The Sharks under 21 team finally get their campaign underway this weekend, taking on the EP Kings at Kings Park on Friday afternoon. For Kings captain Jeremy Ward, it represents a great opportunity to observe the awesome setup he’ll be joining next year!
Last year’s under 21 side performed well, making it to the semi-finals despite a team comprising mostly under 20 players. As the only team in the league to taste success against eventual winners Western Province, there’s little doubt that this group includes plenty of talent. Michael Horak and AB Zondagh, as coaches, will be hoping to go all the way this year and will look to build on a platform of continuity from the 2015 campaign.
One major setback at this early stage, though, is the secondment of both of their flyhalves to the senior team. Inny Radebe was an integral part of last year’s side and with him now starting for the Sharks -and his lieutenant Curwin Bosch doing likewise, the under 21 side are in a bit of a hole. Tristan Tedder has left for France and new recruit Benahrd Janse van Rensburg is injured, further reducing options. Hope reigns in the form of 20 year old Ruben de Vos, a promising schoolboy player with Muir College in Uitenhage who joins the setup after a year in Pretoria with the Bulls. De Vos will start at flyhalf and will need to adapt quickly to the Sharks’ way of doing things.
Loosehead prop Mzamo Majola (called “Jerry” by his teammates for a reason I cannot fathom) will lead the team, as part of a forward pack that knows each other very well. Ruan Kramer, Wian Vosloo and Hyron Andrews all played regularly in the tight five last year, with hooker Kerron van Vuuren bringing plenty of experience from his Varsity Shield appearances (insert awkward silence here). The loose trio should be a particular area of strength with all of Graham Geldenhuys, Johan du Toit and Ayron Scrhamm earmarked for bigger things in years to come. Andrews, of course, has already played Super Rugby , while Majola has a smattering of senior Currie Cup caps from last year.
Jaya Juries is another Impi regular, picked at scrumhalf in the absence of long-term injury casualty Rowan Gouws. Marius Louw and Tristan Blewett combine in midfield, with the exciting Morne Joubert (fullback) forming a dangerous back three with wingers Malcom Cele and Marcel Coetzee.
The bench contains a fair few players from last year’s under 19 squad. Keep an eye out for loose forward Mike Meyer, who captained that side last year. His older brother is John-Hubert Meyer, who’ll be on the bench for the senior side later on.
Sharks under 21: 15 Morne Joubert, 14 Marcel Coetzee, 13 Tristan Blewett, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Malcolm Cele, 10 Ruben de Vos, 9 Jaywinn Juries, 8 Ayron Schramm, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Graham Geldenhuys, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Wian Vosloo, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Mzamo Majola (captain)
Replacements: 16 Erich Kankowski, 17 Mthunzi Moloi, 18 Rikus Zwart, 19 Michael Meyer, 20 Damien Stevens, 21 Kelvin Elder, 22 Justin Newman
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The 10 is a bit unknown to me to be honest. otherwise looks a fairly solid side, guess we will see how they perform as a majority of them didnt exactly cover themselves in glory in CC qualifying so hopefully in their Age group they excel.
Good luck guys!!!
Very strong forward pack with all of them having played last year. Worried about the backs, I do not know anything about De Vos at 10, Inno was an important cog in this side. Tomorrow will certainly be interesting.
@Vonno13 (Comment 3) : I’m worried about the soft start we have. Kings and Leoaprds aren’t going to test us, but then we face Bulls and WP pretty much immediately afterwards
a little disappointed that nobody caught my awkward silence joke 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 5) : that competition is dead to us 😉
@JD (Comment 6) : ha! Good point
@robdylan (Comment 7) : any idea where we can get updates of both matches as I don’t think they will be on tv? Will do updates for CC game as it will be on Supersport.
Is Nkosi injured?
@money (Comment 9) : also wondered that. I think he may be,
@JD (Comment 8) : Both matches? I presume the second one is the under 19 game…..I didnt know that they were still playing……
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 11) : yes was taking about under 19’s and under 21’s. Why do you think they would not be playing?
@JD (Comment 12) :……no news on them anywhere for a long time now.