By Shawn Belluigi
13 July 2013 Western Province beat the Golden Lions 45-29 in the unofficial final of the 2013 Coca-Cola Craven Week in Polokwane on Saturday.
The win meant that Western Province became the only team at the week to win all three of their games, and they were rewarded with the inclusion of seven of their players in the SA Schools team that was announced at the end of the tournament.
The 28-man squad will make up the teams that will play games against their counterparts from England, Wales and France. They meet England in Cape Town on August 9, followed by clashes against France in George on August 13 and Wales in Wellington on August 17.
Only one other side ended up unbeaten – the Griffons, who won their second and third games after drawing their first.
There were two shock results on the final day – SWD produced a great second half display to beat the Blue Bulls, and the Pumas beat Free State 25-22, thanks to a last gasp penalty in a thriller of a main curtain-raiser.
The SA Schools Squad:
Forwards -Rikus Bothma (Western Province), Daniel du Plessis (Western Province), Daniel du Preez (KZN), Jean-Luc du Preez (KZN), Thomas du Toit (Western Province), Joseph Dweba (Golden Lions), Ruan Kramer (Free State), Thabani Mtsi (Border), Ox Nche (Free State), Abongile Nonkontwana (Blue Bulls), Refuoe Rampeta (Free State), JD Schickerling (Western Province), Francois Steyn (Blue Bulls), PJ Toerien (Blue Bulls), Jacques Vermeulen (Western Province), Conraad van Vuuren (Mpumalanga)
Backs – Daniel du Plessis (Western Province), Remu Galant (SWD), Warrik Galant (SWD), Grant Hermanus (Western Province), Dewald Human (SWD), Malcolm Jaer (Eastern Province), Jurie Linde (Blue Bulls), Justin Phillips (Blue Bulls), Brandon Thompson (Mpumalanga), Duhan van der Merwe (SWD), EW Viljoen (Free State), Leolin Zass (Boland).
Coach: Chris October (Western Province), assistant coach: Roean Bezuidenhoudt (Griffons). Manager: David Coert (Boland).
Results
Namibia 33 Zimbabwe 10, E Province Country Limpopo Blue Bulls 36, Griquas 94 Border Country 5, KwaZulu-Natal 77 Border 14, KwaZulu-Natal 77 Border 14, Griffons 34 Boland 27, Leopards 34 Griquas Country 17, E Province 29 Valke 21, Pumas 25 Free State 22, Western Provincae 45 Golden Lions 29.
@vatikaki: I think they’re contracted to SARU, Justin and Tshotsho that is. I personally feel Pat Howard is a centre, he’s got pace and can do the job on the wing, but he’s a centre primarily, I enjoyed him and Kobus van Wyk as the u19 centre combo
@Ploegskaar: Jy ken die situasie maar te goed: ‘n span wat veronderstel is om te verloor (omdat die odds teen hom is), is ‘n gevaarlike span!
WP’s U-21’s need a wake up call fast! Not sure what John Dobson is up to – I was backing him to take over from AC eventually but some of his choices have blown me away.
Joshua Katzen should not have been made captain. They have so many talented loose-forwards. Why not make use of them all? Now you’re in a position where you have a guy who is not CLEARLY the best, and you have to keep him on the field regardless.
Maybe the captaincy could have fallen to a guy like Rayn Smid… or Timo Swiel… or Kobus van Wyk even.
Also don’t understand the choice of Dillyn Leyds on the wing. The guy is a flyhalf through and through, with obvious weaknesses. WP have so many talented outside backs, why waste him there? Surely an out-and-out winger like JP Lewis would have been a better choice, or pushing Patrick Howard onto the wing with Kotze (or Lombard) into the starting line-up. Or Craig Barry into the side…
Would also like to know what the story is with Justin Geduld & Tshotsho Mbovane – assuming that Paul Treu has not released them.
@GimOB @PaarlBok: Julle het mos al klaar die Plaasseuns afgestof op Nuweland, werklik niks te leer of te bereik op die Plaas nie, spaar die manne vir die 3de Augustus
Wil net vir albei julle manne sê dat ek darem regtig die Kaapse Skole Week daar by Gim geniet het en dat die durf van julle sg. 2des en 3des teen Grey PE darem mooi was om te aanskou, daai manne wou tot op die laaste daardie wenrekord beskerm, so bou mens karakter en ‘n sterk groep vir die volgende jaar!
@GimOB:
Ploegskaar is op sy stukke, sien nou eers sy plan van aksie.
@Ploegskaar: Stem saam my mater, ons het alweer die donkies die naweek, wat ‘n perd van ‘n ander kleur is. Die Cape Week het darem die ekstra voorraad goed aangevul.
@Ploegskaar: Dit sal hulle die voorreg ontneem om teen DIE PLAAS te speel. Nooit as te nimmer!
@PaarlBok: Hulle het so mooi gespeel, dat hulle ‘n ruskansie verdien, ten minste tot NA die 27ste Julie, sodat hulle almal mooi uitgerus is vir die interskole
WP jou lekka deng! Sien uit na een moerse interskole oor bietjie meer as twee weke. Gaan die SA Skole spelers mag speel?
WP, Leeus en Pumas kan trots voel op hul vertonings. Persoonlik dink ek die Pumas is die span van die toernooi. Spelers wat tussen 200 en 300 km moet reis na proewe en oefeninge. Klein aantal skole in vergelyking met die ander provinsies. Beperkte PD spelers getalle. Alles maak hul vertoning (wen Sharkes en Vrystaat) merkwaardig.
Die Bulle, Vrystaat en Charkies sal teleurgesteld wees in hul vertonings.
Goeie week vir WP. Teleurstellende week vir KZN, BB en Vrystaat. Ek het baie meer verwag van Vrystaat. Vreemde spel deur BB? Maar hul het spelers wat nog die hoogste sport in rugby gaan bereik. What the hell happened to KZN? The BB bloggers supplied plenty of theories for their bad performance, but KZN? Those scores were disappointing. Well done to the Griffons. Aren’t they the team previously referred to as the Purple People Eaters-Eric Herbert’s men?