Grooming future Baby Boks
8 Jul 2010
This year’s SA Schools side was selected with the IRB Junior World Championship in mind.
There were eyebrows raised at the composition of the SA Schools team named at the end of Craven Week in Welkom on Saturday, particularly at the inclusion of just two Free Staters in the starting line up (there are another four on the bench), in view of the team’s emphatic 42-21 victory over Western Province in the final game of the week.
The last game of the Craven Week is traditionally contested by who the organisers consider to be the two top teams at the tournament, making the winners the unofficial champions.
Western Province have five representatives in the national schools squad, with four of those in the starting XV.
The criteria for selecting the SA Schools team, we were told, were different this year and, according to Saru manager of high performance, Herman Masimla, the aim was not merely to reward players who shone at the week itself, but to identify a group that is capable of going on the represent the country with success at the IRB (U20) Junior World Championship in two years time.
The senior national selectors – Pieter Jooste, Ian McIntosh et al – were at the week and they met with the SA Schools selectors every evening. The upshot, apparently, was an SA Schools team that is a hybrid of recognising performance and discovering potential.
The other role of the national selectors was to name a high-performance squad of 32 U18 players who will attend a training camp later this month and play three matches against international opposition – 19 of the 22 SA Schools players are in the group.
So, was the SA Schools selection fair? I guess the Free Staters have reason to feel aggrieved, given their win over Province, but the team would basically have been picked well before the final game was done and dusted. And Western Province were by far the more impressive of the two in their earlier matches. They beat the highly-rated Golden Lions side 20-3 on day one and then smashed Eastern Province 58-17. Free State beat Border 35-13 and then looked quite ordinary in their 30-20 win over KwaZulu-Natal in their second outing.
The star of the Free State side was undoubtedly flyhalf Johan Goosen, and he is there, as is centre William Small-Smith, who is the captain. The Western Province representatives are fullback Craig Barry – possibly the standout player at the week – winger Jean-Paul Lewis, flank Sikhumbuzo Notshe and prop Steven Kitshoff. It would be difficult to make a case for the exclusion of any of those.
The surprise selections were the preference of Affies No 8 Nardus van der Watt ahead of his Grey counterpart, Neill Jordaan; the inclusion of Bulls scrumhalf Poerie van Rooyen ahead of a number of good candidates, including Free State’s Kevin Luiters and the reselection of Border centre Andile Jho, who had a quiet week.
There would also have been some surprise at the inclusion of Valke lock Ruan Botha and KwaZulu-Natal flank Khaya Majola. Botha’s selection clearly has to do with future potential – at 2.02m he was the tallest lock at the week and is clearly going to grow into a giant, while Westville Boys High’s Majola was the destroyer in chief in his side’s good showing against Free State.
It’s difficult to discuss selection without referring to the old quota chestnut, but it seems that in this case anyhow the promise to select on merit has been kept.
The way you can see that is by looking at the last four or five names in the 22. In the days when the selectors were forced to pick 10 or 11 players of colour, you inevitably saw them down there – among the last reserves chosen. That hasn’t happened this time and the number of previously disadvantaged players in the squad – eight – doesn’t conform to any quota sum recently imposed.
So, who can consider himself unlucky not to be selected? Apart from Jordaan, probably KZN hooker Senzo Mtshali, who has been the engine in the devastating Glenwood pack this year, and Golden Lions flyhalf Marais Schmidt, who will go far in the game and was unfortunate to play in the same year as Goosen.
And as for inspired selections: Eastern Province hooker Jason Thomas is from Uitenhage, and has all the menacing presence you will expect from front row forwards from that part of the country; while Boland’s Leroy Bitterhout showed himself to be a superb finisher whose future, one suspects, lies in the sevens, rather than the 15-man, game.
By Theo Garrun
30 Comments
8 Jul 2010, 09:24 am
Did any one see the Lions play? Did they have a massive lock on the field? I think he plays for Monument, I saw him play earlier in the year in Classic Clashes. He is one for the future.
Oh yes, future baby boks, hopefully dragons.
8 Jul 2010, 09:29 am
The sad part is, out of about 500 kids involved in this week and only 32 selected or identified, most of those left will now seek alternative careers if they were not lucky enough to score a junior contract with a union.
We need something more than the Craven week to help develop schoolboy talent.
8 Jul 2010, 09:44 am
@WOLFMAN21(WOLFMAN21)-1: I think it is Ruan Venter, who was selected for the SA Schools’ side. He is huge – more or less 125kg
8 Jul 2010, 09:53 am
@CharlesM(CharlesM)-3: Thanks, that is his name. He is massive, but in the game I watched he made a couple of really nice passes which led to tries, which was good to see.
8 Jul 2010, 10:42 am
Hey the KZN freestate scoreline was 30-20 not 30-10. This whole selection process is skewed. Does SA-schools actually mean anything anymore when they have no scheduled fixtures (as yet) and the SA U18 squad has three internationals lined up? What about the three guys left out? How do they get capped? Andile Jho was quiet – so was William Small-Smith. Did you see the KZN try where Howard ran around him like he wasn’t there? Why all the hype?
8 Jul 2010, 11:08 am
@Micky(Micky)-5: Jip, it was 30-20 but the scoreline totally flattered KZN – they scored a intercept try in the last min or so that made the score look better… William Small-Smith quiet? What game were you watching? If you can’t acknowledge that he is absolute class, you should stop watching rugby my friend. He is way better than anyone else at school level anywhere in the world.
8 Jul 2010, 11:41 am
no 6
what a statement to make that someone is better than anyone else in the world
obviously you have seen all other players in the world
8 Jul 2010, 12:02 pm
@norman(norman)-7: Norman, actually I have – part of my job to travel everywhere to watch schoolboy rugby and identify talent. I live and work in London and Dublin but travelled to SA specifically for the Craven Week. This boy has immense talent and maturity for his age – definitely a future star.
8 Jul 2010, 12:37 pm
Why in this day and age do we not simply select the best 35 players or so in the competion and put everything into getting them to a standard where we will win this dam u20 competition.
Which in my opinion we could easily do if we selected our best players. This years team were a joke!
It makes me so cross when I consistantly see unbelievable talent turned way every year only because the colour of their skin!
And it makes me even more cross when I see their names turn up a few years later playing in another country (e.g. JP Du Plessis)!
So much for FIFA World Cup Slogan “Stop Discrimination Stop Racialism”!
The time has come to select teams purely on merrit not the colour of one’s skin.
8 Jul 2010, 13:06 pm
@panniepeet(panniepeet)-8: lol…
be careful when making comments on this site. You never know who you might be talking to!
@iceman(iceman)-9: Dude, relax… Who do you think are the quota selections?
The only dude I feel aggrieved for is the Free State number 8!
Other than that, I think they got it about right… Those who were not picked but are talented enough will be snatched up by the unions and hopefully they will be looked after well there!
8 Jul 2010, 13:29 pm
@Gambit25(Gambit25)-10: Sure, I’d understand your point if I said anything controversial/derogatory/negative – I simply stated that this kid is extremely good.
8 Jul 2010, 13:38 pm
please no excuses with this article, Craven week and the selectons are a racist quota fiasco!!
“according to Saru manager of high performance Herman Masimla, the aim was not merely to reward players who shone at the week itself” – in other words leave the best players out in favour of your f k g racist agendas. Don’t lie to us just tell us like it is you pu ss ies.
8 Jul 2010, 13:44 pm
@panniepeet(panniepeet)-8:
Perhaps you will then be able to answer why South Africa loses close to 60 000 players (falling off the map completely) in the transition from schoolboy to club/age-group player???
8 Jul 2010, 14:06 pm
Call it what you may Mr. Garrun – this article smacks of what one could call journalistic endorsement/justification for the official (read: political) line…
If the squad really was chosen before the Final was played – and you speak of certain players’ inclusion being justified on the basis of fine performances for their home school during the season, or earlier in the tournament – then – sure – if we ‘accept’ that reasoning – then why aren’t there any more Grey Bloem players in the squad…???
There’s a reason why Grey Bloem is no.1 – year after year – because THEY produce the BEST players in SA. So – if a season’s consistent form is the criterion – surely Grey would have 9/10 or more players in the squad – and certainly many more than 2 in the starting line-up…???
You can write what you wish – fact is – the BEST rugby school in SA (by far) has been snubbed again… Like every year – witness 2007 too – the invincible FS team that ANNIHILATED WP in the Final that year – 52-3 – also only 2 players in the starting line-up… Go figure!
Hahahahahahaha – yeah, sure Messrs selectors/administrators/politicians – sure the team is selected only on merit… Hahahahahahahahaha – next joke please!
We all know the truth about SA rugby squad selections – especially at school level… In the senior team too. But – we must all hush-hush – don’t say anything – let’s all pretend…
8 Jul 2010, 14:15 pm
@Theo Garrun, I quote” Craig Barry- possibly the standout player at the week”. Did you see the try that Johan Goosen scored in the final match? He grabbed Craig Barry and dragged him along the last 10 meters towards the try line, to score his try. If he was the “outstanding player” and he cannot even tackle, then we have a big problem with selection!
8 Jul 2010, 14:28 pm
bloody quotas….
8 Jul 2010, 14:49 pm
Point well taken about Grey / Free State undoubtedly being the strongest both collectively as a team and with outstanding individual players. The talent of individual players in other less ‘high-profile’ teams may often be masked by mediocre team mates and, collectively, that team does not get the results a team like Grey ot Free State does. This doesn’t mandate an ‘en masse’ selection of Grey or Free State players – perhaps in the right team these other equally (or more) talented players will shine and come to the fore. The U18 internationals might provide a few pleasant surprises.
8 Jul 2010, 15:01 pm
I am pretty sure it is devistating for the kids, but it is not the end of the world. The main issue is that all 500 kids are known to the top unions (& bloody international poachers!) who come to watch the matches.
There are countless stories of players only flourishing later in life (Lem Honiball & S Burger Jnr are 2 examples) so as long as these guys keep going they will hopefully be able to get all the opportunities they need to reach their levels.
From the article, I did not get much of a sense that quotas are implemented, but if ever there is a place to implement quotas it is at this level. I know it sux for the kids (my nephew has suffered at the hands of quotas at cricket), but it doesn’t mean the end of line, it pushes them to work harder & exposes more talent.
If we have to have an imperfect system I would much rather see it at this level than the levels nearer to the top.
8 Jul 2010, 15:19 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-13: PA, there are different answers and various contributing factors as I’m sure you’re aware of. Some stop playing because of a lack of interest, others stop because they were neglected by the system and also many SA schoolboys don’t go on to higher education institutions where there are more opportunities for them to continue playing.
In SA it is a case of ‘the cream rising to the top’ as so to speak and although we are pretty fortunate with all the schoolboy talent we have in SA, there are basically only THAT much places in Uni teams/good club teams to fill. We are one hell of a competitive nation and many boys play rugby because they aspire to higher honours or recognition – take away the opportunity to do that and my bet is very few boys will continue playing. Also, when playing for a ‘lesser’ club in a league (e.g Randfontein in the Godlen Lions/Pirates Grand Challenge – with all due respect) and getting thumped 103-5 and 89-10 on consecutive weekends by uni teams will make many players gatvol..! If you have a look at the system at PUKKE – they recruit loads of Craven Week players every year and can fill up probably 6 senior teams if they have to – only for them to have no teams to play regular competitive rugby against. There are many more reasons and I could go on and on, but would like to hear your opinion on the matter (or anyone else’s for that reason)
8 Jul 2010, 15:24 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-13: Sh.yte… how do you come to those figures…
Not too surprising if you think about it… A big school = 1000… and then think about how many rugger playing schools…
Anyway a nasty number
8 Jul 2010, 16:13 pm
‘The upshot, apparently, was an SA Schools team that is a hybrid of recognising performance and discovering potential’
Can anyone spell quota?
The thing is, the more organised and professional unions like the Bulls and the Sharks love this sort selection criteria.
It means that those better players who may be pigmentally challenged will get snapped up into the respective union academies with great gusto.
Its a talent scouts dream.
8 Jul 2010, 23:11 pm
ADMINISTRATORS: YOU SUCK!!! LOSE THE DAMN INSERTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, and the MASSIVE GAPS between posts. I cant read the thread properly and end up fiddling with the scroll bar backwards and forth and it DRIVING ME NUTS. FFS its not rocket science you MORONS.
8 Jul 2010, 23:27 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-21:
unfortunately the reality is that the academies at sharks and bulls also need to fulfill quota ratios.
those complaining about racial selection should also consider what happened in this country only a mere 20 years ago.
so what seems unfair now was also unfair 20 years ago.
still, two wrongs don’t make a right.
so how do we proceed???
no other rugby-playing country has a similar conundrum.
8 Jul 2010, 23:30 pm
@charo(charo)-23: England are forced to select at least two Englishmen in their sport teams
8 Jul 2010, 23:37 pm
@JL1(JL1)-24:
hahha – sharp hey boet.
you guys still keen on the motorhome version of rwc2011/
i’ve decided helen and i have passed that stage in life – car hire and hotels will be our way of seeing nz next year.
you know us ballies – we need a bit of comfort
8 Jul 2010, 23:49 pm
@charo(charo)-25: We are still going, those are luxury campers, Yank style I will also do more of Australia again, those Kiwi cockroaches will drive me insane
8 Jul 2010, 23:59 pm
@JL1(JL1)-26:
Strange how the only country that stops the Bok supremacy in rugby is the country you hate,jealous much?
9 Jul 2010, 00:02 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-27: Yep,so what!
9 Jul 2010, 00:39 am
@JL1(JL1)-28:
Thanks for clearing that up.
9 Jul 2010, 00:47 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-29: even stranger that youd want to spend your hard earned touring a country you obviously despise?
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