Comments on: Craven Week (Day 3)

By: storiejoernal(storiejoernal)

storiejoernal(storiejoernal) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:28:00 +0000

A group of 44 players will be announced as the SA Schools High Performance Group at the completion of the Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week in Port Elizabeth, on July 14.

This extended group of players will play a set of trials on 28 July and the squad will then be trimmed to 28 players. The SA Schools team to play in the three Under-18 internationals will then be selected from this final group of 28.
Vs Wales,France & England

Since Pollard is taking no further part does this mean SA Schools will probably need another option??

By: ufo(ufo)

ufo(ufo) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:05:22 +0000

@seamus(seamus)-21: sure was... @CharlesM(CharlesM)-22: strange that he's not around... if you ever happen to hear anything...? thanks bud...

By: Philou(Philou)

Philou(Philou) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:00:03 +0000

Border vs Free State turned out to be much closer than anticipated, especially considering Border’s missing most of their first-choice players because of administrators’ idiotic rule that players contracted outside of region (from next year) can’t play this year. Snelling made a real difference at the breakdown for Border since he came on.

By: CharlesM(CharlesM)

CharlesM(CharlesM) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 11:52:32 +0000

@ufo(ufo)-19: Yeah I think you are correct. As far as I can remember he also coached at UWC. I really don't know where he is coaching at the moment. I think he played a couple of matches for WP in his playing days after unification of the former SARU and SARFU

By: seamus(seamus)

seamus(seamus) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 11:09:38 +0000

@ufo(ufo)-1: and what a great try scored by the Bulls replacement prop! Sprint! Handoff! Drag the next tackler along! Dive for the line! Try

By: ufo(ufo)

ufo(ufo) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 10:03:49 +0000

@CharlesM(CharlesM)-14:

ok… thanks… remember now…

yeah he deserved it too…

By: ufo(ufo)

ufo(ufo) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 10:02:31 +0000

@CharlesM(CharlesM)-9:

Charles…

think it was Chris October… wp coach for craven week 2009…??? and think he was also chosen to coach the sa schools side that year… the team in which siya kolisi was also picked…

so he must’ve impressed the powers-that-be too…

anyone know what has happened to him…?

By: CharlesM(CharlesM)

CharlesM(CharlesM) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 10:02:28 +0000

@sonofgun(sonofgun)-10: The no 12 of the Bulls is huge !! I hope for his sake that he doesn't bulk up too much or else he'll lose some pace in the process

By: CharlesM(CharlesM)

CharlesM(CharlesM) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 10:00:41 +0000

@norman(norman)-15: The coaches should have taken him off - by keeping him on the pitch must have worsened the injury

By: CharlesM(CharlesM)

CharlesM(CharlesM) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:59:22 +0000

@Robzim(Robzim)-11: The no 8 is Rikus Bothma - I think he is still in grade11 and will still be able to play next year. Ramone Samuels of Paul Roos is a beast but he got injured. It looked like ribs to me and if that is the case his week might be over. He was in a lot of pain.!! There are not a lot of youngsters in the WP team and next year will be a problem in that regard. The tighthead of Paarl Boys' is not very big (he was U/16 last year) but he has good technique and I think he stood up well against the huge Pierre Schoeman. Both other props as well as the 2 hookers, both locks, no 7 and reserve loosie as well as 2 no 9s among others are in their final year.

By: norman(norman)

norman(norman) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:57:34 +0000

the fact that pollard may have been injured does not help in saying he was very poor yeserday and probaly would not make his school first team on yesterdays performance.
all the hype surrounding him is painfull.
playing behind an outstanding pack in the world tournament made it so easy for him.
i will admit his place kicking was good .
a player may have an off day but then a great player will still be good.
i am not saying he is great by any means and it is a pity all this hype about him may have just had a negative influence.
nonetheless i can name at least one player who has been outstanding in all games i have seen him play over the years and still have to see him have an off day.
watch this space!

By: CharlesM(CharlesM)

CharlesM(CharlesM) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:53:19 +0000

@ufo(ufo)-13: It was their no 9 that was MoM

By: ufo(ufo)

ufo(ufo) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:48:57 +0000

@CharlesM(CharlesM)-9:

thanks charles… but not the name i was thinking of…

thing is this guy was in the system as the craven week coach… and seem to have just disappeared… will look out for the names you’ve mentioned… always enjoy watching these kids rise through the ranks and great to have someone with firsthand knowledge pointing some of them out…

@Robzim(Robzim)-11:

good news rob…. thanks…

was it their no8 who got MoM…? the blind kid…? or am i confusing them…?

By: Transformation(Transformation)

Transformation(Transformation) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:36:30 +0000

@Rockspider(Rockspider)-8: thabo mabuza was a beast last year for saschools, so quick!

By: Robzim(Robzim)

Robzim(Robzim) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:31:57 +0000

@ufo(ufo)-6: @CharlesM(CharlesM)-5: It was indeed a huge disappointment. Besides Pollard (first half) the only WP players who impressed me were the fullback Worrall, number 6 flank Samuels and the 8th man (cannot remember his name). I read this morning that the Bull's flyhalf Eksteen as well as their number 8 (Meiring) are coming to CapeTown next year. The Free State centre/flyhalf Jordaan (SA schools last year and the brother of Paul) is also coming. So at least we are gaining a few.

By: sonofgun(sonofgun)

sonofgun(sonofgun) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:30:53 +0000

@Rockspider(Rockspider)-8: Not bad. We still need to see the first choice tightheads from the Bulls and Lions. The Puma's number 8 has been the best I've seen on display after the first 2 games - he's a big, extremely quick and skillful player who would be my first choice 8 so far. You've got JL Du Plessis in there, but I'd have him as my 1st choice at blindside flank - he's an incredible player. I might also go with Samuels ahead of Mabuza, but they're both quality players. Mabuza is one of those schoolboy flankers who's outstanding at this level, but whose size will count against him later. He may go the Bobo route and end up in the backs. The only position where I've not been too impressed is on the wing. Dalen Goliath is a quality player for WP, although he didn't get much chance to show it. Finally, I'd have Galant from SWD as the 2nd best 12 after jv rendsburg, and Mvelase at 13 for the Sharks is worth a closer look.

By: CharlesM(CharlesM)

CharlesM(CharlesM) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:18:24 +0000

@ufo(ufo)-7: Unfortunately not: I know there is a coloured coached involved with one of the sides (Craven or Academy). I saw him at the trials – I am not sure if we are speaking about the same coach. He is in fact Saaid Blake – I found the names of the teams and coaches. He is assistant coach of the Craven side. I’m still not sure if it is him you are refering to. Peter Links is one of the coaches of the under 16 side – I haven’t seen him before. I’ve only watched the U/18 trials.
Province had a 3 day camp last week and they had several practices during the last few weeks of school (2nd term). Paul Roos has 6 players, Paarl Gym 7 and Paarl Boys’ 6 in the Craven side. The other 3 of Tygerberg, Boland Agric and Excelsior. Cox is of Excelsior – they are more known for their Sevens’ skills. His mother told me (the day of the Stormers and Lions’ match) while WP was playing against Namibia that he has been playing in his school’s Sevens’ team since being U/15 !!
A few closing comments: it will be interesting to see what the composition of the SA squad of 44 will look like – they will be announced after Saturday’s final match and could include players that took part in the Academy week. It will be interesting to see how many Academy players will be included in that squad. WP’s Academy outside centre, Jarred Sage of Wynberg impressed me a lot. It was strange that he did not start in their final match of the tournament. Heinrich Buhr of Boland Agric was a reserve in the backs and can play wing and fullback (his favourite position) – he was very impressive. I suppose we’ll have to wait and see.
As far as coaching goes: it is fairly difficult to break into the ranks of the WP. I suppose you need to establish yourself as a top schools’ coach before you can be considered. At the moment all coaching is regulated by the IRB. I have completed the IRB Level 2 course successfully at the end of 2011. It started in 2010 and is quite a difficult course with a lot of different components to complete. I want to enrol for the level 3 course but they (SARU) only started presenting it to guys like Robbie Fleck and Pieter Rossouw at the end of 2011. Then it will be presented to the Super League club coaches and only then will they start with the schools – difficult road to get qualified !!

By: Rockspider(Rockspider)

Rockspider(Rockspider) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:03:16 +0000

MY TOP 44 PLAYERS AFTER DAY 2

1 Dylan Smith (KES), 1 Pierre Schoeman (Affies), 1 M Oosthuizen (Outeniqua)
2 Malcolm Marx (KES), 2 Chad Solomons (Paul Roos) 2 François Steyn (Affies),
3 Mvevo Khumalo (Maritzburg College) 3 Liam Hendricks (Paarl Boys’ High), 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen (Centurion),
4 Stefan Vermeulen (Monument), 4 Justin Moberly (Michaelhouse), 4 Sebastian Ferreira (Paarl Boys’ High),
5 Daniel Du Preez (Kearsney) 5 JD Schikerling (Paarl Gim)
6 Thabo Mabuza (Centurion) 6 Ramone Samuels (Paul Roos) 6 Carel Swart (Glenwood)
7 Chris Massyn (Monument ) 7 Jean-Luc Du Preez (Kearsney 7 Jacques Vermeulen (Paarl Gim)
8 E Schmidt (Grey) 8 Steven Meiring (Affies)
9 Akhona Sihunu (Dale College) 9 Justin Phillips (Waterkloof), 9 R Malan (Outeniqua)
10 Ernst Stapelberg (Framesby) 10 Jako van der Walt (Monument), 10 Handre Pollard (Paarl Gim ),
11 Allistair McQuire 11 Corné Vermaak (Glenwood),
12 Rohan Jansen van Rensburg (Waterkloof), 12 S J/V Rensburg (Grey) 12 Wesley Cupido (Paarl Gim) 12 W Gelant (Outeniqua)
13 Jurie Linde (Affies), 13 Sibanye Bukani (Dale College), 13 P Jordaan (Grey – captain)
14 Selvyn Davids (Nico Malan) 14 Bruce Arnott (Michaelhouse) 14 Marcus Kleinbooi (Affies),
15 Jesse Kriel (Maritzburg College) 15 Jaco Hayward (Centurion), 15 Jason Worral (Paul Roos) 15 EW Viljoen (Grey)

By: ufo(ufo)

ufo(ufo) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 08:41:38 +0000

CharlesM…?

Perhaps you could help me here…

2 or 3 years back the wp craven week team had a young coloured coach whose name i just can’t remember…

he coached the team very well and i saw an interview of him on tv and was very impressed with the man… knew the game, knew his stuff, the kids loved him, was exceptionally well-spoken… all round good up-and-coming coach…

fully expected to see and hear more of him subsequently but have heard absolutely nothing… to the point that i’ve forgotten his name… i’d be disappointed if he’s no longer part of the province system…

do you know who i’m speaking about…?

By: ufo(ufo)

ufo(ufo) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 08:35:14 +0000

@CharlesM(CharlesM)-5:

yeah charles… if someone is injured rather take him off the field… does the kid and the team no good at all…

would due good to see young cox play… never heard of him so would be cool to see…

yeah the wp defense was weak… particularly after that thirst try in the second half which is when it looked to me as if they gave up… very disappointing attitude…

so still reckon the bulls kids deserve the kudos…

yes, it is great to see the kids play great accurate rugby… but i don’t have too high expectations with craven week as the kids normally come from many schools and to expect them to gel in the short time they normally have to prepare is similar to expecting the professional boks to do the same in the short time heyneke had… not sure how long they have together before the play but not a helluva long time i believe… so perhaps being a little hard on the coaches…

the cheetahs are the exception of course with most of them coming from grey…