Free State may have lost out to Western Province in their endeavours to retain the services of outstanding Grey College and SA Schools fullback EW Viljoen but they compensated for the lost in the best way possible by signing Glenwood and KZN Schools fullback Corné Vermaak.
Vermaak had been in peak form for an extended period. His game-breaking ability proved to be decisive and coupled with some serious BMT, he played a major role in swinging the outcomes of several matches including a win against Paarl Boys High in Glenwood’s favour. In June he picked up an injured in a home match against Monnas. This setback ended any hopes he had of making a legitimate challenge for SA Schools honours, as the limited amount of time after the injury prevented the player from reproducing his best rugby against the Bulls at Craven Week. After that game another injury ruled him out for the remainder of the tournament.
Vermaak won’t have things all his own way in Bloemfontein next season. Free State have put together a very competitive squad. They have snatched up the versatile and talented utility back Stephan Rautenbach of Grey College. Rautenbach currently plays centre for both school and province but the 1.89m tall back feels equally at home on the wing or at fullback. Rautenbach and Vermaak are expected to push each other to new levels of excellence and will no doubt be used together to form a deadly attacking combo.
Other top rated Free State signings include SA Schools props Ox Nche (Louis Botha, Free State) and Conraad van Vuuren (Nelspuit, Pumas). WP Eloff, the mobile Affies and Bulls prop adds depth to the frontrow. There are also two outstanding loosies in Willandré Kotzenberg (HTS Middelburg, Pumas) and Nardus Erasmus (Waterkloof, missed Craven Week through injury) heading to Bloem. Other highly rated backs worth noting are Ruan Potgieter (EG Jansen, Valke), Sechaba Matsoele (Bethlehem Voortrekker, Griffons), Carel Durow (Grey College, SA u18 7’s) and TJ Goddard (Tygerberg).
Other Free State signings include: Andre Swarts (Grey College), Hendri Storm (Outeniqua), Lorenzo Gordon (Oakdale, SWD), Carel Jan Coetzee (Jim Fouche, Free State Academy), Johan Grundlingh (Transvalia) and Casper Fourie (Grey College).
@BOG: Al wat ek wil weet wat gaan die kinders se Bog? Jou altyd gesien as ‘n man met groot liefde vir kinders in die hart Bog. Wat sal die kinder se?
@Tjoppa: Soos my kinders n paar jaar gelede jou sou geantwoord het- “Whatever! ” In VERGELEKE met die VORIGE twee jaar, is daar nie hoe verwagtinge nie, maw , potensieel kan daar steeds +- 10 groot rugby speel en nog 2 of 3 wie NIE Eerstes gespeel het nie.
@BOG: Ek haal aan “@Tjoppa: Jou geheue het jou weer verlaat. Di n O19 span hierdie en selfs twee vd vier het, sover ek weet, nie eerste span gespeel nie. Dit was nie verwag dat verlede jaar se span n groot opbrengs sal lewer nie.” So if you do not expect a harvest some may call it a vrot patch other a misoes and some even a fcuk up. Omly the words differ Boggie the meaning stay the same. I am scared how you would refer to the current crop. I mean they are @4. Poor kids scarred for life. Even though it is Grey College Bog the house rules still apply, they are just kids.
@Tjoppa: Dont twist my words. I did not say a “vrot patch”. That socalled “vrot patch” still ended 3rd in SA and would have pleased most schools. It was just not on the the same level as the previous two years- based on results. It does not mean that several of those players wont reach the highest level and as you know Grey has produced several Springboks, who did not play first team- Piet Van Zyl being the latest
@Woltrui: Hahahaha! Mighty Bullies it is
@Playa: Blue bullies? It is the Migjty Bulls dear sir! 8)
@Klofie Pa:
Kotzenberg 6 Pumas
janse v vuuren prop Lions
nardus erasmus 8 Bulls (not kloof)
@Tjoppa: A lot of the Grey boys signed for other unions – especially last year’s squad with a number of them moving to The Sharks and SU. On the other hand the u.21 FS-squad is full of Grey boys.
@BOG: But was he not from the vrot patch you mentioned before. Not many Grey manne in that u/19 FS squad. What do you call this years harvest.
@Tjoppa: No, there is so much talent at Grey, and the demand for their players so great, that they cannot meet that demand. Pieter Jordaan went to WP, but returned before the season started, supposedly because he was not going to make the team. The U19 result confirms the WP error in judgement- not surprisingly.
@Klofie Pa: They realised Grey is not enough need some real talent.
Some more names going to the Cheetas
Kotzenberg 6 pumas
janse v vuuren prop lions
nardus erasmus 8 Kloof
Busy building up a strong side for next year the Cheaters are!!’
Very glad about Corne Vermaak! His talent is recognised–by another union !!
The Cheetah playing pattern will suit his style. A new versatile Cheetah coming up!
PS. Proves SE influence at the Sharks as well as CW is actually limited with regard to selections/ choices exercised…..contrary to what some belief.
@Grasshopper: Would have been nice, but they nowadays are looking towards The Sharks, Blue Bulls and WP to further their careers. Nothing wrong with that, but would have been nice if the Cheetahs could hang on to them.
@Djou: yep, good to see, although I’m sure you also like to hold onto the best Grey Bloem talent too…
@Grasshopper; Hope you noticed all the Glenwood players in the Cheetahs u.19 team – against all odds drew 18-all against WP on Saturday.
Not sure what Dean Moolman is doing in terms of playing rugby but he is doing an excellent job coaching at Glenwood. It is great fun watching him coach the boys.
@Muzi: Good to hear re Ferdi, Carel and Shaun. I wonder where Jacques and Dean will end up? Hopefully at a smaller Union getting game time…
Nicely done Vrystaat, good to go, and great buy.
I am very happy to see some talent heading elsewhere besides the Blue Bullies.This means youngsters can actually play rugby and get some game time instead of just showing up on the union’s payroll, for holding tackle bags.
Now if only more youngsters could move for the game instead of a huge pay cheque.The money will come, with more if you’re playing and are seen.
@Grasshopper:
Jacques Taylor and Dean Moolman asked to be released from their Bulls contracts……Carel Swart is playing for the Bulls under 19’s in a loose trio with Corne Cooper and Chris Massyn.
Shaun Adendorff and Ferdi Horn are is also getting game time with the Bulls under 21’s.
@BOG: Too true! Only Shaun Adendorff from Glenwood has kind of made it at the Bulls. Not sure what happened to Jacques Taylor, Ferdie Horn, Carel Swart, Dean Moolman etc…..should have stayed at the Sharks probably…
Another good player from Waterkloof, Reinach Venter is on his way to the Cheetahs next year. He played hooker for the Bulls Academy week and was called up to the Cravenweek as well. What a frontrow with Ox , Reinach and the beertjie from Nellies. Hope they will stay there and play well.
Corne is very exited at the prostect of playing for the Cheetahs next year. although it must be said that he was very disappointed not being contacted by the Sharks but 2nd team players at Glenwood already has contracts. as it may be, this is probably the best thing that could have happened to him. Go Cheetahs!!
@Grasshopper: Its not a question of not making it at the Bulls. Its a question if they can play there. The Bulls are like the airlines in Africa- they book 4 pax on one seat
Wow, Free State are building a nice team there. Was highly impressed by Rautenbach at Kearsney, he and Vermaak will make a very attacking backline, what the Cheetah’s are known for. Glenwood boys seem to be heading there now after a few have not made it at the Bulls…
@Muzi: More and more young players are starting to realize that it is in their medium and long-term interests to go there. They will get game time, develop as players and if they have talent, advance their careers. They may just not be able to drink JW Black Label in the first few years, but that too, would be in their interest.
Andre Tredoux take a bow sir…..you’re doing such a fantastic job at the Cheetahs rugby union with a limited budget very impressed.