SARU names Baby Bok squad

2015-03-25 Cape Town - The South African Rugby Union on Wednesday announced a large group of players to participate in the Junior Springbok trials camp early next month in Stellenbosch. The trials will kick-start the process to select the Junior Springbok squad of 28 players for the upcoming World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Italy in June.

The best local Under-20 players will assemble on Sunday, March 30 at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS) and will remain in camp until April 2. This will be followed by a break for the Easter holidays. The camp will feature two trial matches on Tuesday, March 31 and Thursday, April 2 respectively at the Paul Roos Markottër Stadium.

Players such as Thomas du Toit, Dan du Preez (both, Sharks), RG Snyman and Warrick Gelant (both, Blue Bulls) who are currently busy with Super Rugby commitments, were excluded from the trials squad. Duhan van der Merwe (Blue Bulls) and Rikus Bothma (Western Province) are currently injured and were not considered.

Following the trials, a smaller group of 34 players will return to SAS on April 6 for the Junior Springbok training camp. This training camp will include the following activities:

· Training exercises against the Western Province Rugby Institute;

· A match against a Varsity Cup select XV,

· And a short tour of Argentina featuring two matches against the Los Pumitas.

Commenting on the World Rugby Under-20 Championship preparations Junior Springboks coach Dawie Theron said he would follow the same template as last year. The Junior Springboks came agonisingly close to winning a second Junior World Championship title in three years last season but lost by a single point against defending champions England in Wellington after an impressive run of results in their march to the Eden Park final.

“Our decision last year to keep the players together in camp for an extended time rather than having several shorter camps proved very successful, so we will do so again this year,” said Theron, who led the Junior Boks to their first JWC title in 2012 and a third place finish in France in 2013. “We were able to work with the players daily and monitor their rehabilitation in instances of injuries.”

Theron said the conditions in Italy would play a role in the selection process: “Last year we went for a big, physical squad because of the heavy and wet conditions in New Zealand. The indications are that the field conditions in Italy will allow for a faster type of game, so we will have to keep that in mind during the trials and in our preparations,” said Theron.

The training match against the Western Province Rugby Institute will be hosted at the Paul Roos Markottër Stadium on April 16 at 15:30, while a match against a Varsity Cup XV is also on the cards.

The training squad will fly out to Argentina from Cape Town on May 8 and the two matches against the Argentina Under-20 are pencilled in for May 12 and May 16, respectively. They return to South Africa the following day for a short break before the official Junior Bok squad assembles on May 25. The final squad will depart for the international showpiece on May 27.

Five players who represented the Junior Boks in the 2014 JWC edition in New Zealand and are eligible to play for the team again this year, were invited to the trials.

Abongile Nonkontwana (Blue Bulls, lock), Joseph Dweba (Free State Cheetahs, hooker), Dan du Preez (Sharks, lock), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks, flank), Jacques Vermeulen (Western Province, eighthman).

Furthermore, several players who attended the 2014 training camp but were not selected for the JWC in NZ, were again called up to the trials this year.

Ox Nche (Free State Cheetahs, prop), Ayron Scrhamm (Sharks, eighthman), Dan du Plessis (Western Province, centre), Justin Phillips (Western Province, centre), Frans van Wyk (Western Province, prop), EW Viljoen (Western Province, fullback).

The following players are invited to attend the Junior Springbok trials from March 29 to April 2 in Stellenbosch (province or university team, name and surname, position):

Blue Bulls

Matthys Basson (prop), Warrick Gelant (centre), Njabula Gumede (prop), Dewald Human (flyhalf), JT Jackson (centre), Jason Jenkins (lock), Jurie Linde (centre), Jinx Molapo (wing), Adrian Maebane (centre), Menzi Nhlabathi (flanker), Abongile Nonkontwana (lock), Luigy Van Jaarsveld (number eight), Alandre Van Rooyen (hooker), Ivan Van Zyl (scrumhalf)

Boland Cavaliers

GL Erasmus (scrumhalf)

Eastern Province

Malcolm Jaer (fullback), Tyler Paul (flank), CJ Velleman (flank)

Free State Cheetahs

Joseph Dweba (hooker), Lorenzo Gordon (wing), Gunther Janse van Vuuren (prop), Gerhardus Labuschagne (centre), Ox Nche (prop), Stephen Rautenbach (centre), Frans Steyn (Shimlas, hooker), Andre Swarts (wing), Arno van Staden (wing), Conrad van Vuuren (prop), Reinach Venter (hooker), Jasper Wiese (number eight)

Golden Lions

Ruan Ackermann (lock), Marco Janse van Vuuren (scrumhalf), Le Roux Roets (lock), Gerdus van der Walt (centre)

Sharks

Hyron Andrews (lock), Dan du Preez (lock), Jean-Luc du Preez (flanker), Ruan Kramer (prop), Rowan Gouws (scrumhalf), Mzamo Majola (prop), Ayron Scrhamm (number eight), Innocent Radebe (flyhalf)

Leopards

Mogau Mabokela (Pukke, prop), Walt Steenkamp (Pukke, lock)

Western Province
Ruan Brits (hooker), Dan du Plessis (hooker), Daniel du Plessis (centre), Jaco Coetzee (number eight), Grant Hermanus (fullback), Michael Kumbirai (prop), Remu Malan (Maties, scrumhalf), Daniel Maree (flank), Ryan Oosthuizen (centre), Khanyo Ngcukana (wing), Justin Phillips (scrumhalf), Ernst Stapelberg (flyhalf), Brandon Thomson (flyhalf), Christo van der Merwe (Maties, flanker), Francois van der Merwe (prop), Frans van Wyk (prop), Jacques Vermeulen (flanker), EW Viljoen (fullback), Edward Zandbergh (lock), Leolin Zas (wing)

Is that Jannie look-alike back this year or did he turn 20?

Abongile Nonkontwana (Blue Bulls, lock), Joseph Dweba (Free State Cheetahs, hooker), Dan du Preez (Sharks, lock), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks, flank), Jacques Vermeulen (Western Province, eighthman).

Not many Sharks in there.......

Any quota restrictions to be factored into selection?

Boet which one was that?

Five players who represented the Junior Boks in the 2014 JWC edition in New Zealand and are eligible to play for the team again this year, were invited to the trials.



Thomas du Toit from the Sharks the only fatty.

Surely. 50% PoC nowadays.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=61279

Stormers bunch a talented lot. Hope the Kalahari klong Rikus Bothma will be ready.

Junior Boks to face a Varsity Cup Dream Team on Tuesday evening at 18h30 at the Danie Craven Stadium:

Squad: 14. Kanyo Ngcukana (DHL Western Province), 13. JT Jackson (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 12. Daniel du Plessis (DHL Western Province), 11. Leolin Zas (DHL Western Province), 10. Ernst Stapelberg (DHL Western Province)
Replacements: 18. Frans van Wyk (DHL Western Province), 22. Brandon Thomson (DHL Western Province), 23. Grant Hermanus (DHL Western Province)

http://www.supersport.com/rugby/sa-rugby/news/150419/Junior_Boks_to_face_Varsity_Cup_Dream_Team

WP youth talent coming through the ranks.

Kanyo Ngcukana (DHL Western Province) - WP
Daniel du Plessis (DHL Western Province) - WP (although actually from PE)
Leolin Zas (DHL Western Province) - Hermanus, Boland
Ernst Stapelberg (DHL Western Province) - PE, Kings
Frans van Wyk (DHL Western Province) - Monnas, Golden Lions
Brandon Thomson (DHL Western Province) - Ermelo, Pumas
Grant Hermanus (DHL Western Province) - WP

Only three WP youth (school boys) in that group, the rest imported

Kanyo Ngcukana (DHL Western Province) - WP
Daniel du Plessis (DHL Western Province) - WP (although actually from PE)
Leolin Zas (DHL Western Province) - Hermanus, Boland
Ernst Stapelberg (DHL Western Province) - PE, Kings
Frans van Wyk (DHL Western Province) - Monnas, Golden Lions
Brandon Thomson (DHL Western Province) - Ermelo, Pumas
Grant Hermanus (DHL Western Province) - WP

Only three WP youth (school boys) in that group, the rest imported

But according to Ox it's the club that develops these guys not the schools they went to so point stands.

Pedant mode. I'm referring to OomPB's claim of "WP youth talent". Youth rugby is schoolboy rugby, u19 & u21 rugby are referred to as junior rugby

Kanyo Ngcukana (DHL Western Province) - WP
Daniel du Plessis (DHL Western Province) - WP (although actually from PE)
Leolin Zas (DHL Western Province) - Hermanus, Boland
Ernst Stapelberg (DHL Western Province) - PE, Kings
Frans van Wyk (DHL Western Province) - Monnas, Golden Lions
Brandon Thomson (DHL Western Province) - Ermelo, Pumas
Grant Hermanus (DHL Western Province) - WP

Only three WP youth (school boys) in that group, the rest imported

Blou Bulle stroop die Kaap se skole

Die Bulle soek jou kind! Veral as hy in die WP rugby speel...

Die Blou Bulle het 62 skole rugbyspelers van gr. 11 en gr. 12 in die Westelike Provinsie in hul visier.

Dit het aan die lig gekom in ’n brief wat die Blou Bulle-maatskappy se hoëprestasiebestuurder, Xander Janse van Rensburg, aan die WP Rugbyunie geskryf het. Ingevolge regulasies is unies verplig om mekaar in kennis te stel indien hulle in die ander se streek op skolespelers jag maak.

Gert Smal, die WP se direkteur van rugby, het ’n dwarsklap oor dié kwessie na die Bulle gemik.

“Duidelik het die Bulle nie vertroue in hul eie skoolstelsel of spelers nie. Dit skep die indruk dat daar geen ontwikkeling by hulle plaasvind nie. Ek sal graag wil weet hoe skoolkinders aan hulle kant daaroor voel,” het hy aan Die Burger gesê.

Die Bulle het ’n lang geskiedenis van oordadige inkopies in die WP se agterplaas.

Terwyl al die groot rugbyunies poog om Suid-Afrika se voorste jong spelers te kontrakteer, is dit die getal van 62 wat Kaapse administrateurs stomslaan.

Die Kaap is egter ’n gerieflike plek om spelers te kom teken omdat daar so ’n groot talentpoel is danksy skole soos onder meer Paarl Gimnasium, Hoër Jongenskool Paarl en Paul Roos Gimnasium.

Onder die hoëprofiel-gevalle van jong topspelers wat die Bulle uit die WP se strukture gekoop het, is die Springbok-losskakel Handré Pollard en die veelsydige Bok-agterspeler Francois Hougaard.

Pollard het aan Paarl Gimnasium gematrikuleer en die Bulle het in 2012 – die jaar wat hy die WP se Cravenweek-kaptein was – aangekondig dat hulle hom geteken het.

“Duidelik het die Bulle nie vertroue in hul eie skoolstelsel of spelers nie. Dit skep die indruk dat daar geen ontwikkeling by hulle plaasvind nie. Ek sal graag wil weet hoe skoolkinders aan hulle kant daaroor voel. ”
-GERT SMAL


Smal het intussen bevestig dat die WP nie die loskopstut Steven Kitshoff en die losskakel Demetri Catrakilis sal vrystel voordat hul kontrakte op 31 Oktober verstryk nie.

Kitshoff en Catrakilis het onderskeidelik vir Bordeaux- Begles en Montpellier geteken. Die Franse seisoen begin in Augustus.

“Ek bou nie ’n span vir Montpellier en Bordeaux nie. Steven en Demetri kan nog vir ons van waarde wees in vanjaar se Curriebeker-reeks,” het Smal gesê.

Kitshoff veral is vir die WP ’n groot verlies. Hy is op spelpeil die beste Suid-Afrikaanse loskopstut in vanjaar se Super-reeks en die WP het hom sedert sy skooldae ontwikkel. Om hom op 23 aan ’n Franse klub af te staan, is ’n yslike frustrasie.

Kitshoff kan moontlik ook in die Bok-afrigter, Heyneke Meyer, se planne wees nadat Gruthrö Steenkamp sy toetsstewels opgehang het. Al wat in ’n Wêreldbekerjaar teen Kitshoff kan tel, is dat hy nie toetservaring het nie.

Smal het egter gesê dat die WP ook gehaltespelers sal bykry.


Intussen het die Springbok-skrumskakel Jano Vermaak aan rugby365.com bevestig dat hy na Suid-Afrika gaan terugkeer wanneer die Franse seisoen in Junie eindig. Smal wou nie kommentaar lewer oor die gerug dat hy WP toe kom nie.

Who's talking about 2015 schoolboy results. You claimed that the fact that WP has a number of players in the Junior Bok side it is a sign of "WP youth talent coming through the ranks." while, in fact, only one of the players in the team went to school in WP, Kanyo Ngcukana who went to Rondebosch.

You should rather applaud WP's recruiting than their youth structures

I am more reffering to what happened at WP after the Pollard slip through the net. Since then WP change their contracting strategy and signed the top young lot in SA from everywhere.

Of moet ek in afrikaans verduidelik?

WP youth talent coming through the ranks.

Afrikaans of Engels, jy duck en dive soos 'n politikus. Go back to your original comment about the WP youth talent in the Junior Bok side, of which there is one

Sounds like the BB vs Varsity dream team game will be televised, cool

– Kick-off: 18h30
– Venue: Danie Craven Stadium
– Live on SuperSport One

Cool thanks

Must record this....