Tank Lanning
Picture the scene … SARU press conference to announce the SA U20 side … Smart room in a smart hotel in the middle of Cape Town … Plenty hacks gorging on free ribs and meatballs washed down with free Grape Fanta …
AND two former props with rib juice dripping from the corner of their mouths going head to head in a proper scrum in the middle of the room!!
Dawie Theron, former Bok loosehead and tighthead, and now the SA U20-coach, and I were discussing the scrum and all the issues that come with it these days. And both of us got to enthusing about a potential return to the “Fold in” where front rows bind on each other first, then fold into each other before starting the pushing and shoving … And of course you cannot discuss scrumming without acting it out!
Not sure what Jurie Roux and Pat Kuhn thought, but it was good value …
Also some good banter about how easy it is to milk a penalty at the scrum given how little the referees know about the actual goings on of the murky depths of front row play … Like pretending to hit, but not actually hitting thus making it look like the other side has engaged early … Along with a few other tricks he learned while at the helm of Griquas a few years back …
Personally, I always feel a little safer with a prop coaching a side … I think these SA U20’s are going to do well at the junior world cup … Speaking of which …
SARU named an extended group of players to attend the SA Under-20 training camp from 10 to 23 April in Cape Town.
This group of players will play two matches against Argentina, on 14 and 21 April in Stellenbosch, while an additional midweek fixture will feature an Invitational side comprising mostly of Under-19 players.
The young Argentineans arrive in South Africa on Easter Monday, 9 April. Two matches are scheduled for the Markotter Stadium (14 and 17 April), while the last fixture will be played at the Danie Craven Stadium on 21 April.
These matches will be the last opportunity for the South Africans to fine-tune their game preparations for the IRB Junior World Championship which takes place later this year in the Mother City. The JWC will be staged at two venues in the Western Cape – the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch and the University of the Western Cape in Bellville and takes places from 4 to 22 June.
Dawie Theron said the inclusion of several Under-19 players will give him and the national selectors the ideal opportunity to test the strength and depth of his training squad.
“Our planning is on track and this camp will give our players much needed game time against good opposition. We decided to add the midweek fixture so we could mostly bring the Under-19 players into the mix. It will be very good experience for them and another chance for us to test depth of our wider squad,” said Theron.
The coach was also delighted at the number of playing opportunities his squad members are getting at present. “A number of other players in our squad have been playing in Vodacom Super Rugby, the Vodacom Cup and the various Varsity Cup competitions as well, so I’m happy that they are getting game time.”
The following players were not selected for the training camp due to injury or Vodacom Super Rugby commitments – they will however be considered for the final squad selection: Steven Kitshoff (Western Province), Paul Jordaan (Sharks), Johan Goosen (Free State), William Small Smith (Blue Bulls), Paul Willemse (Golden Lions), Ruan Botha (Golden Lions), Ettiene Oosthuizen (Golden Lions).
The SA U20 training squad is …
Blue Bulls: Abrie Griesel, Hendrik van Wyk, Jan Serfontein, Jason Thomas, Marzuq Maarman, Jaco Visagie, Rudi van Rooyen, Shaun Adendorf, Tony Jantjies, Travis Ismail, Wian Liebenberg, Jacques du Plessis (U19), Andrew Beerwinkel (U19), Leneve Dames (U19), Marvin Orrie (U19), Neethling Fouche (U19), Ruwellyn Isbell (U19).
Free State: Kevin Luiters, JJ de Klerk, Hlanhla Hlungwane (U19).
Golden Lions: Fabian Booysen, Marais Schmidt, Mark Pretorius, Ruan Venter, Vian van der Watt, Harold Vorster (U19).
Sharks: Allan Dell, Franco Marais, Braam Steyn, Khaya Majola, Nicolaas van Dyk, Pieter Steph du Toit.
Western Province: Cobus Nel, Dean Hammond, Dillyn Leyds, Lungelo Chonco, Patrick Howard, Rayn Smid, Kobus van Wyk, Stephan Coetzee, Tshotsho Mbovane, John Ben Kotze (U19).
SARU also unveiled its innovative marketing strategy for the JWC, which will focus very strongly on the surrounding schools and universities in the greater Cape Town.
The slogan for the tournament is “The Future Stars of Rugby”.
Promotion includes the erection of several billboards at strategic locations in and around the City of Cape Town and the distribution of thousands of posters to schools, clubs and universities.
“We are really excited about some upcoming street activations at some of the shopping malls and our activation team will also visit various campuses, club rugby and schools matches to promote this exciting tournament, ” said Andy Marinos.
He added SARU will make several key tournament announcements during the next few weeks. The Junior World Championship Ambassador, Tournament Legacy Programme and several commercial partnerships will be announced during the upcoming month.
Tickets for the all matches, including the final, are as follows:
R50 per ticket for the Main Stand
R25 for unreserved seats
“We will launch the ticket sales in Mid-April once we have finalised all the details with Computicket,” explained Marinos.
What good will it do for Steven Kitshoff, Paul Jordaan, Johan Goosen, William Small Smith, Paul Willemse, Ruan Botha, and Ettiene Oosthuizen to be dragged into an u20 squad when they can gain so much more with the Super Rugby franchises? Perhaps some of them could use more game time but for the most part, I think they should be left alone so that other talented youngsters are exposed to top u20 rugby.
Moffie, gee predictions soos laas jaar.jy regte poefter tans en geen ballas nie. stop ander stories (wou se k8k). Mis jou indiepte insette op S15.