get the same message across far more effectively.
Far better use of podium time would be for organisers to explain how the first two match-days match-ups were determined – more on that below.
7. Don’t Rely on Previous Year’s Results
Using the prior year’s results to rank current teams is a relic of the past.
Anyone who follows 1st XV schoolboy rugby knows that last season’s outcomes often bear little relevance to the current season – teams change by 80% or more year-on-year.
8. Make Western Province’s Extra Team a Permanent Fixture
This links back to the previous point. While the emphasis must be on current-year performance, there also needs to be long-term recognition of the depth in Western Province.
WP has a greater concentration of rugby talent and deserves to field an additional team. In this scenario, WP would be the only major union with three teams at Craven Week.
In a nutshell, if a team other than Western Province wins the Craven Week final, it should not automatically entitle them to an additional team the following year, as is currently the case.
9. The Revamped Craven Week
Here’s the vision:
a. Pre-Craven Week Playoffs
At the two Bondedag events and the Southern Cape Rugby Weekend, these three playoffs take place annually:
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Pumas vs Valke
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Griffons vs Griquas
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Boland vs WP C
Winners progress to the Craven Week main event. Losers still attend Craven Week but play on alternative days.
b. Fixture Line-Up
Assuming Pumas, Griffons and Boland win, the schedule is structured as follows:
Day 1 Group (Mon/Wed/Fri): 8 Teams
This pool consists of the smaller unions’ A-teams and the big unions’ B/C teams. The aim is to create strength-vs-strength matchups.
While this might increase Craven Week opportunities in more affluent regions, a potential downside is it could also contribute to talent being poached from smaller union schools.
Format: Straight knockout. It’s a small cost-saving, but teams spend one less day at the tournament.
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Valke
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Griquas
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WP C
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Limpopo
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Leopards
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Bulls B
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Sharks B
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Lions B
As mentioned, organisers should use the opening ceremony to explain how these matchups for the Day 1 group as well as the Day 2 Group below were decided.
There is opportunity to grow the day to a 10-team or even a 12-team event. Certainly if there was opportunity to select an Eastern Cape and a Noordvaal Invitation XV, that would help to broaden the talent catchment.
The underline objectives remain cost-cutting, recognition of achievement and opening the door to national selection through standout performance.
c. Day 2 Group (Tues/Thurs/Sat): 12 Teams
This is the main draw. It’s a huge task for selectors – six matches per match day.
A major change: no quarter-finals on Tuesday. Instead, officials must use their knowledge to set up fair opening day matchups, then assess performances and build credible semi-final pathways for Thursday.
Likewise, a Plate and Shield structure would be developed for the remaining eight teams.
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WP
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Bulls
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Sharks
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Lions
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Free State
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SWD
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Border
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EP
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WP B
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Pumas
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Griffons
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Boland
@BoishaaiPa (Comment #88)
Ek het dit lankal genoem dat Gim vir hulle ‘n rugbyveld bo-op Dutoitskloof, by daardie groot torings moet aanlê. Daar is genoeg plat grond daarvoor en is baie dieselfde hoogte bo seespieël as Garsfontein en Affies. ‘n Goeie plek om voor te berei vir NS en WK. Dan is daar nog’n teerpad ook tot by die torings.
@Smallies (Comment #92)
Nee, man, ek weet jy is nie in Bloem nie, maar daar in die voetheuweltjies van die Drakensberg!
@tzavosky (Comment #89)
Baie interresante stukkie useless informasie rondom Seweweekspoort piek dit is een van slegs twee ultras in SA die ander een is Du Toits piek
@Smallies (Comment #90)
Die passe wat ek moet ry om daar te kom is almal hoer as seweweekspoort koppie….
@BoishaaiPa (Comment #88)
@tzavosky (Comment #89)julle vergeet dat ek nie nie in Bloemfontein bly nie maar naby die OosKaap hoogland ,Ben Mcdui 3000 m is waar ek jag…
@BoishaaiPa (Comment #88)
Horie, dit smaak my ek is voorheen bedrieg, want ek is vertel Seweweekspoortpiek is die hoogste punt in die Wes-Kaap, toe ek in my prille jeug daar was.
Maar Bloemfontein is hoër as Tafelberg, en lg is net-net hoër as die Springbokvlakte!
O, en my dogter hou skool by Noordheuwel – ek sien een van hulle “selling points” is dat hulle die hoogste Afrikaanse skool in die wêreld is!
Die 2de hoogste bergreeks na die Drakensberge in SA is die Hexrivier Bergreeks…so hier is berge..en nog n hele paar ander reekse wat hoër is as Naval Hill…ek weet nou julle dink Naval Hill is hoog daar in Bloem, maar dis nie eers n karoo koppie nie..
@JongMatie (Comment #82)
O daai kant. Ek sien. Se nou net vir jou dink voor jy tik maar ore is min.
@JongMatie (Comment #85)
He plays mainly 6 though, not 7. So he’d be playing alongside Kent.
@Snelvuur (Comment #84)
Not better then Luke Kent. Not even close.
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #83)
Koeberg has been excellent for PRG’s Bituas the whole year. Should have been playing firsts, but really belongs at this level. Hope he makes one of the SA teams.
Incredible how a 2nd team player can be the best loose forward in the WP XV team. This is where the quota system can be really beneficial
Ons water kom sommer hier van die Bergrivier in Franschoek. (die kant van die tonnel)
@JongMatie (Comment #76)
Ek sal nou nie daai paar randjies daar by julle berge noem nie …..
@Snelvuur (Comment #71)
Ek praat van daai botteltjies BonAqua wat julle so fensy pensy drink ….julle ou spruitjie is mos so besoedel jou bene sam af vrot as hy daar deur loop
@Grizzly (Comment #77)
Maggaliesberg word eintlik gespel Magaliesberg – kyk voor jy tik, asseblief..
Eerster drie van Leeus was n forward pass. Dit is jammer dat n swak beslissing n wedstryd moet bederf.
@JongMatie (Comment #76)
Ek bly teen die hang v d Maggaliesberg. Kyk as jy weer Valpre drink,dit word daar gebottel. Daar staan ook op die label dis die oudtste bergreeks in die wereld. Dink voor jy tik.
@Grizzly (Comment #75)
Bergbelasting – julle het nie berge nie so jy sal nie verstaan nie
@Snelvuur (Comment #71)
Geen plek wat jy R3mil vir n erf van 300 squares moet betaal behoort n onder dorp te he nie. Dis nog aan die cheap kant. Ek wil graag weet wat in julle drink water is want hier bo noem ons daai tipe goed malligheid. 🤔
@Snelvuur (Comment #71)
My vriend se toe ons daar deur Skelmbos gaan… Nee @#R&RR,nou probeer ons uit Beiroet vlug net om in Palestina op te eindig🤣🤣
@JongMatie (Comment #70)
Was jare terug deur daai tonnel. Bestaan hy nog? Ek sal volgende keer hom uit die lug probeer raak sien.
@Snelvuur (Comment #71)
Bulle maar swakkies ja – soos omtrent by elke CW
@Grizzly (Comment #69)
Jy moet darem nou appels met appels vergelyk – help nie jy vergelyk Stellenbosch se onderdorp met Paarl se bodorp nie. Almal ry Paarl se hoofstraat en dink dit is die hele Paarl 😂 Paarl se mooi dele is mooi, maar die areas daar by Chicago en daai wêreld is maar wild, hoor (my ouers bly in die Paarl, so ek het nou nie eers rerig ‘n dog in the fight hier nie).
@Smallies (Comment #66)
Ek hoop nie die Wynland-manne het dieselfde Gauteng-water gedrink as die Bulle vanoggend nie. Gaan maar met stampe en stote hier teen OP…
@Grizzly (Comment #69)
As jy deur die tonnel na die Wynlande kom sal jy deur meeste vergelykings geskok word.
@Snelvuur (Comment #68)
Was Donderdag in skelmbos, was geskok in die toestand v d dorp. Dit was tussen skelmbos en Paarl. Paarl het gemaklik gewen.
@Smallies (Comment #66)
Is DIT waar al Gauteng s’n is? Ek’t gewonder hoekom hulle so lank sonder water daar sit…
@Bungee (Comment #62)
Wanneer velaat Boswelkie die dorp. Ek onthou as kind nie almal het van die sirkus gehou nie.
@JongMatie (Comment #64)
Meanwhile back at the ranch drink jy botteltjie water uit Gauteng uit 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@JongMatie (Comment #64)
Die sterkste WP span drink wynland water by die huis.
Dit is n jammerte dat die twee WP spanne nie mekaar takel in die Final nie.
#wynlandwater
My takeaways na vandag se Cravenweek games (jammer vir die manne wat nie kyk nie):
1. Boland sukkel bietjie. Ek hou van die Valke se vleuel Crause – rou, maar blitsig.
2. EP en Border moet saamsmelt – hulle sal ‘n goeie span wees. Kemp van EP baie goed en Kepe van Border ook uitstekend met beperkte geleenthede.
3. Siyaya is ‘n ongelooflike rugbyspeler: ‘n enkel-weerstand teen die WP gelei vandag, met baie min hulp van die res van sy span af.
4. WP is verskriklik goed hierdie jaar. Al vier hulle loosies verdien om SA Skole te speel. Neill en Kemp vandag veral uitstaande. Jordan Jooste het bitter baie ball vir ‘n loskopstut – groot toekoms.
5. Die twee beste spanne is in die finaal, maar ek dink WP gaan te veel hê vir SWD, veral voorlangs. Sien uit vir die loosie battle, veral met SWD se De Villiers, wat een van die beste o17-spelers in die land moet wees.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #61)
Omverskoning, ek het dan verkeerde afleidings gemaak. Ek besef nou die verwaand wese waarna jy verwys is as jy iemand kies wie jy nog nie sien speel het nie inplaas van verwaand wees omdat jy mense kies terwyl daar moontlik beter daar buite is wie jy kon kies (met tweede interpretasie is my afleiding hopelik verstaanbaar, maar soos ek se, besef ek het verkeerd geintrepreteur.)
Sal jy asb jou opinie van n 23 deel? Ek stel hier eerlikwaar net belang in wie ander mense glo is spelers om na te kyk, wie mis ek dalk wie ander mense raak sien. En dit maak ook dan spasie oop om lekker te kan debateer ook!
En ek het definitief ne almal al in aksie gesien nie, ek het net gevoel die kommentaar wat jy daar in @Snelvuur se rigting gerig het onregverdig was.
En van dit wat ek wel gesien het van die Affies manne, is Groenewald my gunsteling speler. Indien daar weer n SA A span is, is hy my starting 10 daar verseker, en sal McDonald ook in die mix wees saam die ander Affies loosies. Groenewald voel ek is ook die tipe speler wie ek al vroeg sal vertrou op hoer vlak, hy voel net altyd so kalm.
@Bungee (Comment #60)
Wys vir my waar ek geskryf het dat EK NIE WEET WIE OMTE KIES NIE? gaan lees mooi, ek het geskryf dit sal verwaand wees om ‘n span te kies as jy nie al die spelers in aksie gesien het nie, glo my ek het my opinie van ‘n SA Skole 23 tal (wat MENIGTE Gim spelers sal insluit) wat ongelukkig nie by jou/SARU se kwota/targets reels sal inpas nie…maar aangesien jy ELKE LIEWE speler in aksie gesien het trek ek my woorde terug dat jy bevooroordeeld is en niks van skole rugby weet nie.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #52)
So as jy dan erken dat jy nie weet wie om te kies nie, verstaan ek dan nie hoe jy kan kommentaar lewe op wie ander mense kies bo seker spelers nie? Soos ja, jy kan voorstelle maak of die persoon inlig van n ding of twee, maar om te se hy is bevooroordeeld of weet niks van skole rugby af nie is n stappie of lap om Monza te ver.
@Snelvuur (Comment #56)
En het Bauke Swart vir Rabe totaal oordonder in daardie selfde wedstryd…
@Snelvuur (Comment #56)
Jy ry in ‘n residensieele straat, ek ry op Monza, so jou persepsie van wat “kosmiese of fisiese beperking”is, is anders as myne…so inderdaad is jou keuse van ‘n span wat kwansuis vir Gim sal klop OOK totaal sinneloos.
@Snelvuur (Comment #54)
Het ek in my comment aan @Bungee genoem dat jy privy was om al die laaities in aksie te sien?
@OUD ANKER (Comment #55)
Wel, omdat die span op daardie basis gekies word. Dis net soos dit is. Daar’s ook geen kosmiese of fisiese beperking wat keer dat jy 200km/h in ‘n residensiële straat kan ry nie, maar jy kom in die moeilikheid as jy doen. So dis totaal sinneloos om daarmee te stry – dit is net soos dit is.
Dit is my opinie dat Kemp beter as McDonald is, maar ek sê dit op grond van wat ek van hul altwee gesien het – insluitende in die PRG-Affies game (waar Kemp McDonald heeltemal oordonder het). Dit is natuurlik net ‘n mening, maar om enige span te kies is ‘n mening.
Die speler van Affies wat die naaste was aan my span maak, for what it’s worth, is hulle 7-flank (Elwin). Hy was net ongelukkig om agter die beste voorspeler in SA hierdie seisoen (Neill) vas te sit. Een van daai dinge.
@Snelvuur (Comment #53)
Dis jou opinie dat Kemp beter as McDonald is…en hoekom moet die spelers wat ek genoem het aan JOU en SARU se targets/kwotas voldoen?
@OUD ANKER (Comment #52)
Gits, ek het darem al elke wedstryd by Cravenweek gekyk. So ek het darem almal al in aksie gesien. Ook Affies se wedstryde by N/S, Wildeklawer, teen Gim, teen Grey en teen Jeppe gekyk – so ek het darem ‘n idee van hoe goed hulle spelers is.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #50)
Ek dink nie Stefan McDonald is beter as Kemp nie, so jy sal hom dan bo Amadi op die bank moet kies. Dan moet een van jou ander wit spelers uitval. Selfde storie met Potgieter en Davids. Selfde storie met Groenewald en Uithaler/Nela.
So watter drie van die wit spelers in daai span gooi jy uit om hulle in te sluit? En watter swart spelers kies jy in daai drie wit spelers se plek?
@Bungee (Comment #49)
Sien my antwoord aan @Snelvuur.@Bungee (Comment #49)
Sien my antwoord aan @Snelvuur en nee dit sal uiters verwaand van my wees om ‘n 23 tal te deel aangesien mens net so 23 tal kan deel as mens AL die laaities van AL die skole in aksie gesien het…wat kenners soos @Snelvur duidelik al privy vir was.
@OUD ANKER (Comment #47)
Daar sal indien geen beserings is nie virseker 3 van daai skool in wees ,moontlik 5
@Snelvuur (Comment #48)
Stefan McDonald, Luhan Potgieter en Ruben Groenewald
@OUD ANKER (Comment #47)
Of is daar dalk net nie n speler wat beste/2de beste in sy posisie is die jaar nie, maar dalk net n klompie wat net buite die groep val? Dit moeilik om vir jou vrae te antwoord as jy net twee opsies gee wat nie die regte antwoord bevat nie.
Ter loops, aangesien jy so kenner is, deel asb ook jou 23?
@OUD ANKER (Comment #47)
Wie van hulle sou jy daar hê? En in wie se plek?
@Snelvuur (Comment #43)
Ek merk dat jou span GEEN speler bevat uit die skool wat NET 3e gerank is op die SBR nuutste skole ranking nie. Is jy net uiters bevooroordeeld of weet jy niks van skole rugby af nie?
@Grizzly (Comment #44)
Ek weet nie so mooi van daai ene nie. Die enigste manier hoe ek dink jou argument sal werk is as jy die B&I Leeus as voorbeeld gebruik en praat van team cohesion, want speler vir speler dink ek nie is daar enige skole span wat beter sal wees as hul jaar se SAS span nie.
En ek stem oor die scouts wat hul sout werd is, want teen die tyd van Craven Week is dit te laat en is al die top spelers reeds geteken. As jy wag tot dan sal jy n paar hidden gems dalk nog kry, maar A+ talent is reeds geteken. Indien die feeste en CW omgeruil was op die kalender was dit weer n ander storie
@Snelvuur (Comment #43)
SAS POC Team:
1. Jooste (HJS)
2. Agu (Noordheuwel)
3. Mncwango (Westville)
4. Orange (Wynberg)
5. Malakiya (HeronBridge)
6. Davids (Milnerton)
7. Koeberg (PRG)
8. Amadi (KES)
9. Buys (Grey)
10. Uithaler (Noordheuwel)
11. Afrikaner (Westville)
12. Letsie (Jeppe)
13. Aneke (DHS)
14. Simelane (St Alban’s)
15. Siyaya (Westville)
16. Myners (Outeniqua)
17. Singo (PBHS)
18. Ngubane (Maritzburg College)
19. Mlaba (Westville)
20. Karuhumba (Wynberg)
21. Sithole (Jeppe)
22. Nela (Hilton)
23. Stuart (Garsfontein)
Very, very decent side.
@Bungee (Comment #42)
Altwee jou comments aan my is dom. Daars nie n ander verduideliking nie.Natuurlik moet hy vir altwee spanne speel,hys dan in Gim en WP span. So die Gim span met Muller wen die WP span met Muller. Grey met hulle SAS spelers vir Grey wen die SAS span. Natuurlik kan dit nooit so werk nie maar gebruik commen sence. Een jaar wat Grey nou nie 50 op almal sit nie wil jy nou gebruik as jou verwysing.Jy wil CW verdedig en as dit vir jou werk, mooi so. Soos Smallies se die scouts wat hul sout werd is, is by NS, Klawer en ander feeste.
@Bungee (Comment #42)
Ek dink selfs met Gim se vol span sal dit maar lol teen die SAS. Die SAS-span sal daai Gim span skrum en maul dat hulle hik, en ek dink hulle sal selfs agter beter wees. Hier is ‘n SAS-span sonder enige Gim-spelers (steeds compliant met targets):
1. Jooste (HJS)*
2. Rabe (PRG)
3. Van den Berg (Gars)
4. Orange (Wyn)*
5. Meyer (Grey)
6. Davids (Milnerton)*
7. Neill (Rondebosch)
8. Kemp (PRG)
9. Brits (Landbou)
10. Uithaler (Noordheuwel)*
11. Afrikaner (Westville)*
12. Vorster (Oakdale)
13. Adams (Grey)*
14. Simelane (St Alban’s)*
15. Siyaya (Westville)*
16. Agu (Noordheuwel)*
17. Pratt (Oakdale)
18. Van der Merwe (Rondebosch)
19. Joubert (HJS)
20. Amadi (KES)*
21. De Villiers (HJS)
22. Nela (Hilton)*
23. Aneke (DHS)*
Ek dink nie net die span wen vir Gim nie – ek dink hulle wen gemaklik. Ek dink mens sou selfs ‘n span net uit swart spelers kan kies wat Gim sal wen.
@Grizzly (Comment #37)
In die SAS vs Gim wedstryd, sal Markus Muller net vir Gim speel of sal daar 2 van hom op die veld wees? Want eerstens, joh dit sal mooi wees, en tweedens ek dink hy alleen kan die wedstryd wen vir die Gim span die jaar. Die ander jare weet ek nie of daar n speler (of groep spelers) was wat so veel beter is as hulle counterparts oor die land nie. Ek dink net as voorbeeld aan die verskil wat hy laas jaar by SA Skole gemaak het. Regtig, what a player
@Snelvuur (Comment #38)
Ek dink hierdie is regtig weereens n goeie voorbeeld van hoe die targets n verskil maak
@OomPB (Comment #36)
Joh OomPB, ek het regtig nie gedink dat n broken record actually snaakser kan raak elke mal wat hy vashak nie😂
Het jy die wedstyd (of die vorige WPXV ene) gekyk? Want ek dink wat Snelvuur hier uitwys, en wat mens kon sien in die wedstryd self is hoe hier nou vir n speler van kleur n kans gegee was wat hy nie voorheen gekry het nie weens wat ook al rede, en hy bewys dat hy dit actually verdien deur een van die beste performances te gee van al die spelers op die veld.
Eerlik waar, hoe hy speel tans moet daar regtig die vraag gevra word hoekom is hy nie die kans by PRG gegee nie? En dan hoeveel meer spelers is daar soos hy?
@Grizzly (Comment #37)
Grey se eerstespan is dan basies Vrystaat se span en hulle is nie naby die finaal nie?
@OomPB (Comment #36)
As ek kyk na hoe hy speel, is die vraag liewer hoe die ouens in die A-span bo hom daar is!
@Smallies (Comment #35)
Ek het myself belowe om nie te comment hier nie want ek steur my nie aan CW nie. n Stelsel waar daar 1 ste skool spanne in n unie die CW span sal wen is gedoom. Gim, BH, Grey, Affies, Oakdale,ens.sal hulle CW spanne hard stamp. Dan kry jy meeste jare wat Grey en hierdie jaar Gim die SAS skole spanne ook sal wen. Dit was nooit so n paar dekades terug nie.Ek weet hierdie nie vir n feit nie maar as ek moet wed is daar seuns wat meer waarde heg aan n Gim, BH, PRG, Affies, Grey, ens, ens trui as n unie trui. Dit was nie in my tyd so nie, laat 80’s early 90’s.n Ligblou trui was so skaars soos hoender tande in my dae.Respek was gegee vir die wat dit op MERIETE verdien het.
@Snelvuur (Comment #34)
Hoe het hy in die span gekom bo die Paarl Gim spelers?
@Toffee (Comment #33)
Why, when a Whinelands cavenweek team might be just as strong and glamorous?
@Snelvuur (Comment #21)
Biggest surprise of Craven Week so far for me has been Caleb Koeberg. He had another marvellous game for WP XV today. I actually have him as a dark horse for SA Schools. Maybe if he makes that, he can get into PRG’s first team 😉
BOLAND/WP
REGIONAL HERITAGE WINELANDS VS. WP
@Snelvuur (Comment #30)
Nou sien jy die struggle wat die Vrystaat het ne ….
@Bungee (Comment #29)
Probably their loosehead prop (Adendorff) would be there on the bench instead of Kock. Don’t think anyone else gets in.
@Snelvuur (Comment #28)
And how many of the Boland team would make this side?
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #24)
Would actually be a really good match-up against the Wineland schools, because the Wineland schools would struggle to meet the 12/11 POC/white split. Best team I’d be able to pick (compliant with the targets):
1. Jooste*
2. Rabe
3. Van der Merwe
4. Pieters
5. Joubert
6. Van der Merwe
7. Kemp
8. Potgieter
9. Booise*
10. Van der Merwe
11. Steenkamp*
12. Christians*
13. Muller
14. Davids*
15. Ocks*
16. Muller
17. Kock*
18. Van Vuuren
19. Makholiso*
20. Koeberg*
21. Da Silva*
22. Brinkhuis*
23. Ocks*/Moultrie*
As you see, the lack of POC players in certain positions will mean that some big names must miss out (like Brits at 9) in order to meet the targets.
@Roger (Comment #26)
To be fair, those schools are older than Boland Rugby – so they were already part of WP even before Boland existed…
Maties also plays club rugby in the WP and not in the Boland.
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #24)
which goes back to my original point – the Wineland schools should be part of the Boland – the depth of players in the region could accommodate four very strong teams at Craven Week. How many are currently missing out on selection due to this anomaly?
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #24)
Geez, that is one scary team! Especially as you didnt even include the Sellidon’s! (I would have 10 Chadwin Sellidon … 12 Soboil 13 RJ Davids … 22 Chadlin Sellidon 23 Van Biljon
@Roger (Comment #18)
Just because they traumatised your guys doesn’t mean everyone else in the same boat. Jokes aside the WP team would still be insanely strong without Boland schools.
1. Mbhala
2. Conrad
3. Vd merwe
4. Orange
5. Burden
6. Davids
7. Neil
8. Sitole
9. Noble
10. Van Biljon
11. Lourens
12. RJ Davids
13. Gadu
14. Lackay
15. Behardien
16. Gila
17. Davids
18. Coka
19. Karahumba
20. Mbungendlu
21. Bell
22. Soboil
23. Gordon
This team would win the whole Craven Week in my eyes
PITCH PERFECT AT MIDDELBURG
Great advert for the hosts.
Wonder what a top end groundsman gets paid? A lot of focus on pro coaching and teacher/coach balance. But what can staff like groundsmen, conditioning coaches and maybe even sports psychologists earn these days at High Schools? They all matters too.
@Snelvuur (Comment #21)
I wasnt able to watch all of it, but I did have the Sharks game playing in my earphones today. Could’ve sworn have the Sharks team was called Siyaya by how much the commentators mentioned his name! Talented player
@Bungee (Comment #12)
Best I’ve seen so far after two days (just on performances here, not who I would pick for SA Schools):
1. Poulton (Lions)
2. Rabe (WP)
3. Matt van der Merwe (WP)
4. Orange (WP)
5. Augustyn (SWD)
6. Bruwer (Lions)
7. Neill (WP)
8. De Villiers (SWD)
9. Goosen (SWD)
10. Uithaler (Lions)
11. Afrikaner (Sharks)
12. Muller (WP)*
13. Ridl (Sharks)
14. Aneke (Sharks)
15. Siyaya (Sharks)
*Would prefer to pick Vorster of SWD at 12 and Muller at 13, but stuck with the positions they played on the day.
@yesnomaybe (Comment #19)
ooh, shots fired
Well that’s not so bad, considering they put a 100 on your guys.
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #16)
no chance – Paarl Gim would put 30 past the WP craven week team
@Middies pa (Comment #15)
A very nice interview now at halftime of WP-Boland with the ground staff. They seem very proud of the field and they really can be!
@Roger (Comment #5)
Saying WP would be easy beats without the Boland schools is an incredibly ignorant thing to say. 12 out of 23 in the WP Craven Week team are from WP schools (Rondebosch, Wynberg, Milnerton, Stellenberg). Last year there were 8 SA Schools players from Rondebosch and Wynberg alone. If they were to split I would predict a WP vs Boland Final almost every year.
@BoishaaiPa (Comment #9)
I think so too. The school covered the field every afternoon to ensure that the frost didn’t transform it to the normal yellow, hard pitch it normally is during this time of the year. Well done guys. The first day delivered good rugby with some upsets as well. I enjoyed how the SWD team played on day one. Pumas was a bid stop-start but will get better during the week.
@buitestaander (Comment #7)
Somerset College se Primere skool speel hokkie vir WP en sy HS vir Boland.
@Buthelezi2 (Comment #4)
Your terms are acceptable
Somebody have a team of day one to share?
@BoishaaiPa (Comment #9)
Daai veld was nog altyd vrek mooi…
@BoishaaiPa (Comment #9)
I must agree!
Congrats to Middelburg..their field looks in great condition for the CW.
@buitestaander (Comment #7)
Om WP Cravenweek op jou rugby CV te skryf is nie n slegte ding nie
WP / BOLAND
en WP Rugby dit goedkeur. Dit is vir die drie genoemde skole om verskeie redes belangrik om in die WP te bly.
@Roger (Comment #5)
Only fair option would be to give the Winelands their own team ….
WP / BOLAND
IMHO EP and Border should merge too and provide four very competitive teams!
@yesnomaybe (Comment #2)
Cool concept but completely unrealistic and impractical. The schools in boland eg. Prg, Gim, Boishaai, BOLAND Landbou etc. should just play for their geographic region as Rainer as Rainier said. Why do they play cricket/athletics/waterpolo/hockey etc. for Boland but rugby for WP?
Since there are no u13 CW today to entertain us, some inputs from my side to beet’s proposals:
– In term of targets, no matter how good the POC’s are, until there are no requirements on numbers, we will never know. Maybe the time is right to scrap requirements for the CW, but keep them (or even increase them) for the AW (“Academy” is what the name says right?). I think we will be pleasantly surprised by the number of POC still selected for CW. That will be the true test if we are transforming, or window-dressing. Someone at SA Rugby just needs to have the guts to give it a go. From there work downwards to GK and the u13 CW once numbers looks okay at u18.
– Number of games: Given the status associated by being selected, and the work going into having trails, practice sessions, sponsorships, I feel 2 games is not enough to really get everyone invested in the whole experience. Also, 3 games help to give sufficient game-time to all 23 players.
– Rankings based on last year: I hear you, but this is the only way to take emotions out of it. Yes there may be years where two good teams face each other on day 1, but over time (years) the quality of the squads should remain the same year on year.
– Scrapping of AW: Maybe not getting the airtime it disserve, but given the massive talent pool in our schools, I feel it serves its purpose to reward more players with provincial honors. As I said above, maybe use the AW more as a developmental vehicle, as well as a bigger focus on u17s who just missed out on CW.
– Only one u18 National team: Obvious.
– WP permanently having an extra team: Makes sense in theory, but don’t think it sends the right message to the rest of the country. I say scrap the extra team for the previous winners al together. Yes, many brilliant boys don’t get to be seen at the CW. But the CW is no longer trails or an opportunity to be scouted, streaming has changed that. So I feel the deep talent pool in the W Cape will not go to waste just because they are not at the CW. One team per union keeps it simple.
If you referring to moving to Boland, than what I heard was that experiment was tried unsuccessfully a number of years ago as the Boland schools complained that none of their boys could make the team.
I would rather change the set up to WP North & WP South. You could make the ‘border’ say at Durbanville. So anything north of there would be referred to the WP North side & everything south from there would be the WP South side. This would make trials, selections, training so much easier to arrange for everyone.
The academy side should be a combined North & South WP U17 team.
Just my thoughts.
Just move the Wineland schools to the geographic area they belong to and you do not need an extra WP team.