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SEWE spelers wat alreeds die Suid-Afrikaanse Skole-span verlede jaar verteenwoordig het, sal van more af van nuts af die naasionale skolekeurders op die 50ste Cravenweek vir hoërskole hier moet beïndruk.

Die sewetal is Daniël du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez (albei KwaZulu-Natal) Ox Nche (Vrystaat), Jurie Linde, Justin Phillips (albei Blou Bulle) Duhan van der Merwe (Suid-Westelike Distrikte) en Jinxi Molapo (Limpopo Blou Bulle).

Die Du Preez-tweeling is die seuns van die voormalige Springbok-skrumskakel Robert du Preez. Dit sal die duo se derde Cravenweek wees. Voorwaar ‘n gebeurtenis wat nie meer vandag so alledaags is nie. Die twee se ouer broer Robert jr. was die Jong Bokkies se losskakel op die Wêreldkampioenskap vroeër vanjaar. Die voormalige Bok, Hugh Reece-Edwards se seun Matthew sou ook saam die Du Preez-broers vir die Piesangboere uitgedraf het. Hy moes egter weens ‘n besering onttrek.

Die beserings van nog twee SA Skole spelers van verlede jaar JD Schickerling (WP-slot) en die Volstruisboere se senter Warrick Gelant het die mylpaal-toernooi van nog twee sterre beroof. Die besering van die Leeus se stut Frans van Wyk het nog ‘n moontlike SA Skole kandidaat se deelname beëindig.

Boland was laas in 2010 op Welkom onoorwonne op die toernooi en toe was die Jong Bokkies Wian
Liebenberg en Pieter-Steph du Toit in sy geledere. Liebenberg was die kaptein en sou later ook die nasionale o.20-span tot wêreldkampioen aanvoer.

Die twee se jonger broers die slot Johan du Toit en Hanro Liebenberg is vanjaar ook vir die Wynboere in aksie. Die jonger Liebenberg voer ook natuurlik dié span aan. Die Du Toit’s se oupa is Piet “Spiere” du Toit wat 14 toetse vir die Springbokke gespeel het.

Nog ‘n voormalige Springbok wie se seun in Polokwane gaan uitdraf is die van Michael du Plessis. Sy seun Daniël speel soos hy op binnesenter en behoort een van Westelike Provinsie se staatmakers op die toernooi te wees.

Die spelers om dop te hou op vanjaar se toernooi is:

Heelagters: EW Viljoen (Vrystaat), Kobus Engelbrecht (Valke), Malcolm Jaer (OP), Eduan Keyter (Blou Bulle), Corné Vermaak (KZN), Sechaba Matsoele (Griffons).

Vleuels: Duhan van der Merwe (SWD), Jinxi Molapo (Limpopo Blou Bulle), Dylan Vermaak (OP), Banele Ngwenya (KZN), Stephen Rautenbach (Vrystaat), Ralton October (Leeus), Grant Hermanus (WP).

Senters: Jurie Linde, Franco Naudé (albei Blou Bulle), Daniël du Plessis (WP), Sampie Hearn (Valke), Simon Bolze (Grens), Dimitrio Tieties (Griekwas), Gerdus van der Walt (Leeus). \

Losskakels: Innocent Radebe (Leeus), Ruan Potgieter (Valke), Dewald Human (SWD), Ernst Stapelberg (OP), Lungelo Gosa (Grens).

Skrumskakels: Justin Phillips (Blou Bulle), Johan Esterhuizen (Leeus), Remu Malan (SWD), Rowan Gouws (Pumas), GM Bruwer (Griekwas).

Agtstemanne: Rikus Bothma (WP), Hanro Liebenberg (Boland), Jasper Wiese (Griekwas-platteland), Menzi Nhlabbathi (Pumas).

Flanke: Jean-Luc du Preez (KZN), Marius Louw (Vrystaat), Jacques Vermeulen (WP), Geor Malan (SWD), Willandré Kotzenberg (Pumas), CJ Velleman (OP), André Janse van Vuuren (Griffons).

Slotte: RG Snyman, Hyron Andrews (albei Blou Bulle), Daniël du Preez (KZN), Eduard Zandberg (SWD), Johan du Toit (Boland), Rhyno Herbst (Leeus).

Vaskopstutte: Ronnie Beyl (OP-platteland), Ruan Kramer (Vrystaat), Francois van der Merwe (WP), Stefan Grundlingh (SWD).

Loskopstutte: Oc Nche (Vrystaat), Thomas du Toit (WP), Xander van Wyk (Blou Bulle).

Hakers: Francois Steyn (Blou Bulle), Andrew du Plessis (Vrystaat), Daniël du Plessis (WP).

DIT is heel gepas dat die 50ste Cravenweek vir hoërskole van Maandag af in Polokwane voorheen Pietersburg aangebied word. Vyftig jaar gelede is ‘n seun van die omgewing, Koos de Lange na afloop van dié eerste toernooi in Oos-Londen as die netjieste speler op die toernooi aangewys.

De Lange het slot vir Noord-Transvaal in die geskiedkundige toernooi gespeel.

De Lange was ‘n leerling aan die Hoër Landbouskool Kuscke net buite Polokwane. Hy het met geleende tokse vir sy skool se eerste span uitgedraf en was heel verbaas om sy pa Adriaan en ma Sannie by die proefwedstryd te sien. “Hulle het vir my nuwe tokse gegee en ek het toe in die proewe vir die eerste keer met my eie tokse gespeel. Ons het nog met die trein van Pretoria stasie af na Oos-Londen vir die toernooi gereis. Ons het saam met Rhodesië (deesdae Zimbabwe) in Selborne-kollege se koshuis gebly,” onthou De Lange oor die eerste Cravenweek.

De Lange het na elke wedstryd sy tokse met politoer gepoets en ook sy veters en broek daagliks gewas. Hy het ook met geleende netjiese klere na Oos-Londen gegaan en het dié ook met sorg hanteer. Dié toekenning het hy ‘n hele ruk na dié toernooi ontvang. “Ons skoolhoof het in die saal gesê dat hy goeie terugvoer van die destydse voorsitter van die Suid-Afrikaanse Skole-vereniging Jan Preuyt ontvang het. Dis toe dat ek die toekenning met Preuyt se handtekening in ontvangs geneem het,” vertel De Lange.

Vir die mense wat dink talentwerwers is ‘n ding wat eers in die beroepsera begin kop uitsteek het, het De Lange ‘n staaltjie wat die teendeel bewys. “Ons het almal na die toernooi as afskeid gebraai en Dok Craven het sy visitekaartjie in my hand gesteek en gevra wat ek volgende jaar doen. Hy het ook gesê ek moet dat my pa hom bel as ek in Stellenbosch wil gaan swot. My pa het hom nooit gebel nie,” het De Lange vertel.

Noord-Transvaal se skolespan is daardie jaar deur die losskakel Johan van Blommenstein aangevoer. Hy het ook later die Ligbloues se seniorspan op die veld gelei. Toekomstige Springbokke soos Martin van Rensburg (Natal) en Mike Jennings (Westelike Provinsie) het hulle tande op dié eerste toernooi geslyp.

De Lange is die eienaar van ‘n moterhawe in Virginia wat hy en sy vrou Marissa saam bedryf. Hy het na skool vir Durban Wanderers klubrugby gespeel en ook vir Natal se o.20-span. Hier het hy ondermeer saam met die voormalige Springbok-breier Ian MacIntosh en voormalige Springbok Martin van Rensburg gespeel. Hy het daarna na Johannesburg verhuis en hy het in sy eerste wedstryd vir Diggers sy nek gebreek wat sy loopbaan kort geknip het.

St. Andrews of Bloemfontein will host the annual Independent Schools Festival from tomorrow in the City of Roses as part of their 150th birthday celebrations. Sentraal from Bloemfontein also got an invitation and will play with a team without their Academy Week players.

The teams: 

St. Andrews (Bloemfontein): 15 Dean Tucker, 14 Phano Khalema, 13 Max Mitchell, 12 Bophelo Moloi, 11 Sam Lin, 10 Seleke Taje, 9 Sinclair Marais, 8 Lawrence Danso, 7 Tsepang Bereng, 6 Khosi Molapo, 5 Kyle Hartley, 4 Ross Middlecote, 3 Anthony Rawson, 2 JR de Bruin, 1 Steven Wu. Replacements: 16 Marc Brown, 17 Tebogo Kwagile, 18 Tristan Davis, 19 Gao Aaron, 20 Kevin Pretorius, 21 Carl Fitzpatrick, 22 Bokang Mosala.

Clifton: 15 Sean May, 14 Joshua Niemand, 13 Keegan Nell, 12 Gareth May, 11 William Thatcher, 10 Manqoba Cele, 9 Karl Goedeke, 8 Travis Rutter, 7 Dillon Faber, 6 Ruben Vosloo, 5 Aiden Trench, 4 Daniel Pestana, 3 Bryan Murray –Rodgers, 2 Keegan McVicar, 1 Nicholas Downes. Replacements: 16 James Law, 17 Matthew Law, 18 Dean Jacobs, 19 Jason Briggs, 20 Dalen Ramnarain, 21 Jean-Luc Robert.

Michaelhouse: 15 Zander Prinsloo, 14 Bader Pretorius, 13 Gary Porter, 12 Farai Mundariki, 11 Robert Lee, 10 Brandon Landsberg, 9 Daniël Kramer, 8 Christopher Kelland, 7 Gregory Jackson, 6 Cameron Holenstein, 5 Liam Furniss, 4 Ciaran Furniss, 3 Nicholas Egberink, 2 Billy Dean, 1 Louis Albertse. Replacements: 16 Bradley Roberts, 17 Jason Schwegmann, 18 Jacques Swarts, 19 Brandon Tattam, 20 Thomas Walker, 21 Jack Walters, 22 Christopher Whiting.

Penryn College: 15 Nick Wilken, 14 Munyaratzi Mavarutha, 13 Mtunzi Mcube, 12 Michael Nkosi, 11 Matthew Tomlinson, 10 Lucas Burger, 9 Ketho Mhlombo, 8 Jacques Potgieter, 7 Gidyon Lankers, 6 Eric Fernandez, 5 Costa Tsobanoglou, 4 Bryan Pingo, 3 Bonga Khoza, 2 Andele Shelembe, 1 Akani Mbaso. Replacements: 16 Phila Matsebula, 17 Rainard Scholtz, 18 Romeo Ndzukulu, 19 Shaun Sethole, 20 Telvin Mthlongo, 21 Vuyu Hayward, 22 William Bennett, 23 William Wilken.

Somerset College: 15 Matthew Healy, 14 Konstandino Kappatos, 13 William Kingwill, 12 Anrich Essman, 11 Manande Bikitsha, 10 James Freemantle, 9 Robbie Stuart, 8 Joseph Gebers, 7 Anthony Tennick, 6 Andreas Janse van Rensburg, 5 David Ribbens (captain), 4 Frederik Bakker, 3 Anthony Read, 2 Joshua Carroll, 1 Francois Paulsen. Replacements: 16 Songo Ngudu, 17 Keegan Ekermans, 18 Harry Lines, 19 Aiden Morgan-Wilson, 20 Michael Holloway, 21 Jules Troxler, 22 Oscar Henman.

Sentraal: 15 Neil le Roux, 14 Tiaan Wolvaardt, 13 Tumi Tukelhele, 12 Denzill Fiff, 11 Wian Koekemoer, 10 DP de Lange, 9 Brendan Bruwer, 8 Stefan Kruger, 7 Franco Tack, 6 DB Nel, 5 SJ Wessels, 4 Ben Moodie, 3 St. Andre Durandt, 2 Ryno Gerber (captain), 1 Lafras Bekker. Replacements: 16 Hennie du Plessis, 17 Stephan van Heerden, 18 Johan Strydom, 19 Hanno Prinsloo, 20 Stefanus Eckard, 21 DJ Hefer, 22 JP de Waal, 23 Roan van der Westhuizen

St. Alban’s College: 15 James Godlonton, 14 Brent Christoffel, 13 Daniel Coughlan, 12 Dylan McCann, 11 Ross Colesky, 10 Max Barwell, 9 Chris Ford, 8 Caleb Whiskin, 7 Dylan Hugo, 6 Devon Landman, 5 Daniel Brown, 4 Sean Sweetlove, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Kwame Adu, 1 Cullan Moore. Replacements: 16 Kean Dry, 17 Bradford Asbury, 18 Michael Esterhuyzen, 19 Zola Ngcikwe, 20 Ryan Posthumus, 21 Julius van der Westhuizen, 22 Machudu Raphunga, 23 Ruan Muriso.

Uplands College: 15 Sandile Jele, 14 Juan-Paul Meintjies, 13 Jan Jerling, 12 Ryan Brain, 11 Kgemodise Molale, 10 Swelake Sacolo, 9 Chris Adams, 8 Msimisi Sacolo, 7 Sizwe Khoza, 6 Hannes Hamer, 5 Luker Ryle, 4 Andrew Jackson, 3 Michel Mesquita, 2 Joshua Ward, 1 Siyabonga Matsebula. Replacements: 16 Breandan Lilford, 17 Alex Bezuidenhout, 18 Rome Nunn, 19 Freddy Mbuli, 20 Joshua Weir, 21 Jacques Rabe, 22 Willie Engelbrecht, 23 Devon Eaton, 24 Bruce de Amaral, 25 Aidan Head, 26 Tiago Pareskova, 27 Christiaan le Roux, 28 Rui de Lima, 29 Victor Santalla.

St. John’s College: 15 F Gmeiner, 14 T Oberholzer, 13 S Mkhize, 12 C Moses, 11 N Sayanvala, 10 O Gnodde, 9 D Testa, 8 T Rapelwane, 7 R Brinkman, 6 J Eckersly, 5 D Stone (captain), 4 R Warinda, 3 A Marquis, 2 L Pann, 1 P Qwabe. Replacements: 16 D Kalz, 17 J Hale, 18 J Swanepoel, 19 N Rowe, 20 W Malan, 21 J Reinecke, 22 S Greeff.

St. Benedict’s College: 15 Andrew Worthington, 14 Senkie Mafuma, 13 Matteo Biffi, 12 Nelson da Bastos, 11 Kathleho Tsotesi, 10 Vito Kotton, 9 Geo Louw, 8 Jamie Tweedie, 7 Tapiwa Mangwana, 6 Christopher Worthington, 5 Tatenda Zhoya, 4 Joshua Macey, 3 Derino de Abreu, 2 Kaketso Malinga, 1 Jason Shultz. Replacements: 16 Dean da Silva, 17 Reinhart Osborne, 18 Daniel de Jesus, 19 Paulo de Gouveia, 20 Mitchell Losper, 21 AN Other, 22 Tatenda Chimusoro.

St. Charles College: 15 N Mvelase, 14 J Freeman, 13 J Davidson, 12 M Mchunu, 11 K Jones, 10 J Neil, 9 A des Tombe, 8 R Langley, 7 S Mkhize, 6 W Squires, 5 B Sclanders, 4 G Oosthuizen, 3 M Sohkela, 2 D Spriggs, 1 S Mtshahe. Replacements: 16 T Sharply, 17 D Cox, 18 P Jacobs, 19 S Coetzer, 20 Z Mtshatsha, 21 A Hodgkinson.

St. David’s College: 15 B Masikane, 14 L Dyson, 13 M Lombard, 12 T Geach, 11 N Bangura, 10 J Steere, 9 A Magetse, 8 K Msebenzi, 7 M Symmonds, 6 J Rambo, 5 K McCauley, 4 I McHardy, 3 N Harding, 2 M Chalungumana, 1 M Mangwanya. Replacements: 16 N Nott, 17 T Bastenie, 18 J O’Donoghue, 19 B Leitch, 20 D Dustan, 21 R White, 22 J Shrank.

St. Stithian’s College: 15 C Ferguson, 14 C Simpson-Craig, 13 J Enslin, 12 A Dott, 11 C Swart, 10 C Dott, 9 J Sacks, 8 E Hunter, 7 M Wade, 6 S Eichner, 5 H Hankey, 4 T Brown, 3 M Ntsingila, 2 N Mayers, 1 T Ndlovu. Replacements: 16 D Kotze, 17 B Austin, 18 D Firth, 19 N Butler, 20 J Dott, 21 D Vorster, 22 B Goosen, 23 N Mayers.

Thomas More: 15 S Batchelor, 14 A Magagula, 13 J Walker, 12 J Houston, 11 L Homby, 10 G Borley, 9 T van Eck, 8 M Vosters (captain), 7 B van Zyl, 6 T Preston, 5 C Wesley, 4 R Princen, 3 A Whiting, 2 L van der Merwe, 1 J Relph. Replacements: 16 F Coleman, 17 K Coetzer, 18 M Fechter, 19 J Wikberg, 20 B Tooley, 21 J Wiborg, 22 J van Dyk.

Western Province is the unofficial champions of the annual Grant Khomo Week after beating the Blue Bulls 22-15 in the main match of the tournament in the Isak Steyl Stadium in Vanderbijlpark. 

This victory completed a doubleheader for the union in the Youth Weeks, as their under-13 team also beat their Pretoria rivals in the final match played in Bela-Bela last week.

In a thrilling finale to the tournament, Western Province’s innovative attack and solid defence earned them a well-deserved 22-15 victory against the Blue Bulls in a match featuring a mixture of tense and magic moments.

The team stamped their authority early on as they created two try-scoring chances in the opening minutes, but the Blue Bulls’ tenacious defence shut them out. The tables soon turned to attack as the Bulls scored two tries in quick succession to take a 12-0 lead. This, however, was short-lived as Western Province right wing Moegamat Cassiem-February sprinted to the tryline in the 21st minute, which was supported by a second try minutes later by centre Taigh Schoor, to level the scores at 12-12 at the break.

A penalty by Blue Bulls flyhalf Eduard Fouche two minutes into the second half broke the deadlock and pushed the team into a 15-12 lead. But the arm-wrestle continued as Western Province scrumhalf Jondre Williams slotted over a tough penalty to leave the scores locked at 15-15 with 10 minutes to go.

Western Province backed this up with a stunning try by Juandre Grobler whose dummy pass earned him a clear path to the tryline. Province had the opportunity to inflict further damage and seal the victory with five minutes to go as, but they failed to use an overlap, which cost them a bonus point try. The Bulls, however, refused to lie down and worked their way into Province’s red zone in the dying minutes, but their efforts were countered as the Cape side put their bodies on the line on defence to secure the victory.

KwaZulu-Natal, Namibia and Border also continued their success in the tournament as they completed a clean sweep of victories. KwaZulu-Natal defeated the Valke 33-19, while Namibia beat Zimbabwe 33-22 in the traditional “international match” and Border registered a 27-10 win against SWD.

 

The Leopards showed no mercy towards the Border Country Districts on the final day of the Grant Khomo Week in Vanderbiljpark. The Leopards thrashed Border Country Districts 106-6 in their match with Ernest Smiles racking up 25 points. Edmund Rheeder scored a hat-trick of tries in the match. 

Lourens Steenkamp, flyhalf of Griqualand West u16, contributed 19 points as his side recorded a narrow 29-27 victory over the Limpopo Blue Bulls in Vanderbijlpark. Steenkamp was successful with five penalties and also converted both his side’s tries. 

Scorers: 

Griqualand West 29 (20) – Tries: Johan Joubert, Jan Cloete. Conversions: Lourens Steenkamp (2). Penalties: Steenkamp (5). Limpopo Blue Bulls 27 (14) – Tries: Matimu Manganyi, Jacques Venter. Conversions: David Jacobs (3). Penalties: Jacobs (2). 

KwaZulu-Natal 33 (13) – Tries: Donovan du Randt (2), Ilunga Mukendi, Jaydon Morgan. Conversions: Bader-Werner Pretorius (2). Penalties: Pretorius (3). Valke 19 (12) – Tries: Pierre du Preez, Hendre Stassen, Banella Jafta. Conversions: Irvin Ali (2). 

Griqualand West Country Districts 21 (10) – Tries: Dian Dry, Gustav Loots. Conversion: Eben Nieuwoudt. PEnalties: Nieuwoudt (2), Lynthen Barties. Valke XV 18 (10) – Tries: David Joubert, David Henning. Conversion: Wernich Human. Penalties: Human, David Keyser.

Leopards 106 (29) – Tries: Edmund Rheeder (3), Ignatius Prinsloo (2), Bongani Nhlapo, Douglas Bruce-Smith, Francois Pelser, Gerrit Bezuidenhout, Gift Matoase, Johan Joubert, Kabelo Mogotsi, Katleho Thabanchu, Meluleki Dlamini, Michael Tolmay, Ernest Smiles. Conversions: Smiles (10), Martin Pelser (3). Border Country Districts 6 (0) – Penalties: Mbasa Peza (2). 

Namibia 33 (19) – Tries: Gerbus van Wyk, Cliven Loubser, Marino Goagoseb, Shgyr Smith. Conversions: Loubser (2). Penalties: Loubser, Pieter Steenkamp. Zimababwe 22 (12) – Tries: Michael Snook, Edwin Nxumalo, Brian Muntanga. Conversions: Campbill Nyakudya, Takudzwa Gamanya. Penalty: Gamanya. 

Eastern Province 29 (14) – Tries: Duan du Plessis, Immanuel Libbok, Kamvelihle Dilima, Yomelela Keswa. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2), Denver Kleu. Penalty: Bosch. Golden Lions 10 (10) – Try: Joseph Kamangu. Conversion: Kyle Lues. Penalty: Lues. 

Pumas 35 (7) – Tries: Fana Ngwenya (2), Mfundo Ndlovu (2), Eric Basson. Conversions: Rynard van As (4), Chris Hanekom. Griffons 7 (0) – Try: SJ Malherbe. Conversion: Luan James.

Free State 16 (3) – Try: George Rossouw. Conversion: Dawid Snyman. Penalties: Snyman (2), Niel Durow. Boland 14 (8) – Try: Andre Swanepoel. Penalties: Andriaan van der Bank (2), Andell Loubser.

Border 27 (10) – Tries: David Brits (2), Geraldo Joseph. Conversions: Morgan Steyn (3), Penalties: Steyn (2). South Western Districts 10 (7) – Try: Logan Stoffels. Conversion: Christo Hamman. Penalty: Hamman.

Western Province 22 (12) – Tries: Taigh Schoor, Moegamat Cassiem-February, Juandre Grobler. Conversions: Jondre Williams (2). Penalty: Williams. Blue Bulls 15 (12) – Tries: Warren Brits, Hluma Zondani. Converion: Eduard Fouche. Penalty: Fouche.

The SWD Eagles on Thursday concluded a successful Coca-Cola Under-18 Academy Week as they thumped Eastern Province 32-7 in the grand finale of the tournament at Glenwood High in Durban.

The George-based team were in top form throughout the competition as they secured thrilling victories against the Golden Lions and Western Province in their opening matches.

The 22-19 victory against tournament favourites DHL Western Province undoubtedly bolstered their confidence going into the final match following the Cape side’s emphatic 93-0 victory against the Red Valke on the opening day.

The Eagles entertained the crowd by running in a total of five tries to only one scored by their opponents.

A penalty by John Jackson opened the scoring in the seventh minute, which triggered the team’s first half dominance as they cruised to a 22-0 lead at the break.

Wynand de Necker and Hendri Storm crossed the chalk first, with Domenic Smit adding another to the tally shortly after the break. But the score was inflated significantly by two tries in two minutes in the third quarter, which handed the side a 32-0 lead.

Eastern Province, however, scored a late consolation try for their only points of the match.

The Griffons also finished the tournament on a high as they defeated KwaZulu-Natal Country Districts 34-20 to round off their unbeaten run.

In other matches, Western Province registered a 24-5 victory against the Pumas, hosts KwaZulu-Natal beat the Blue Bulls 32-28, Free State outplayed the Golden Lions 35-8 and Border outclassed the Blue Valke 76-10.

Scorers: 

Red Valke 29 (26) – Tries: Tries: Chris van Zyl, Christopher Schimper, Martin van Wyk, Zinhle Nhlapo. Conversions: Schimper (3). Penalty: Schimper. Namibia 25 (10) – Tries: Alastair Bock (2), Kurt Stellmacher, Jesse Harmse, Cameron McNab. 

Leopards 20 (17) – Tries: Tyren Waterboer, Mandla Ndlungwana, Eugene Hare. Conversion: Hare. Penalty: Hare. Limpopo Blue Bulls 17 (17) – Tries: Wessels Kuhn, Thabang Mashaba, Rinus Bezuidenhout. Conversion: Diederik Oberholzer. 

Free State 35 (25) – Tries: Alex Jonker, Dwayne Wessels, Jarmaine Achilles, Louis Nel. Conversions: Andre Swarts (3). Penalties: Swarts (3). Golden Lions 8 (3) – Try: Justin Bhana. Penalty: Ruan Conradie. 

SA LSEN 48 (26) – Tries: Storm Kunde (2), Aamir Visser (2), Thabo Tau, Nathier April, Keanan Parnell, Adolf Gelderblom. Conversions: Rameez Nell (4). Border Country Districts 5 (0) – Try: Phendula Dyantyi. 

Griffons 34 (27) – Tries: Reitumetse Mofokeng, Lethole Mokoena, Justin Williams, Jamille Afrika, Innocent Valashiya. Conversions: Tokkie van Zyl (3). Penalty: Van Zyl. KwaZulu-Natal Country Districts 20 (10) – Tries: Malcolm Cele, Lonwabo Mabande, Jaco Pretorius. Conversion: Johan Heunes. Penalty: Heunes. 

KwaZulu-Natal 32 (19) – Tries: Chris Lines (2), Lindokuhle Ntombela, Kelvin Elder, Gerhard Coetzee. Conversions: Curtis Jonas (2). Penalty: Lines. Blue Bulls 28 (28) – Tries: Sean Joyce (2), Tinus de Beer, Dawie Venter. Conversions: De Beer (4).

Western Province 24 (17) – Tries: Mitch Lingeveldt, Joel Quene, Edwill van der Merwe, Dante van der Merwe. Conversions: Adriaan Carelse (2). Pumas 5 (0) – Tries: Chris de Waal.

When Innocent Radebe goes to Polokwane next week to play in the Coca-Cola Craven Week it will be the fifth Coca-Cola Youth rugby week that he will be attending – proof that his rugby pedigree runs deep, and that his burgeoning talent was identified early, and has been nurtured through the years by SA Rugby and the Coca-Cola youth development system.

He is the only representative of his school, St Stithians College, in the Golden Lions team, but he does not feel isolated because he has come a long way with this group of players – many of them were there when he played for the province’s under-13s at the Coca-Cola u-13 Craven week, twice; at the Coca-Cola u-16 Grant Khomo Week two years ago; and at under-18 Craven Week last year.

His appearance at the Coca-Cola Craven Week in Port Elizabeth last year did not go well, he says. “I played centre, which is out of position, because I’m a flyhalf, so my confidence was not high. However it is a new year and I will go out there and play my best.”

In 2011 after he played in the Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week he was named in the elite group of players that was identified, and his dream is to be recognised again this year, and to make the SA Schools team.

Innocent attended an Afrikaans medium primary school – Laerskool Millenium – before being granted a bursary to attend St Stithians. In his early high school days he was also a keen cricketer, but a shoulder injury put an end to his bowling career and he decided to focus on rugby.

He comes from a humble background – his mother is a domestic servant in the Joe and Annette Toweel household. He has lived with the Toweels since birth and regards them as his family. He was devastated when Annette died a few years ago as he says she was a second mother to him, and a big influence in his life. “She was my inspiration, my mentor and taught me how to keep going no matter what challenges I had to face,” he said. Since her death the Toweel children, who are much older than him, have encouraged and helped him and are now his mentors. They have, and continue, to attend every game he plays in, and they will be in Polokwane to watch him at the Coca-Cola Craven Week.

Rugby is very much part of the future Innocent envisages. “I want to focus on playing next year, and although I know that at some stage I am going to have to study further, I’m not sure of what I want to do. I know I can’t rely on sport as it has a short lifespan after which there are plenty of years to live and grow,” he says.

Innocent gives a lot of the credit for his success to St Stithians director of rugby, Freddie Grobbler. He says he has a management and coaching style which is very motivating and has given him confidence to try new things. “I had been plagued by injuries and Mr Grobbler sent me to the gym to build myself up and I have suffered very few injuries so far this season.”

The Coca-Cola Craven Week is where heroes are made and Innocent Radebe has the ability and the attitude to join the ranks when he runs out in Polokwane between July 8 and 13.

Western Province and the Blue Bulls on Tuesday took major steps toward contesting the unofficial final of the Coca-Cola Under-16 Grant Khomo Week on Thursday as they produced another round of classy displays in the top matches of the day.

The Cape-based side were in fine form from the kick-off against Eastern Province, as they capitalised on the opposition’s mistakes and backed their pace and skill on attack for their 34-22 victory. Their domination started in the third minute with Taigh Schoor crossing the tryline for the first of five first-half tries, which earned them a 31-8 lead at the break. Eastern Province, however, regrouped in the second half and produced a solid performance on attack and defence to force their way back into the game. This determined effort limited Western Province to a single penalty in the second half, while Eastern Province scored two converted tries to increase their tally to three.

The Blue Bulls also outclassed their Gauteng rivals, the Golden Lions, 42-14 thanks to their power and slick handling skills. This earned them six tries in total, four of which were scored in the first half, as they ran circles around the Lions for their 28-0 half time lead. Similarly to the opening day, however, the Lions bounced back in the second half by retaining possession and working their way into the Bulls half, which allowed them to cross the chalk twice. But the Bulls matched this to push the game out of the Lions reach.

In the other matches SWD, Border, Namibia and KwaZulu-Natal also continued their winning ways as they too registered back-to-back victories in the series.

SWD produced a quality display in which they scored two tries in nine minutes to cancel out the Pumas early 7-0 lead. They built on this impressive form in the second half with four tries in the last 10 minutes to increase their total to six tries – three of which were scored by Christo Hamman. Hamman also made his presence felt with the boot as he slotted over four conversions to take his total for the match to 23 points.

Border, meanwhile, slotted over a late second- half penalty against Boland to break the 13-13 deadlock with a few minutes on the clock and registered a 16-13 win, while Namibia’s three tries to the Leopards’ one secured their 19-8 win.

In Durban big wins again characterised day two of the Coca-Cola Under-18 Academy Week with the Free State thumping the Limpopo Blue Bulls 88-5, while Namibia registered their second 50-point score with a 55-12 victory against Griffons Country Districts and the KwaZulu-Natal XV defeated Leopards Country Districts 66-0.

The upset of the day, however, was SWD pipping Western Province 22-19.

The players will have Wednesday at leisure to rest before the final day’s play on Thursday.

Coca-Cola Under-16 Grant Khomo Week day 2 results:

Blue Bulls 42 -14 Golden Lions

KwaZulu-Natal 32 – 20 Griffons
Western Province 34 – 22 Eastern Province
Zimbabwe 21 – 29 Limpopo Blue Bulls
Leopards 8 – 19 Namibia
Border 16 – 13 Boland
Valke XV 16 – 24 Griquas
Valke 10 – 17 Free State
Pumas 7 – 38 SWD
Border CD 3 – 57 Griquas CD

Coca-Cola Under-18 Academy Week day 2 results:

Western Province 19 – 22 SWD

KwaZulu-Natal 17 – 24 Eastern Province
Border 7 – 25 Griffons
Pumas 22 – 14 Boland
Leopards 3 – 24 KZN CD
Leopards CD 0 – 66 KZN XV
Blue Bulls 24 – 20 Golden Lions
Griffons CD 12 – 55 Namibia
Free State 88 – 5 Limpopo Blue Bulls
Red Valke 48 – 6 Border CD
EP CD 21 – 11 Pumas CD
Griquas 17 – 26 Blue Valke
SA LSEN 33 – 17 Griquas CD

Issued by SARU Corporate Affairs