{"id":55072,"date":"2024-08-15T08:58:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-15T06:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=55072"},"modified":"2024-08-15T08:58:01","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T06:58:01","slug":"mnebelele-to-lead-sa-u18s-against-ireland-in-paarl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=55072","title":{"rendered":"Mnebelele to lead SA u18s against Ireland in Paarl"},"content":{"rendered":"
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WELLINGTON, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 13: Siphosethu Mnebelele of SA Schools scores a try during the U18 International Series, Warm Up match between SA Schools and SA Schools ‘A’ at Boland Stadium on July 13, 2023 in Wellington, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman\/Gallo Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With heavy underfoot conditions expected in Paarl on Friday, the SA Under-18s are under no illusion that a tough challenge awaits them when they face Ireland in their first outing of the 2024 u18 International Rugby Series.<\/p>\n

The match, which will take place at Paarl Gimnasium, kicks off at 15h30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport Schools, as will the opening encounter of the day, between England and Georgia, which is scheduled to start at 13h30. Tickets are available here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ireland delivered an impressive performance on Monday when they outplayed England 42-28 in their opening match staged at Stellenberg High School in Cape Town.<\/p>\n

The SA U18s are determined match the effort of the SA U18 \u2018A\u2019 side, who beat Georgia in their only clash of the series on Monday.<\/p>\n

In naming the team that will be captained by hooker Sethu Mnebelele, SA U18 coach James Winstanley said his group prepared well for the series and are looking forward to meeting the challenge of a very good Irish team.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are privileged to have an outstanding coaching, medical and support staff in place and most importantly a phenomenal group of players that are excited to compete in the U18 International Series,\u201d said Winstanley.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal as a staff is to create a gold standard experience for the players that they will remember for the rest of their lives. The overall aim of the U18 programme is to expose the players to the rigours of international rugby and prepare them for the pathway to the SA Rugby Academy and the Junior Springboks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winstanley also praised the players\u2019 efforts in the build-up to the much-anticipated series: \u201cThe SA Schools camp has provided us with the opportunity to align our structures and gain the momentum needed to produce Test match performances.\u201d<\/p>\n

The SA u18 mentor is confident that his team will be able to give good account of themselves in the annual series, starting on Friday against Ireland.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe team selection reflects the importance of set pieces and go forward in order to win the gain line and breakdowns at international level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a strong probability of heavy playing conditions and so our kicking game and defence was also a factor in the decision-making process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mnebelele also captained the SA Schools outfit against the SA Schools \u2018A\u2019 side last month in Krugersdorp, while AJ Meyer (lock) and Torren February (loose forward) have been drafted into the squad from the SA u18 \u2018A\u2019 team following injuries to James Schnetler and Kebotile Maake.<\/p>\n

SA u18 team to face Ireland in Paarl:<\/strong><\/p>\n

15 Akha Boqwana,\u00a014 Kuthadzo Rashivhaga,\u00a013 Markus Muller,\u00a012 Pieter van der Merwe,\u00a011 Zekethelo Siyaya,\u00a010 Yaqeen Ahmed,\u00a09 Ellie Meyer, 8 Reuben Kruger,\u00a07 Josh Mackenzie,\u00a06 Alutha Wesi,\u00a05 Riley Norton,\u00a04 JD Hattingh,\u00a03 Uli van der Merwe,\u00a02 Sethu Mnebelele (captain),\u00a01 Siba Booi.\u00a0Replacements:\u00a0<\/strong>16 Mahle Sithole,\u00a017 Phiwayinkosi Khubeka,\u00a018 Aidan Botha,\u00a019 AJ Meyer,\u00a020 Josh Neil,\u00a021 Adeeb Boraine,\u00a022 Simphiwe Moyo,\u00a023 Janco Purchase,\u00a024 Torren February,\u00a025 Ethan Adams,\u00a026 Cheswill Jooste.<\/p>\n

Issued by SA Rugby Communications<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With heavy underfoot conditions expected in Paarl on Friday, the SA Under-18s are under no illusion that a tough challenge awaits them when they face Ireland in their first outing of the 2024 u18 International Rugby Series. The match, which will take place at Paarl Gimnasium, kicks off at 15h30 and will be broadcast live […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":51447,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=55072"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55072\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=55072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=55072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=55072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}