Baby Bok coach Dawie Theron has taken the first steps in defending the Junior World Championship crown won by the Boks earlier this year, by selecting his first extended training squad for next season.
The majority of the squad comes from the Blue Bulls, as expected, with Western Province providing quite a chunk as well, while there are 10 Sharks players in the mix.
Jan Serfontein, who won the Player of the Tournament in the team’s win this year, will again represent in 2013, while Handré Pollard did not make the squad as a result of writing Matric Finals during this time.
The Sharks boast at least one player in each position, with Sean Robinson (fullback), Kotaro Matsushima (wing), Tyler Fisher (centre), Robert du Preez (flyhalf), Hanco Venter & Stefan Ungerer (both scrumhalf), Andrew van Tonder (loose forward), Myles Tucker (lock), Marne Coetze (prop) and Mornè du Plessis (hooker) all representing proudly.
We would like to congratulate all the players on their inclusion and we wish them all the best in shining and making the cut during next year.
The training squad is:
Fullbacks: Jacques Rossouw (Blue Bulls), Sean Robinson (KZN), Cheslin Kolbe (DHL WP)
Wings: Ruwellyn Isbell (Blue Bulls), Seabelo Sanata (Toyota Free State), Kotaro Matsushima (KZN), Sylvian Mahuza (Leopards), JP Lewis (DHL WP).
Centres: Jan Serfontein (Blue Bulls), Jade Stighling (Blue Bulls), Burger Odendaal (Blue Bulls), Harold Verster (MTN Golden Lions), Tyler Fisher (KZN), Henko Marais (Leopards), Justin Geduldt (DHL WP).
Flyhalves: Francois Tredoux (Blue Bulls), Robert du Preez (KZN), Tim Swiel (DHL WP).
Scrumhalves: Carlo Engelbrecht (Blue Bulls), Kefentse Mahlo (Blue Bulls), KK Hlungwane (Toyota Free State), Percy Williams (MTN Golden Lions), Hanco Venter, Stefan Ungerer (KZN), Jean Nel (DHL WP).
Loose Forwards: Clyde Davids (Blue Bulls), Jacques du Plessis (Blue Bulls), Leneve Damens (Blue Bulls), Roelof Smit (Blue Bulls), Ruan Steenkamp (Blue Bulls), Tienie Burger (Toyota Free State), Kwagga Smit (MTN Golden Lions), Andrew van Tonder (KZN), Justin Benn (DHL WP), Jurie van Vuuren (DHL WP).
Locks: Dennis Visser (Blue Bulls), Irnè Herbst (Blue Bulls), Marvin Orie (Blue Bulls), Myles Tucker (KZN), Andrew Bekker (DHL WP).
Props: Andrew Beerwinkel (Blue Bulls), Jan Enslin (Blue Bulls), Justin Forwood (Blue Bulls), Neethling Fouchè (Blue Bulls), Luan de Bruin (Toyota Free State), Marne Coetzee (KZN), Sti Sithole (DHL WP).
Hookers: Jacques du Toit (Toyota Free State), Mornè du Plessis (KZN), Freddie Kirsten (DHL WP).
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Morne du Plessis’s inclusion is a travesty though
Not even gonna mention some of those average Baby Bulls
20 – Blue Bulls
10 – Western Province & Sharks
5 – Cheetahs
3 – Golden Lions
2 – Leopards
@Ludz (Comment 1) :
Better option?
Do you know anything about Jacques du Toit? From the Cheetahs but didn’t play any games this season. I am assuming he was injured.
End of the day he is just looking at these guys. Last year he took in a squad of over a 100 from bloody well everywhere. At least he’s not wasting as much time this time around.
I recall a guy like Ruan Botha not making this initial squad last year either.
@hendrikp (Comment 4) :
Funny thing with a few of these selections is…
Props:
– Jan Enslin barely started a game for the Bulls U19’s.
– Sti Sithole would surely not be a starter for WP either if Motale was fit.
Hookers:
Very light on them.
Locks:
– Jean Kleyn, who comes with reasonably big reputation in the Cape, didn’t make it. They’ve taken 4 Bulls locks and listed Jacques du Plessis as a loosie.
Loosies:
– Expected Aubrey Faul to make it. Made it last year, and by the looks of it he had another superb season for the Bulldogs, scoring more tries then games played.
Centres:
– No Johnny Kotze, so I’ll go ahead and assume he is injured right now.
The little I have seen of Timo Swiel, he has impressed at Fullback, but been very average at Flyhalf (especially considering the wealth of young flyhalves we have)
So why continue to use him at FH? We NEED good FBs in SA!
@hendrikp (Comment 4) : Eugene le Maitre, Lions hooker who played SA Schools last year has been outstanding for Lions. I hear Jacques is decent, but throwing also goes South sometimes, Morne is the average of the lot, does little on the field, also not the most accurate thrower, Freddie Kirsten is very good, him and Eugene should be Dawie’s hookers
@Ludz (Comment 1) : jeez hey akukho NENYE intwana esuka aphe Empuma chap!
@hendrikp (Comment 5) : Aubrey was outstanding for Bulldogs, that oke does not belong in B division rugby
@Die Kriek (Comment 6) :
Think Rassie handpicked him as a future WP/Stormers 10, so it’s gone from there.
I agree though. When you’ve got the natural ability, why force a player into a position where he needs to have a much more tactical approach.
Pollard is a natural 10. Has the bulk & so forth. Just a shame we couldn’t have kept him (at Province), but hopefully this means we see Pollard at 10 and Swiel at 15.
@Ludz (Comment 1) : Is he that bad?
@Megatron (Comment 8) : uthetha ezalwa apha or edlala apha kuthi?
@Argex (Comment 11) : no he’s just about the 4th best we have in this age group
@Ludz (Comment 12) : edlala apha!
Sad that Cope doesnt get enough game time at Sharks u19 otherwide he would probably be here…
@Megatron (Comment 14) : ya kunzima kancinci apha, kodwa ke Roelof Smit, Justin Benn, Jan Enslin ngamajita alapha. Justin was at Daniel Pienaar, Jan Enslin befunda eGrey PE and Roelof Smit is my homeboy, was at Hangklip until grade 11, left for Waterkloof at the end of grade 11 and finished his matric there
6 students:
Grey College – Neethling Fouché, Jacques du Toit, Leneve Damens, Tienie Burger, Jan Serfontein, Ruwellyn Isbell
Waterkloof HS – Justin Forwood, Morné du Plessis, Irne Herbst, Roelof Smit, Francois Tredoux, Sean Robinson
3 students:
Monument HS – Ruan Steenkamp, Hanco Venter, Burger Odendaal
2 students:
Afrikaans Boys’ HS – Luan de Bruin, Carlo Engelbrecht
Paarl Boys’ HS – Freddie Kirsten, Jean Nel
Tygerberg HS – Marvin Orie, Justin Geduld
Westville Boys’ HS – Sti Sithole, Tyler Fisher
1 student:
Ben Vorster HS – Kefentse Mahlo
Bishops Diocesan College – Timo Swiel
Brackenfell HS – Cheslin Kolbe
Daniel Pienaar THS – Justin Benn
Dr. E.G. Jansen HS – Andrew van Tonder
Ermelo HS – Jacques du Plessis
Frans du Toit HS – Harold Verster
Glenwood HS – Marne Coetzee
Grey HS – Jan Enslin
Hans Moore HS – Jade Stighling
Harmony HS – Seabelo Senatla
Hoër Volkskool – Henko Marais
Kearsney College – Robert du Preez
Kempton Park HS – Dennis Visser
Louis Botha THS – KK Hlongwane
Maritzburg College – Stefan Ungerer
Michaelhouse – Andrew Becker
Middelburg THS – Kwagga Smith
Oakdale Agricultural HS – Jurie van Vuuren
Oudtshoorn HS – Percy Williams
Outeniqua HS – Sylvian Mahuza
Paarl Gymnasium – Clyde Davids
Paul Roos Gymnasium – JP Lewis
Piketberg HS – Jacques Rossouw
Porterville HS – Andrew Beerwinkel
Rondebosch Boys’ HS – Myles Tucker
Tokyo Gakuen HS – Kotaro Matsushima
@hendrikp (Comment 17) : Dennis Visser is an Affies boy
@Ludz (Comment 18) :
Whoops. Ok thanks.