Following their mesmerising 48-24 performance against a seemingly shell-shocked Free State, the KwaZulu-Natal under-18 schools team now has to turn their attentions the Lions. A much stronger pack of forwards and a flyhalf who prefers to seek out field position awaits the KZN boys.
KZN proved to be the best performing team of Day 1. Yes some might argue that Free State were very poor defensively at times, missing regulation tackles and failing to adhere to basics of defensive patterns but hats off to the KZN team. On attack KZN were simply too good for their opponents. It was combination the of technical skill, strength, speed and most importantly team work that paved the way for success.
Including Bruce Arnott’s two outstanding TMO approved finishes in the right corner, all the beauty of KZN’s seven tries were in the build-up work. Here the individual skills of players coupled with their understanding of where the support players were paved the way to try-line glory.
Passing was of the highest standard. Offloading in the tackles was exceptional. Handling could not have been better. Support players running into space was too good. When ball went to ground, it was the speed at which it was recycled that resulted in tries for Justin Moberly and Daniel du Preez early in the game, indicating that there was even an appreciation of the concept of quickball.
Josh Moon stood out in the highlights package for two things. An excellent pick up and run from the base of a retreating scrum. The speed at which he collected the ball and created separation from a backfoot position was very good. He followed this up with a spin in out of a tackle a few minutes later. Both plays were part of tries and emphased a the high levels of technique on display. Justin Moberly made valuable ground gaining drives on the immediate fringes of rucks where traffic is always thickest. What may not be evident in the live action is the important leadership role that Moberly fulfils. He is a strong captain, something that a winning team needs. Daniel du Preez was terrific. His hands, his strength and vision make him a wonderful player to watch. His twin brother JL wasn’t far behind and proved very hard to bring to ground. Msizi Zondi’s willingness to carry the ball up and carry strongly impressed. There were also little things that Carel Swart, Vuyo Khatide and Mvelo Khumalo did that made a difference.
In the backs Cameron Wright read the game well and was almost faultless. His biggest contribution was a defender though, where he but untold pressure on his opposite number. Rob Anderson had a good day from the kicking tee and slotted some difficult kicks. He also did a fine of setting the line in motion. Both Legend Marwana and Sandile Kubeka weighed in with accurate pop passes and Marwana can give himself a pat on the back for his tackling display. Arnott as mentioned above had two superb finishes. With much work to do to get over the line, there just seemed to be a mature calmness about the youngster, almost like he knew that it was his destiny to score both tries. Try-scorer Corne Vermaak did not get many chances but showed that he is a strong runner and when he intercepted a Free State pass while facing his own try-line, his initial movement to step and evade a tackle after he’d swang around spoke volumes about his talent.
However the star of the show and the player of the day was undoubtedly the KZN fullback Jesse Kriel. He played a match not to be forgotten. Everything he did looked like it was right out of the latest edition of the modern rugby textbook. His ability join the line at pace, to beat defenders by going through them or around them, to set up opportunities for teammates, to make accurate offloads, to pluck high-balls out the sky under pressure, to make sound touch-finders and to finish were all top drawer stuff. Kriel himself scored two tries.
During the second half Free State got a few tries of their own but with so much still to play for in the form of two difficult games ahead, one cannot blame the KZN team from easing off on the relentless opening pace they had set. If there was one major blemish on the day though, it wasn’t their conceding of second half tries but rather the countless number of penalties KZN gave away particularly at the breakdowns. Scrumming also caused a few concerns but there weren’t any tightheads or turnovers conceded in this department.
The team has to work doubly hard on their disciple at the rucks and also on their setpieces during training today, as these will be areas that their Gauteng opponents target on Wednesday.
Fixtures for Wednesday, 11 July 2012:
09.30 : Griquas vs Namibia
11.00 : Valke vs Leopards
12.30 : Free State vs Border
14.00 : Eastern Province vs Boland
15.30 : KwaZulu Natal vs LionsFixtures for Thursday, 12 July 2012:
09.30 : Griquas Country Districts vs Border Country Districts
11.00 : Limpopo vs Zimbabwe
12.30 : Eastern Province Country Districts vs Griffons
14.00 : Western Province vs South Western Districts
15.30 : Blue Bulls vs Pumas
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I don’t have confirmation, so would rather not say. Isn’t a Tier 1.
@grasshopper
Yah he’s still at DHS. He is the coach of the waterpolo A teams. Alongside Alan Burt.
@NW Knight
It might not be such a bad thing mate, wasn’t a fan of hiss type of rugby anyways! Which pvt school is he going to?
@Horsefly #1: Heard Gerricke is leaving and going to a private school – came from 2 fairly reliable sources.
Let’s hope it’s not my old mate ‘Horse’, Andrew Stewart. Does anyone know if he still teaches at DHS?
@NW Knight
Cmon now! Just tell us mate! There’s obviously something going on there!
@Beet – All I can say is that a new coach may have different ideas. It will not be a bad thing for the Flies IMHO.
@NW_Knight: Cmon NWK. Spill at least one bean
@Horsefly
@Beet, that is great if Sean does stay and focus on the Glenwood side. He may have some unfinished business and want to prove that 2012 was just a blip.
@greenhopper
Yah mate but also remember that only 4 of your players are coming back so Rupert might be askedd along with the others to act in a leadership role which might be why they choose him
@grasshopper
Yah in order to comment on something you have to know it just that little bit :). I just checked andd Bredells record is 10, 67s which is pretty close and he will definitely set a new school record
@NW Knight
I don’t know, think so. Why do you ask? Have you heardd something???
@Horsefly No 1: Is your coaching team staying the same next year?
@Grasshopper: I’m quite sure Sean will be there, He has even reduced his Sharks junior rugby commitments to focus more on prepping the team for 2013.
@Greenhopper, you are not a fan of the ginger ninja are you? Maybe he is a natural leader so will be picked for that reason. To be honest I have not seen him play live so cannot comment. He did make KZN Academy and does have a full years experience at 1st team level so that experience will be needed with such a young team. Who knows if Sean will be there next year after this years shenanigans.
@Horsie, you seem to know more about Glenwood rugby than us Glenwood supporters. Good to know your enemies well
I was not aware of how quick Bredell was, that is lightning quick! The school open 100m record is I think still held by Trevor Baronet at 10.61 on grass. If he gets quicker that will be under pressure for sure…..
@HORSEFLY NO.1: This is what the problem is , even if the u16 coming through are better , why make place for Kay when he isn’t the best , and only has the fact that he was in the team this year , drop him, rather than sacrifice the necessity to get ball, he isnt fast enough at Flank , yes he is fairly big , but it means nothing if you aren’t getting the ball, and who is to say he is or any better scrumager or work rate is better than the smaller guys in the set pieces, pick the best side, and don’t go and purchase players
@Grasshopper: Kay was far to slow, hampered good fetching and securing the ball, even tackling the opponents behind the gain line with the ball, too many times he was beaten on the outside, Jaques and Vusi where smaller but because of the ideology of BIG IS BETTER, they lost out , and the results of the season show it , when these guys where on one could see the difference , visibly ,
@Grasshopper: personally , i dont think Sean can coach that style of rugby , and too much inbreeding from the Sharks set up, one just has to look at how MHS took the approach you speak about and look at their results , dont need big bashing forwards to win games and get to the Top, All Blacks a very good example of that
@greenhopper
yah it could work with Morne Joubert at 13 there. what that backline will have is loads of pace!! the u16 fullback Bredell recently broke the u16 100m record running at about 10,6s !! the wings are even faster!! i predict the forward pack will be mostly matric and the backline grade 11.
@grasshopper
thing is that Kevin du Randt is a quaity lock and might just force Rupert into flank. and also who would then play flank if he played lock as u16 loosies van Niekerk, Coetzee and Beneke are all built but lack speed.
@Horsie, from tons of feedback it seems Rupert was a little slow on the flank this year, so either he finds the extra pace or goes back to lock. He is a big lad so maybe his bulk will help in the 2nd row. He and Mazibuko could become a powerful lock combination. They may lack the lineout skills but if you have jumpers in the back row they can cover that.
@Greenhopper, a lighter pack may be a blessing in disguise. It would mean the coaches might have to change the crash and bash approach and rather make the ball do the work and get it through the hands quickly. A running 15 man game with fitness as a priority. It’s definitely different to the usual 10 man rugby Glenwood plays. We just need to ensure we have a solid front row even if it’s a little short. Youthful exuberance will be a breath of fresh air and they will make mistakes and lose a few, but they could surprise a few too. Get the fixtures right with a slow build up and not too many games and 2013 could be a good one. Anything will be better than the controversies and problems of this year. A clean sheet hopefully
@HORSEFLY NO.1: if you are referring to the New Colored guy at 10 , yes that him, i believe he will stay at 10, or that’s where i would put him, Mcune at 12 , and I see Gerrad at 9 , with the present u16 scrummy playing back up, Hippo, is a quality player , really good,
pack might be short of bulk, i think many of the u16 from last year are in the lower open sides, GW had a very decent open division this year with lots of depth, but there is some quality down there
@grasshopper
Rupert would probably be retained at 7 while Kevin would probably be at 4, also there is. Jayson Gouws who plays 5. Tall boy that
@Greenhopper, thanks for the extra info. Do you agree with the forwards? Please throw in names I have forgotten or got wrong.
@greenhopper
Me thinks the curent. GW U16 backline will play 1stXV for you guys next year. Don’t see any better bbacks at GW. As to the new centre you talk about is. That. Curtis Jonas???
@Grasshopper: 6) W. Hippolite was injured early in the season and had his knee done, K Gerrard was 3rd Team Scrum half, then they moved him up to 2nd team flyhalf, a real pity as he is a good scrummy and needs time to work at his position , 10) M. Mcume had him as centre for first and then in 2nds , really messing him around, very one dimensional in his play and a lot like makasi , probably a better center, the new under 16 center will fit well into the 10 position. I don’t think that Kay as Captain would be a option, never thought he should have played 1st team this year nor any of the academy sides , there where way better players at GW and other schools
@grassy
There may be new bboys coming in but hey ill try my best:
1) Richard Thomas
2) Can’t remembber the kids name!!
3) Kyle philaretou
4) Dayne Mare
5)Werner Kotze
6) Kurt Webster
7)Emmanual NGobese
8) Pablo Rees/ Aza Tshutsha
9) Ryan Killian
10) Leroux van Zyl
11) Sandile Biyela
12) Blessing Buthelezi
13) Ntlantla Ngobese
14) ??
15) Mabutana Peter
Darryn Matthysen
Kwanda Ngidi
Kurt Keough
The squad is small though as I said before! Some. U16s may make an early step up to the team and either Leroux or Dayne will be captain IMHO but I think Leroux will be given that role! The backline is a fire one though and that centre pairing is a good one. Fullback reminds me of Mbembe! Good skills on his feet! Webster will have to lead from the front as a Matric next year
@grasshopper
Have to say that its difficult but ill try my best. That glenwood squad does look good but also young though! I’m sure they will love the title of UNDERDOGS next year and will relish every game!!
In terms of us I see a much better year than this one! I think they will surpris some. The only problem with this years u16s was size though which we aall know is kinda vital against the big boys or you struggle!
NW – I have long been a fan of Northwood, in fact I live within a 7-iron of the school up the hill, and my wife was on staff there for 7 years. My son was going to go to Northwood until he chose College because our family has been there since 1910.
I seriously believe that Northwood is a short line-out from challenging all the tier-1 schools consistently. Their efforts to attract “in area” kids over the last 3 years is going to pay off in short order. Swys (sp) – (no disrespect to Barry, Simon and Brian) could be just what they need to step up. I like what is happening there and will be as happy as hell when that happens.
I would wonder why everyone believes that the schools that propped up the bottom 5 of the tier 1 schools are just going to be content and do nothing (other than provide canon fodder)! Just saying
@Grasshopper – don’t underestimate what a complete overhaul might do. I sense discontent being the main culprit behind Glenwoods “downfall” this year. Clean that out and you might be surprised. Hope not :-))) .. but I reckon you can be optimistic.
@Horsie, what about your DHS side for 2013?
@Horsie, Glenwood won’t be top in KZN more likely 3rd or 4th, it’s going to be Westville and Kearsney’s year based on their teams on paper. But as we found out this year, it does not matter what your team looks like on paper even if it has 8 provincial players and 2 SA players. It’s about how the team gels and plays together, Michaelhouse showed us that. Glenwood’s season results-wise was not catostophic but not what was expected, we can obviously end the season well with the games remaining but I’m not expecting away wins against Affies and College. Grey Bloem at home will be close but again probably a close loss. 2013 will be a ‘rebuilding’ year for Glenwood with only Rupert Kay, Muzewandile Mazibuko, Corne Vermaak and Sphamandla Ngcobo from the 1st team squad returning. I think Rupert was being groomed this year for Captain in 2013. I don’t know enough about the 2nd and 3rd team grade 11 players so can’t really guess an accurate side, maybe some fellow Glenwood bloggers could help out, Greenhopper?
1) T. Zondi
2) A Mthembu
3) T. Mgwaba
4) Muzewandile Mazibuko
5) Rupert Kay
6) W. Hippolite
7) Kevin Du Randt
8] S. Van der Heever
9) Kwazi Khanyile
10) M. Mcume
11) Sphamandla Ngcobo
12) K Ntshangase
13) Ruben Fouche
14) Corne Vermaak
15) Chris Bredell
N Ntanzi
K Gerrard
Khutso Thobejane
Morne Joubert
Curtis Jonas
Percy Mngadi
I’m not sure if half these guys still play or are at the school still.
@gungets
It also doesn’t help that the scouts can’t see talent and aren’t as active as they should be.
@grasshopper
OK! Could you make a possible Glenwood squad for 2013 just like you did for this year? It’ll give us something else to talk about and ponder on what next year will be like, IMO I think Glenwood will be fighting for no.1 again but might just not get there
True about kids going to other provinces to study. My daughter has applied at Pretoria (Onderstepoort), Rhodes and Stellenbosch. KZN does not offer the courses she is looking at. In her grade only 1 girl (out of 40) is staying local. Guys, same thing, UCT, Stel, Rhodes.
But for rugby, we should be able to keep them here. We buy in players year after year, some local guys staying on, but when okes like .. eeeisch .. rather leave it. Bad enough knowing we had a shot at talent and it is gone simply because nobody got their #rse into gear.
@Horsie, whatever mate I thought you would be more objective but obviously not. I agree form plays a part but form is temporary class is permanent and Swart has class. His form will return with the right enviroment, structures, confidence, being injury free etc. I’ll leave it there now as I have made my point…
@greenhopper
Who is the Hilton no.10 whom everyone spoke about during the. Season?? Yes we struggled in those positions and. I guess you couldn’t expect otherwise. At CW.
@grasshopper
Everyone looked good on Monday mate! But even the I thought he was average! And yes I hope he does make it but unless he shows his early season form he won’t at the Blue Bulls!! Many good flanks. There mate. Thing is that one shouldn’t be chosen for his reputation but rather his current form.
@Horsie, showing your true coluors again. The incumbent should always be given there chance to prove themselves and Carel did that on Monday. It was not just him who underperformed on Wednesday, again this came about because the front row was getting slaughtered. Ever tried to thrive as a ball carrying flank when your tight 5 are getting bashed? It’s pretty difficult (trust me I know), hence why a balanced loose forward trio has a fetcher too. KZN lacked a fetcher and Swart ended up tackling all day. You compare him to Spies, that is very unfair considering he is just starting out in his career. I hope he proves you wrong. I would rather have him in my team than not.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: i don’t think he was overrated, he was the best we had in the province, we are suggesting that hype was made about him and he was selected on that , I don’t think so , hype has shown it sometimes doesn’t deliver ,
what other viable choice do you think the selectors could have made? I don’t think the selectors looked at strategic position from the start of the season, Hooker, Lock and Fly Half , that showed signed of weakness all year , I said it when the team was selected , our front row was to weak, hence this is where the poor performance of the team against the Lions started , Scrums, Line outs , loosies not having the addition space and time to perform, selection cant be done just on the day , much has been said here about selectors , roaming looking , well high time they do this
@Gungets Tuft:i agree, look who is sitting on the side line , none other than that old fart Giles, i haven’t seen him at a school game in 6 years , change and that closest clock room back room needs to be spring cleaned
Grasshopper; I wouldnt discount the state of Varsities too much. UNISA is fine but cant compare with genuine student life on campus etc. You talk about girls. They are also now heading to these Varsities instead of staying in Durban. We all know how important they are when making decisions on your future.
@Grasshopper:the basics , i have been harping on my hobby horse about this for a long time, , basics, this is what GW lost this year and what College get right year after year
@All Black: therefor imagine how strong our teams could be if they took the blinkers off and looks outside a bit , if these few show what is out there, dont for one moment think they are exceptions they arent
@boxkick: as for the number 9 , of the 2nds, i really don’t know why the picked him there it defies all logic , they have the number 10 and 9 from last year’s u16 a side , and remembering this side played and beat Kearsney in u14 and u15 and just lost to u16 last year , playing Center and 10. Very confusing, he has never played 10 and should imagine he will revert to 9 next year , but again to much mixing and matching to form coherent and experienced partnerships
@boxkick:i have always noted Warren as being above average, i never noted that he selected himself in certain leadership, I think pushed by parent etc, I don’t have a dig at him, per say, I question how the selection has gone, more disruptions in the GW backline then the last 4 years combined, question have been raised here about the underperforming GW pack as well, why , I believe because of the “imports” have contributed to the instability and underperformance, this combined with Sean every evolving greater involvement into the other KZN Rugby Structures ,
but as was said , we will see what happens after school, I have pinned my colors on the blog regarding this and the next year we will debate this issue as we see the progression of boys coming to our province in Matric.
@grasshopper
What do all those achivements have in common? Their all from last year!! I know how. Good he was last year but surely one shouldn’t be selected because of that!! The selectors must have been hoping. He plays like how he did last year but their faith in him unfortunately hasn’t paid off mate! He’s more like a Pierre Spies now, big athletic loosie who is a shadow of his former self!!
@greenhopper
You can’t use the fact that he used to play scrummie as an excuse!!! If he’s gonna pllay like that then choose someone else. I think that all bboxkick is trying to say is that Anderson was overrated to an extent which is true
@Gungets. it’s so bad that kids are choosing to live in Pretoria over Durban! Jeez, things must have changed since my day, as all we wanted to do was go to the beach and check out the chicks! Unless, all the hotties are heading north too. No seriously. who would choose malls over beaches and mountains? Just shows the offers must be lucrative and the situation dire here.
@Boxkick – I believe the comments about ego and the prefect issue were aimed at Tom when he was made captain, nobody else. Stand corrected if I am wrong.
@Beet – nail on the head there boet. Sharks with the heads firmly up their fundamental orifices. Staggering amount of arrogance there and it is consting the union. Not just the players that we lose, but the losers we get!!. And then the lack of sponsor buy-in becuase of the second-hand way they get treated by the Sharks management. I see comments aimed at the coaching staff there but their hands are tied by the boardroom (backroom???) decisions that get made. Professional se moer. That is why at least 3 of our talented kids are heading North in January.
@Beet, totally agree with you! The KZN system is pretty ‘kak’! I mean Glenwood has become a feeder school to the Bulls, Shaun Adendorff, Ferdi Horn, Jacques Taylor and Dean Moolman more recently. I know Carel is also going there next year. It seems College is also becoming a feeder school with the Kriels and Smith heading up that way too. I will not be surprised if even more are announced soon. Some people put it down to the quality of Universities, not sure how accurate that is as kids can always do UNISA from home etc. I know UNISA does not cover all the courses but does a fair few. Why can’ t the Sharks get retired Boks and provincial players to help with the scouting and coaching at a provincial level? Imagine Ian Mc, Wynaand Claasen, John Allan, Andre Joubert, and guys of that calibre watching schoolboy games and helping with selection. I know if I was a schoolkid and knew one of those greats was watching and had an influence on selections I would play even better. My favourite coach at school was not the young buck who thought he knew everything but Hortop, the old wise man who had been in rugby for over 40 years and seen it all. KZN lacks legends like Skonk and Toppy who were al about the traditions, playing hard and clean. No frills stuff and getting the basics right. That is why College are the greatest rugby school in KZN, they do the basics brilliantly…again just my opinion….
Ha ha. Love your comments Beet. I refer back to a conversation with a Sharks recruiter re Patrick Howard a few years ago. He asked who Patrick Howard was. Well he is now SA U20 and playing for WP. Apparently they believe that if a player has not been found by 18 they are not good enough. Michalak keeps on coming back at 35. Coetzee didnt even make his zonal team and Jacques Potgieter was only good enough to be a club player.
SWD drilled Limpopo on the 1st day and Zimbabwe had an easy win against BCD. This all points to SWD having a side to be reckoned with. They apparently beat WP in a pre CW match. Dont be surprised if they dont sneak into the final game if they have a big win today, also against WP.
@Grasshopper: Thanks Hopper but I’m much more of a fan than a expert. Your idea of selectors going to games is a good one. If you added the word “neutral” before selectors even better. In these roles we need proper experienced coaches who are not employed by schools. They must have an eye for talent, be prepared to travel to find it and have a good idea from day 1 what they are looking for in terms of players needed in 22-man squads in order to be successful at tournaments like Craven Week. There are lots of rugbymen out there who have the creditials and could do the province a lot of good. Sadly the Sharks don’t employ any such people.
I would go so far as to say that if you wanted an objective opinion about KZN players before trials, rather speak to the 2 Bulls scouts than anyone at the Sharks because guaranteed the Bulls guys would have been watching the talented kids for almost 2 years on average and know them by name, whereas the Sharks personnel wouldn’t have a clue who the standout players are.
The guys that do the good work in our system are the high school coaches not the Sharks okes. However as we all know the high school coaches have a primary responsibility towards their own schools and therefore don’t have the free time on Saturdays to be selectors.
Limpopo 68 Zimbabwe 21.
@greenhopper – not sure where you get the idea that I liked Warren – horsie seem to though – and you show your colours every time you get a chance to have a dig at the boy…you even, not so long ago on another blog, went as far as questioning the prefect issue etc and also climbed into his caracter saying he has an ego etc…. just said I thought so much was made of anderson’s creative abilities and if the truth be told, he could have stayed in the change room both games…he did less than naas botha did in his days…so who’s spot did the 2nd team 10 take if he is actually a 9 or is he just not good enough to make the 9 spot his own?….by the way, Carel has had, and many people have said and seen as much, no form whatsoever this year and is not a patch against the Carel that played last year, – so whats he doing at CW…
Star: FS game everyone looked good.
Any results from today?
Surely given the background for Sikhosana in terms of experience it was a poor selection call to include him (although he will be all the better for the experience). The rule that each player must play a full game is also ridiculous. Hardman was battling and should have been pulled and yet it seems KZN management hands were tied (as in the case of Sikhosana)
With regard to Carel Swart he has obviously the attitude and physical attributes. He has however lost his way when the structures are not in place for him to exploit the opportunities. Hence his poor showing with an inconsistent GW pack and in the game against the Lions. In the FS game their was pace off the back of the scrum and space was created for him to perform
@All Black, agreed that the coaches should be professional hence Sean Erasmus’s involvement. He is one of the best up and coming young coaches in the province. I don’t like that he is the Glenwood, KZN Schools, College Rovers and Sharks Under 19 coach all at once. Surely that is too many jobs to do and could mean he will make personal selections which some may see as a bias towards Glenwood. Ideally the coaches should have no affliation with any local school, so maybe come in from another province. There should be at least 4 or 5 selectors roaming the weekend games thoughout the season so that they can make a judgement on a few performances rather than a very brief showing in a trials game or 2. The issues comes in that who is going to pay them to do this, all the travel costs etc. I mean look at Beet, he travels far and wide to watch many games during the season and probably far better equipped to make judgements on players because he has watched them all in different situations. Maybe Beet should be a selector or at least a selector advisor, although you will suddenly see more Kearsney boys in the side
The selectors should at least see the top 6 sides play 2 games each before the trials. The trials should be used to view the talent from smaller schools and see how they fair against the tier 1 boys. Just my opinions on this…
@All Black: Perhaps Port Shepstone represents an opportunity for someone to initiate a Tier 1 like rugby programme. Suid-Natal appear to be the south coast force at the moment.
Port Shepstone is apparently the biggest school in KZN. Doesnt make them a top rugby school but maybe there is more talent that can be exposed. Warren Britz was from there, was he not?
Grasshopper: Not at all. what gets me is the trend of selection related to schools etc. De Beer can only be on the bench for Academy side? In the long run these selections mean nothing except that certain players have been seen to be out of their depth live on tv. It all comes down to what happens after school. I do believe, as a rugby person, that the selection process has to change and there has to be more influence from professional coaches with no pressures from the outside. Similar scenario with academies etc. If all the selectors are linked to an academy, they will show preference to what they know. If you had external selectors liaising with involved coaches then I believe any team will be selected far more accurately.
@beet: agreed , it has been spoken about before, reason why many Districts boys dont make the top two sides
While watching the game yesterday it dawned on me just how much we were asking of our loosehead prop Patrick Sikhosana. Here’s a youngster of 93kg taking on a player weighing 110kg. Add to this, over his high school career he’s probably never had the benefit of playing against provincial representative quality opposition as a result of playing for Port Shepstone all along. And without dissing Port Shepstone, I doubt they can compete with the Tier 1 teams in terms of facilities and coaches. It was a big ask.
@All Black, I agree with you but it seems from your tone that you may have been affected personally with the selections, maybe your kid or a kid you know was not picked. Maybe Reegan? Again these boys don’t pick themselves and Carel could not be left out considering his performances from last year. There were a number of boys who could count themselves unlucky to make the Craven Week squad, Mxoli, Pina, Nqawe, De Beer, R Smith, Van Zyl and the list goes on. What would be interesting would be if you could list the team you would have picked of those boys who were not chosen. In all honesty, I think Ngxabi and Van Aardt were lucky to make the Craven Week squad and were probably only Academy standard. Also, I think our front row could have been much stronger and given us the front ball we needed to release the backs. Imagine if we had Daniel Kriel in the mix too…
Grasshopper: A good big guy is always going to get further than a good small guy. Lets not get into the reasons why MHS did well this year as it cost players like De Beer a spot in the CW side. My point is that to compete up front, especially in line outs, a little extra height helps. KZN were lulled into thinking all was good at line out and scrum time due to the limited opposition given by FS. Even Border gave them a hard time up front and their strength is their back line. If I must be brutally honest, our backs yesterday were quicker, better and more dangerous than a very slow Lions back line. If the forwards had been able to give them even 10% more ball than they did we could/should have won.
I am not going to get into individuals and how they fared but perhaps you are showing too much loyalty to certain players. Not a bad thing but unfortunately these boys are now playing in front of a TV audience and are no longer protected from negative comments. The reverse happens when they play well so time to man up take it on the chin.
@boxkick: the reason for the hapless fly half you refer to at GW is because he is actually a Scrum half, was u16 a from last year , lol, but on a serious note , BOXY , i see you think Warren is good, but look and ask supporters etc , he isn’t at this level, no doubting he has talent , maybe a bit more then the average school player , but not in the CW side , look how he has performed against all those selected from all the KZN school and look how he played against them during the season
as to Carel, guys this boy is loaded with talent , have you ever thought for one moment that the Dynamics in the team and the performance is part of the low esteem and contributing to the performances , I think you need to look there and not so much as at the players
@HORSEFLY NO.1: yes agreed , we will see, remember , he certainly took the win away from GW against College in the last 15 seconds?
@Gungets Tuft:agreed they don’t pick themselves and all boys play to the best of their abilities, agreed, all boys try
@BoishaaiPa: Beet, you have no idea the level of frustration we had to endure!…We could see that coming since last year already!..
@All Black: i don’t think size is the ultimate goal in rugby , i have seen smaller sides do well, MHS is an example, look at them beating most KZN sides, what you do need is combinations , you are so right , also hookers in kzn this and last year in lines outs have been very poor
@Horsie, I see you have learnt yet to not slate players openly on blogs, to use the term you did does not help the confidence of a lid who needs it. He is reading these blogs as they all do. Maybe it’s because he is a Glenwood player, who knows. Carel is one of the best athletes in KZN, representing KZN and SA Games in javelin. He has immense speed and power, which unfortunately he has not used to his full potential this season. One thinks he might have been carrying an injury all season. He made the SA Schools 7’s squad and claimed a silver medal in the Isle of Man tournmanent. So he has the pedigree and talent, he just needs to get his confidence back and maybe start afresh next year at the Bulls. In my honest opinion and I have seen him play in a few games, he is better than Shaun Adendorff and could become a very good provincial player maybe more in the future. Please give the kid a bit of respect…
@grasshopper
Carel was sh*t in the 2nd game!! He hasn’t been the same this year and I think everyone (specially you!) Has been waiting for him to play the rugby he did last year but it hasn’t happened!
Nobody seemed to know who was going to jump there and the skew throws didn’t help either!
Leadership was needed and it wasn’t there,not Jesses fault though as he did all he could from the back
@greenhopper
The College game. Was a tough one though and Warren was good! Also, with 3 tough games coming up I guess he will answer our questions himself with his performances! The Grey game will be live on TV and The College one might be so we will see!!!!!!
@beet
Yah but leroux was good in the 2nd half of the season for me. Kearsney game turned his season around for the better. Just sad that he didn’t have the comfort of a dominating pack!!!! Definitely a craven week hopeful for next year!!
Yes Anderson did not have a great game but can anyone tell me what Van Aardt did. He is a retreaded lock and what is needed is pace and ground ball skills at the back of the scrum which is going back. That is the only way to change the point of attack and bring the other lose forwards into the game. You have to admit that Jean Luc was not his usual destructive self and I did not hear Swarts name mentioned. The differential against FS was a dynamic LF trio and Kriel. The problem withn the lineouts was predominately skew throw ins and so it did not matter what jumpers KZN had.
Grasshopper: Carel Swart looked like a player who didnt quite know what position he was supposed to be playing. If he had also jumped in line outs he would have played 4 positions this year. 6, 7,8 and 4. Thats not going to give any player any confidence.
@Gungets, may a remind you that Carel Swart played lock at Grant Khomo and is just as goos as Reegan in the lineouts, he should have been used as the main jumper. Now, I’m not saying Reegan should not have been picked, just saying they did have a lineout specialist but did not use him enough. Reegan was very unlucky but will get his chance at the Bulls nest year.
@Greenhopper – I never criticise the players individually. They do not pick themselves, nor do they go out to play badly. Every player has an off day, Anderson’s was yesterday with the boot and the wind yesterday was a bitch. Will Anderson be dwelling on it – I suspect so but I hope not, too young to be carrying that much responsibility all on his own.
On the line-outs, I said it before that leaving out Reegan Smith was an eye-opener and they felt it yesterday. Reegan regularly stole opposition ball this year, even Kearsney, is no slouch around the field. At College he does not have top quality locks to assist, at CW he would have been outstanding. His leadership at #8 would have been better than Jesse at #15 – which I feel is too far from the action, especially when you are being thumped up front. KZN needed to channel the ball at the speed of light before they got hoisted but that did not happen.
Remember that the wind would have disrupted the throw-ins yesterday as well, hence the number of Free’s for skew line-outs. Whe you dominate the jumps like the Lions did the wind is less of an issue.
With regard to fly half next year there are many options. Koekemoer at College and te kid from Richards Bay. Forget his name. I also see Marcel Coetzee moving to 10 some time in his career. His kicking skills are top drawer and he has pace off the mark.
@horsefly – even the helpless 2nd team flyhalf from Glenwood would have done better than Anderson…LOL
Gentlemen I refer back to comments made when the CW selections were made. I was shocked that De Beer was left out when he had obviously outplayed the other hookers. I can only assume that the influence of certain selector made the difference between MHS and Hilton boy. We also commented on no genuine line out specialists in the team. As soon as the Lions competed in the line outs the pressure got to everyone. You cannot go to CW without line out specialists. We could not even win the 3 and 4 man line outs. The Lions had the KES hooker and jumper combining well although we never even attempted to compete. Who is strong enough to lift the Du Preez twins? We took too long to get ball out of the scrums and hence had no source of possession. Everyone was jumping up and down after the FS game but they were a team of midgets. Battled to beat a second rate Border team. Lets face facts, KZN are going to be lucky to play in the last 3 games at CW based on the performance of other teams. SWD, EP, WP, Lions, Bulls are all showing better form against good opposition. The Academy side got thumped at their week. I would like to choose a team from the players who never made it and see how they do against these teams. Sorry to be negative.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: yes he is in Matric, he was one of the three new players this year
@HORSEFLY NO.1: no , as the season went on so the games got far easier, Pinetown and DHS weren’t strong games, look a the really harder games earlier in the season, when he was really tested, GW season has got easier towards the end of the 2nd term , it term of Goal Kicking , it’s about the only area he has improved over the season,
@Gungets Tuft: agreed Anderson like Tedder , both have the full array of skills, they are steady and consistent , for me this is more important then the “flash” or style and you do nothing. Both of these players , have ablity in all departments, Tedder in the last 5 against GW , kept delivering the ball, mixing it up and passing was spot on, Warren cant od this, Anderson showed , he can kick, we just have to see this against the FS side, defensively I admit I was worried about Tedder , but he did well, Anderson also in the game si have seen , has tackled well gets into position well,
But to blame him for a bad game against a pack not giving him good ball?? That’s not his fault, comment was made that Warren should have been trialed behind a good and dominate pack, well he has been behind one all season, and shows nothing of the ability these two players have had
@HORSEFLY NO.1: That’s why its good to watch how players perform over a few games against decent opponents. Imagine what the College folks must think of Le Roux after watching him in that 20-0 game.
@gungets
Coetzee is u17 though and will therefore be u19 in matric
@greenhopper
I felt Potgeiter was getting better and better as the season went on. No doubt that he was really bad in the beginning but he later showed why Glenwood wanted him. His goalkicking is really good too!
@gungets tuft
Yah good group for next year but there are a few flyhalves coming back next year! I only. Saw Tedder once when KC played DHS and the way Leroux manhandled him was scary! Tedder did have the last laugh with a try but the other 69 mins belonged to Leroux IMHO.
The u16 KZN props are also quite short and will have the same problems if they make KZn u18. Also they are likely to play 2nd team at College with the two KZN U18 guys still around.
@any of the greens
Was van Aardt in matric this year?? Don’t remember him last year!
@Greenhopper – “the next year” – agree, it’s never as it seems, although it does look as if the healthy balance of power will remain, with very competitive 1st sides this year as well as U16 sides. It’s true that Tristan was operating behind a dominant pack this year with the Doops getting go-forward, but he always made acres of space himself. I could get parochial about it and punt the College man (Booysen – who is back next year), but I smaaked Tedder this year. Got a great runner and kicker coming through from College in Marcel Coetzee (only Grade 10 this year!!).
@Gungets Tuft: Tedder will be the encumbent next year , but what we have learnt is that the next year always bring back in a few suprises?
@GT agreed Tall props battle these days , i harped on it earlier in the season, as i was concerned that this was a possible problem in the GW side
@beet: beet , i have said previously that we would battle upfront, like you I blogged on it , if you battle here it filters down through the team, unlike you I have only seen Anderson twice and what I saw , compared to a season and a half Warren, I have to go with Anderson, for me he has the full array of skills for the game, and we saw how poorly Warren played for GW over the season. People might remembering me blogging this prior to the season, and I think I have proved my opinion in this regard.
I think that selection was poor and Grasshooper and others are right , the 2nd half , in the FS game, we should have played others and started with a stronger team. However I think fear that FS where going to be stronger than they were, is why KZN played the players they did. BUT should have adapted into the 2nd half.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Potgieter never , is good against mediocre sides , imho , when you are battling upfront and set pieces the mood and attitude goes through the whole team, you need go forward ball, attitude. Andresons Kicking in the last match from for Goal was brilliant , even kicks Potgieter couldn’t have made,
Next years schools flyhalf must be Tedder, if cricket does not steal him away. Gr10 this year and he more than held his own, kicking superb.
Would be interested in the comments of some front-rowers, or refs, about the tendency of the front rows standing up in yesterdays match. It happened every single scrum, with the Lions being pinned only once. I am no ref, and don’t know much about it, but it just seemed to me that it was Marx scrumming up most of the time. At 1.9m, 10cm taller than any of the other front rowers, he was taking the brunt of the pressure.
Just asking, not that I thought KZN were deserving of more than they got, before you okes climb down my throat.
Khumalo will be back for College next year. There is a great crop of U16’s graduating next year, College is unbeaten since mid-U14, Westville has a really good U16 side, so does Glenwood. Not wanting to harp on about the age thing but we will see the effects of that for a year or two, with promising kids kept out of representative positions through the age groups by over-age kids(who were then excluded from CW!). With that behind us, look forward to a couple of even better years in KZN.
@griffon
Many of the current u16 boys will surely go through hectic gym programs and will have the size which will add to the skill they already have. I think guys like Goodson,Joubert, Bredell, Webster all have a good chance.
@grasshopper
Yah and the College prop I think will be back. Many others who didn’t make it will surely put their hands up next year, if Leroux van Zyl can get rid of his tendancy to kick the ball away all the time he will surely have a chance and also the Kearsney scrummie who made SA U16 HP squad last year.
@boxkick
That’s what I thought and I’m a DHS supporter!!!!
KZN will probably play WP on the last day now, will be a cracker if so!
@BoishaaiPa: It must have been frustrating for you and some of your fellow WP supporters to have watched that unfold, knowing that a particular selection was guaranteed by a relative in a high place.
Wecome to the “Hooker who cant find his jumpers” club…WP missed vital lineouts on Tuesday and two of them resulted in tries for Bulls…much the same as KZN missed vital lineouts today. If you cant win your own line-out ball you are doomed!
Surely KZN schoolboy rugby is healthy, when there is so much interest, so much competition and if I am not wrong, quite a few academy and craven week guys in grade 11. 2013 should be a craker KZN season,hugely competitive, just hope politics stays out of the game, and the boys can enjoy a healthy season, with all the nonsense os 2012 a thing of the past.
I hear lots of signings going etc but nothing from the Sharks about keeping out talent here? Anyone heard anything? Would enjoy seeing the boyswe have watched keenly this season being looked after here in MrPrice Kings Park.
@beet – i for one value your opinion most of the time…and like you have watched a plethora of schoolboy rugby over the past 5 to 6 years and have to tell you that Anderson was fortunate enough to play behind a dominant MH pack most of the season and had my doubts on what he would be capable of should he be behind a pack that gets dominated…he, in my opinion had 2 poor games where none of his apparent and much spoken about attacking abilities came to the fore – i am not saying there are better 10s than him in KZN, just that from the outset he was chosen to play at trials with the best pack and scrummy and no one else was afforded that opportunity – makes me wonder thats all
Unlucky to the boys who I felt were starting to pick up their game, but dropped it quickly. I think we should start looking at a rough craven week team for next year and see how these players develop going into next years season. In the current squad, 5 boys are going to be available for selection again next year, with others in the academy team also coming through next year. I’m trying to think of boy’s in u16 who stand a chance of making it, but none are coming to mind
I’ve watched ±33 games of SBR involving KZN teams either live or no TV. I’m no expert but rather like to consider myself an armchair fan. I’ve seen flyhalves Mondli Nkosi, Le Roux van Zyl, Warren Potgieter, Tristan Tedder, Dylan Rust, Lukas Booysen and even Cameron Wright put in performances that mattered on at least 1 occasion each. All these guys are works in progress, improving over time. However if I was asked to select a flyhalf for KZN schools this season, my automatic choice wud have been Rob Anderson hands down. I got to watch Rob play 4 games in the second part of the season and he was great in all 4. He obviously wasn’t at his best today. We haven’t seen his best at CW. I’m sure he’s hurting more that most for it. But this performance today can’t take away too much from his good season overall and in my opinion his undeniable right to be at CW ahead of all the others I listed above, with the exceptions of Cameron and perhaps to an extent Mondli of course who also made the team.
@Sir Pius, that was a very low blow that! KZN played and beat the Free State convincingly and beat WP last year at the same stage. It seems we put all our effort into the first game so to ensure a win and get the better/harder game on day 3. However, because of the ridiculous rule to play all the players for a full game it seems to disrupt KZN more, maybe because we don’t have the same depth as the bigger unions. I mean how can Craven Week dictate to the coaches who should play. The coaches pick boys for starting and for impact off the bench and should be allowed to coach properly. KZN should maybe have played a much weaker team in the 2nd half on Monday and started with the A team today. If you get a solid start is builds confidence. I can bet if KZN played the Lions on Monday they would have won. There are a few KZN schools in the top 20 and we have got a number of big scalps this year against other unions. I think if the Doops don’t get picked for SA schools this year they will be next year. KZN should still get a few in the larger squad being picked. Good luck to the boys in there last game, show the rest of the country that today was just a blip.
I was also disappointed by the outcome and frustrated by what I saw. I imagined and even blogged that setpieces would be a challenge but even I thought we could have worked around it. It’s just that the precision and decisiveness that made the FS game such a pleasure to watch deserted us today. I’m sad but someone reminded me on bbm that the boys tried their hardest today and we can’t forget that. There is one more big game coming up on Saturday so hopefully they can lift their spirits and end the week on a high. Good luck KZN!
KZN are chokers at Craven Week. So many handling errors amongst the top schoolboys in the province. The fact is KZN schools are good against each other and that is it. I think the problem is that there’s been a lot moaning from schoolmasters, schools making headlines for all the wrong reasons. If you watch other provinces they’ve kept quiet and they’ve done all their talking on the field. Who was the hooker today? I’m sure KZN has better hookers than that, I questioned the omission of De Beer. Well done to Jesse, Cameron and Mkhabela who actually played well today. I would love to see Kriel and Wright making SA Schools.
I thought the Lions were very one dimensional(one up runners) and will be dealt with by the Bulls if they make it to the final. The try they scored in the second half was a result of another KZN lineout mistake(of 8) and was one of the few times they threatened in the half. Why KZN kept throwing to the back given the problems being encountered was a leadership issue. When Moberly came on he played partly on the flank which disrupted an already out of balance loose forward trio. It must be remembered that while also going back against OFS, it was this unit that dominated and created several try scoring opportunities.The big boys would have been all over the place. The more the game went on the more they played as individuals and missing kicks(for the line and poles) to put pressure also did not help. A really disappointing outing from a KZN perspective.
@horsefly – interesting that you recon Potgieter would have been better, i saw two games of his, one against DHS and the other against Maritzburg and must conclude that he looked the real deal, it would be interesting to know why he never got a chance at trials to play with the more dominant pack and better 9s….just a thought
I think the Craven week hookers should’ve been the Academy hookers(S.Pina and C. De Beer) both of them have size and experience. The centres today were nowhere, these centres tore apart schools during the season, but failed to do the same at the highest level of high school rugby. I think there lack of performance was from not getting enough ball, but also because they play the exact same, it was like putting 3 flyhalfs next to each other. I think if Marwana had come on he would’ve had added that physicality that was needed.
@Horsie, at least we have a few returning next year to join the good under16 crop coming through. The Doops, Vermaak, Arnott and Khatide I think are back. I know for sure Vermaak will be as he is in grade 11 and going to be a big weapon for Glenwood next year. Also, there are a few in the Academy side coming back, Rupert Kay from Glenwood, not sure on the others.
@hopper
Yah Pina and Nqawe have both been good this year and it must have gone down to trials and the selectors.
Many missed opportunities here for KZN while the one dimensional Lions were just clinical!
I also don’t agree with that you have to have the bench playing a full game! Some of them are impact players and it also disrupted the game.
@Horsie, only Under 19 ones probably. Why the DHS hooker and Pina were not chosen baffles me, considering Pina played Craven Week last year and has the experience. Pina is 105kg so might have done better. I mean props in the 90kgs are going to get slaughtered by those weighing close to 120kg or more….oh well, hindsight is a wonderful thing…
Lions dominate! Their forwards were superb!! Our boys couldn’t do much there! They played more of Blue bulls type rugby. Will be good to see them vs a just as big Bulls pack on saturday.
Unlucky KZN, nothing seemed to go right there but well done Jesse Kriel! What a try there!
Also 1/5 or 6 in terms of goalkicking cost us and also losing 8 lineouts! Hardman was very poor and so were the jumpers!
Nkosi I felt was good when he needed to and should be retained for the next game, and also Anderson was sooo bad its not even funny!
The doops seemed to do something once they started playing together but 2 boys were never gonna pull it off!
I still think Jaco van der Walt is no.1 flyhalf there.
@grasshopper
I think Potgeiter would have been better as I felt he was hitting form at the right time and his goal kickking is sublime.
Yah I think Lions were clever playing their subs in the 1st game. We should have done the same against a very weak Free State team.
Till next year where we’ll have a good chance again with our good U16s coming up. Long wait though!! Also, are there no bigger,taller front rankers in KZN???
@boxkick, I did not watch the game unfortunately but heard from my dad that we were shunted in the scrums and could not win our lineouts. What confuses me is one day we are brilliant and the next mediocre. Surely losing Moberly the captain must have played a role too. I can’t comment about Anderson, all I know is that Makasi played last year and might have been a good option this year too. We seem to be lacking a decent front row and a brilliant playmaker at flyhalf. The Lions have exactly that, a great front row and a decent flyhalf…
@grasshopper – it was lost by poor option taking and poor kicking as well as a 10 that might as well have stayed in the change room – one never saw the guy aside from the two times he missed tackles that lead to tries…
Hard luck boys, a pity we did not have our A team on the field and the Lions did. They obviously planned things better playing their ‘B’ side on Monday anticipating a big game today, hats off to them. This rule of having to play all 22 in the squad for a full game is ridiculous, that does not happen at schools rugby. The point of the bench is to have impact players. Some on the bench are there for that reason. Anyway, all the teams are in the same boat so we can’t complain. It seems we really did miss Moberly, Moon and Du Preez at lock, the spine as Star mentioned. Our front row looked weak/small before the tournament and it seems that is where we lost it, in the scrum and set pieces. Oh well, we will have to wait another year now for a final….
Beet- Moon has a problem with his ankle and so wont play today. I presume Swart will take his place. I hope the loss of Moberly(together with Moon) will not effect the leadership spine that was so evident in the successful MHS season.
@beet
Quality side that. Sad to see Vermaak on the bench as he’s explosive when given the ball which he didn’t get yesterday.
Hardman vs Marx will be very interesting!
Team for Wednesday vs the Golden Lions
01. Sikhosana
02. Hardman
03. Khumalo
04. Ngxabi
05. D du Preez
06. Moon
07. JL du Preez
08. van Aardt
09. Mkhabela
10. Anderson
11. Nkosi
12. Khubeka
13. Mvelase
14. Arnott
15. Kriel
Moberly being rested coz of his shoulder.
Beet- No 6 might be shared between Moon and Swart( one half each)
@boxkick: I was taking rotation into account. Mondli Nkosi can play fullback but his preferred position is flyhalf. However he will be playing wing on Wednesday, so Anderson starts.
@beet – no anderson?
@beet: Settling on a place-kicker might also be tricky. Khubeka, Kriel and Mvelase have all kicked for their schools and Nkosi kicked during trials.
Guessing the starting line-up should be:
1.Sikhosana 2.Hardman 3.Khumalo 4. Moberly 5.Ngxabi 6.??? 7. JL du Preez 8.van Aardt 9.Mkhabela 10.Nkosi 11.Arnott 12.Khubeka 13.Mvelase 14.Vermaak 15.Kriel
A tough decision has to be made regarding who to start between Daniel du Preez and Carel Swart.
Good luck boys! Hope there’s a better crowd there tomorrow!