This one has caught me a little by surprise, I’ll admit, but the Sharks under 19 side will be in action this weekend, getting their 2016 campaign underway against the EP Kings on Friday.
Paul Anthony has named a side full of players who are sure to have a lot to prove, with not many boasting much in the line of credentials at age group level. The Sharks’ marquee signing at under 19 level this year is, of course, Curwin Bosch and he’s somewhat unlikely to see action with this team.
Fullback Mfundo Ndhlovu is an SA Schools Sevens player who represented the Pumas at Craven Week and Grant Khomo level three years running. He’s joined in the back three by wingers Ilunga Mukendi (Glenwood and KZN Craven Week) and James Wheeler, a bit of an unknown who matriculated at Westville last year. Outside centre Migcobo Bovu played Craven Week for Border Country Districts last year, while his partner Taigh Schoor (Paarl Gim) played for Western Province at the Academy Week two years in a row.
Welkom Gimnasium flyhalf Luan James is a stocky fellow indeed at this level, with his 95kg frame sure to open up some direct rugby possibilities; he’ll be partnered by former DHS lad Gareth Simpson at scrumhalf.
Big William Day (Bishops) and Khutha Mchunu (Glenwood and KZN Craven Week) – weighing a hefty 117kg apiece – will prop up the scrum, with yet another local boy, Maritzburg’s Sam Swanepoel, at hooker. Vryheid boy Clifferd Jacobs starts in the second row alongside William Squires from St Charles, completing a tight five that shows the commitment to nurturing home grown talent. Tristan Dixon, a hugely impressive lose forward from Kearsney who has returned to Durban after just a few months in Pretoria, starts at number 8, with Lihan Viljoen (Noordkaap) and Outeniqua’s Andre Coetzee completing the loose trio.
Mchunu captains the side.
Sharks u19: 15. Mfundo Ndhlovu, 14. Ilunga Mukendi, 13. Migcobo Bovu, 12. Taigh Schoor, 11. James Wheeler, 10. Luan James, 9. Gareth Simpson, 8. Tristan Dixon, 7. Lihan Viljoen, 6 Andre Coetzee, 5. William Squires, 4. Clifferd Jacobs, 3. Khutha Mchunu (captain), 2. Samuel Swanepoel, 1. William Day
Subs: 16. Hanco Taljaard, 17. Jordan Els, 18. Chris Klopper, 19. Marco Koen, 20. Francois de Villiers, 21. Khail Koetzenberg, 22. Courtney Februarie, 23. Mthokozisi Ntuli
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Did Chris Klopper (18) play KZN schools last year, if so he caught the eye in the bit I saw of Craven Week.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 1) : he did, yes. Also played a few games for the under 19s while still at Glenwood last year.
He’s apparently on his way back from surgery, so should be starting soon
Who are the contraceted players amongst this team? Im assuming they arent all on contract. Mukendi is good but the rest im not too sure on at all.
@SheldonK (Comment 3) : http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2015/11/24/sharks-under-19s-for-2016-confirmed/
@robdylan (Comment 4) : Thansk Rob, so quite a few of them. Guess will see what they can produce. On paper they dont seem exceptional but schoolboy talent doesnt always translate to talent after school.
@robdylan (Comment 4) : just hoping they do better than last year!!!
@50shadesofshark (Comment 6) : “good coaching’ is a term very often used. But coaching involves so many factors that defining what a good coach is or does can be quite tricky.
Of the 3 contracted locks, 2 have been selected but only 1 as a lock, the other as a flank.
Marco Palvie – still injured?
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 9) : I heard it was a fairly serious one…havnt confirmed it though
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 8) : Evans is apparently injured.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 9) : Palvie is still in matric…. might be that he’s not playing here because he still has commitments at school
@robdylan (Comment 12) : I chatted to him about 3 weeks ago and he made no mention of any new injury
@robdylan (Comment 13) : He got injured in the opening minutes against DHS and then didnt play against Monument or Westville so been out 2 weeks already. Glenwood play today against College i think.
@SheldonK (Comment 14) : ja, ignore me. I’m talking bum. Screwed up his knee.
@robdylan (Comment 15) : Hope he recovers quick. Good player…not built like an athlete but is damn strong and powerful
@SheldonK (Comment 16) : Any idea where Bader – Pretorius is these days?
@SheldonK (Comment 16) : Yep, watched him at the Academy Week a few years ago, he was very impressive and as you say damn strong. Im very glad that the Sharks managed to hold onto him.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 17) : Stroooli got him
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Lions?
@money (Comment 20) : yup
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Might have guessed, I thought it was either the Lions or the Bulls.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 17) : So seems he is at the Lions, thought it was Bulls but anyway. I liked what i saw of him the few times i watched him. But does look more of a 12 than 10 to me. I truly believe that all SA rugby sides from school upwards would look a lot better with more play makers than just bashers at 12.
@SheldonK (Comment 23) : Yes, agree.
Just an interesting comment i heard from Andy Ellis while watching that Breakdown show and thought id share on this u19 thread. He said the skills the All Blacks are displaying now at test level are not a result of the All Black coaches this season or the Super Rugby coaches this season. He said these skills have taken years to develop and it was decided in 2009 i think that the New Zealand players individual skills would be a big focus from school boy rugby upwards so that after a few years the National side would benefit. Just puts into perspective our belief that a new coach should get players skill levels up to NZ standard in a matter of weeks or months. Investment is required from a much lower level
EP 30 – 17 Sharks, not good enough….
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 26) : so not better than last year!?!?!?
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 26) : Ouch….