If you are an outsider, unfamiliar with the process, you are forgiven for believing that Craven Week is a thing of the past for all but the Golden Lions and the Free State, who have been chosen to play in the final match of the tournament.
Describing the nine lead-up games to the final as mere formalities could not be further from the truth. Some highly motivated teams will be looking to build on their records while other will be hoping to set the record straight and all including the finalists will be desperate to end the week on a high note.
There is also the added incentive of playing for a place in the SA Schools team. Although one would reasonably expect the selectors to have agreed on a shortlist of players by this stage, nothing is set in stone. Just like match days 1 through 4, Saturday represents an opportunity for a youngster to either play himself into contention with a sublime performance or possibly even suffer a loss of form that results in his name being scratched out and replaced by another.
Sadly for Kwazulu Natal, poor outcomes in the set-piece has in all likelihood put paid to the hopes of any forward’s chances of being on the SA Schools roll call today. In addition to this, star player Stefan Ungerer is struggling to overcome an ankle injury sustained in June. This has shaken his confidence level and kept him from performing at his peak.
Fortunately several other backs remain in contention for higher honours. None more so than strong try-scoring outside centre, Tyler Fisher who has added 2 Craven Week power tries to the 17 tries he had already scored during the regular schools season. Even if Fisher does not get the nod to be part of today’s 22-man squad, chances must be good that he will follow in the footsteps of 2010 KZN under 18 centre Patrick Howard and receive a call-up to the SA Under 18 High Performance squad, a route that also offers a player the opportunity to represent his country at this age-group level.
Other impressive performers who are still in with a shout are fullback Mbembe Payi, whose wonder footwork has wrong-footed many wannabe first-time tacklers over the course of his under 18 rugby career, big flyhalf Robert du Preez Jnr, with his ability to hold off defenders and create attacking opportunities and in-form young leftwing Siyabonga Tom, who has stood out as a good all-round player while many of his rivals in the position have displayed questionable ability on defense.
Today Kwazulu Natal faces the Blue Bulls. Both sides have had to pick themselves up following agonising last minute defeats in their previous games. It will also be their second meeting in the space of three weeks. At Bondedag in Rustenburg, the baby Sharks were soundly beaten 36-3 by their Pretoria counterparts. That match was won up front where the powerful Bulls pack containing a number of SA Schools hopefuls and having a weight advantage of 10kg per man, completely dominated proceedings. Much of the same forward domination can be expected today. However if the strong-willed and fit KZN pack can withstand this pressure and provide their own line with anything that bears a resemblance to quality ball, we could see our team cause their second upset of the week.
Fixtures for Saturday 16 July
08.15: Valke vs Griffons
08.15: Eastern Province vs Boland
08.15: Leopards vs Border Country Districts
09.40: Zimbabwe vs Namibia
09.40: Limpopo vs Griquas
09.40: Pumas vs Western Province
11.05: Blue Bulls vs KwaZulu-Natal
11.05: Border vs South Western Districts
11.05: Griquas Country Districts vs Eastern Province Country Districts
13.00: “Final” – Free State vs Golden Lions
KwaZulu Natal Team: 15 Mbembe Payi (DHS), 14 Lwazi Sithole (Maritzburg College), 13 Tyler Fisher (Westville), 12 Dean Moolman (Glenwood), 11 Siyabonga Tom (Glenwood), 10 Robert du Preez (Kearsney), 9 Stefan Ungerer (Maritzburg College), 8 Carel Swart (Glenwood), 7 Jean-Luc du Preez (Kearsney), 6 Sibulele Nanto (George Campbell), 5 Ferdinand Horn (Glenwood), 4 Daniel du Preez (Kearsney), 3 Matthew Worral-Claire (Glenwood), 2 Jaques Taylor (Glenwood), 1 Niel Oelofse (Glenwood), 16 Cullen Collopy (Kearsney), 17 Sanele Pina (Glenwood), 18 Jens Klingenberg (Vryheid), 19 Jackson Buthelezi (Westville), 20 Brendan Cope (DHS), 21 Sandile Khubeka (Kearsney), 22 Nkululeko Marwana (Glenwood).
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We are playing the bulls in all divisions today… U19, U21 and CC, and now even CW… Let’s beat them in all forms and make the blue country miserable
Oh yea i hope roelof smit has a blinder at 8 really rate the kid!
@Muzi (Comment 2) : Only for 1,5m though. 😉 u/19 laws state that you may only push for 1,5m and then you have to stop. 😛
@Muzi (Comment 2) : we lost the game against the lions through loosing all our lineout(in 2nd half), hope they fix that
@franshark (Comment 5) : Unfortunately this has been a problem for our schools in games vs Gauteng based schools.
Our coach even mentioned told me about their concerns in the lineout dept long before Craven Week. Our jumpers (1.93m avg) are short in relation to the Highveld and our props (supporters in lineout) are also quite short (1.76m avg) so we were always going to struggle. It’s just that no one excepted it to be this difficult this year.
@Muzi (Comment 3) : I’ve made the difficult choice to attend the Sharks u19, so I’m doing to have to catch the repeat broadcast of this game.
I met Abrie Griesel yesterday at the Gateway Mall. He apparently went to Grey Bloem and was their 3rd choice scrummy, playing for the 2nd team most of the time. Just goes to show their depth.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 4) : I have never actually seen a ref blow for it though.
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 8) : Neither have I.
Certainly not at this Craven week.
Latest score sometime in the 2nd half.
Bulls 24 – 8 KZN
FULL TIME
Bulls 29 – 8 KZN
@McLovin (Comment 11) : Ooh Eina! 😯 🙁
@McLovin (Comment 11) : ouch & eina
@McLovin (Comment 11) : not, a good start for getting 4 wins 🙁
@JarsonX (Comment 12) : @franshark (Comment 13) : Those bulletjies are very good.
Should have beaten the Greystaat imo.
@franshark as long as the senior Sharks win! I’m at ATKV Natalia on South Coast where Blue bull shirt and Us black and whites are walking around in equal numbers hopefully it will be us in black and white braaing with smiles on our face 🙂
Greystaat 0 – 0 Lions
5min
Greystaat under the sticks.
Greystaat 7 – 0 Lions
10min
Lions intercept try.
Greystaat 7 – 5 Lions
15min
Lions miss a sitter of a penalty. 😯
Greystaat 7 – 5 Lions
20min
Greystaat 10 – 5 Lions
27min
Greystaat 10 – 5 Lions
30min
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 16) : that’s also one of our favorite getaway places
Greystaat 13 – 5 Lions
33min
HALF TIME
Greystaat 13 – 5 Lions
Greystaat 16 – 5 Lions
39min
Great try from Grey.
Greystaat 21 – 5 Lions
45min
Greystaat 21 – 5 Lions
50min
Serfontein goes over for another Grey try.
Greystaat 28 – 5 Lions
53min
TMO possible lions try.
@McLovin (Comment 34) : Why does this never translate to success for the senior team?
Try time.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : Money would be my guess.
Ouch good win bulls under 18s we should have been in that final lets hope a few have impressed the selectors.So far the bulls are winning the day.
Greystaat 28 – 10 Lions
60min
Lions score again.
Greystaat 28 – 17 Lions
65min
FULL TIME
Greystaat 28 – 17 Lions
@franshark especially when you have children Natalia is a haven we see our boys only when they r hungry or really tired so we really get to relax 🙂