Cape Town Skeleton made the long trip from the Mother City worthwhile by capturing the u17 title.
The Siphiwe Tshabalala Soccer Tournament concluded with a tension-filled last day of competition on Sunday at the Kgotso Grounds in Phiri, Soweto, with the prize of gold up for grabs across all of the four divisions.
In its ninth edition, the tournament, organised by the Siphiwe Tshabalala Foundation, exceeded expectations and showcased the continuing growth of the esteemed winter schools’ football competition.
Apart from the local Gauteng sides, the tournament also featured teams from the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape and the Free State.
It finished in style with the presence of notable personalities, including Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, football icons’ Doctor Khumalo, Lucas Radebe, and Edward Motale, and current players, among them, Kermit Erasmus.
A special legends’ match between Betway, one of the sponsors, and a Shabba XI, provided an exciting opportunity for the young talent to witness their idols in action. The tournament’s founder and organiser, Siphiwe Tshabalala, along with his former club and national teammates, captivated the youth with their football skills, showing that they still have what it takes.
Among those in action were Thuso Phala, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Kermit Erasmus, and Doctor Khumalo, all of whom donned the green and gold of Bafana Bafana.
In the battle for the titles, the finals were challenging and thrilling with little to separate the contestants in the title-deciders.
In the u15 boys’ final, Soweto Shining Stars faced off against Meadowlands Academy. At the end of regulation time, neither team had conceded a goal, which led to a penalty shootout. Meadowlands Academy claimed the honours from the spot by a 4-3 margin.
The u17 boys’ final was similarly tight and neither Cape Town Skeleton nor KVK Academy scored in regulation time. The boys from the Mother City, however, grabbed the title with a 3-1 win on penalties.
Thobile Molefe, the Goalkeeper of the Tournament (feft), and Leticia Sooane, the Player of the Tournament
The Ladies’ division delivered an intriguing final between Diepkloof Ladies and Mito Stars.
Those who follow women’s soccer in the SASOL region of Gauteng and beyond are familiar with the teams, who tend to bring out the best in their rivals.
On this occasion, Diepkloof Ladies emerged victorious, capturing their first title of 2024 after a 4-3 penalty shootout win to boost their sterling record in finals.
In the u20 division, the championship match featured Mike Stars and Nicaragua. A single goal decided the contest, with Samkelo Mkhulise netting in the first half to win the title for Mike Stars.
It was a tale of two halves, with Mike Stars dominating the opening stanza, but Nicaragua came back strongly after half-time to create some promising goal scoring opportunities as they searched for an equaliser.
Full Results
u15 – Meadowlands Academy 0(4) – 0(3) Soweto Shining Stars u17 – Cape Town Skeleton 0(3) – 0(1) KVK Academy u20 – Mike Stars 1-0 Nicaragua
The inaugural Kearsney Soccer Tournament, played in 2023, was a huge success, bringing together senior and primary school boys’ teams, and high school girls’ teams.
After the success of the inaugural Kearsney Soccer Tournament last year, the second edition kicks off on Friday, 12 July, with boys and girls from 33 high and primary schools taking part.
With the increase in the number of participating schools, enthusiastic footballers will be heading to Kearsney College in Botha’s Hill, from across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Northern Province, and the Eastern and Western Cape.
The three-day event provides an important boost for the development of football at grassroots level.
Teams from 16 boys’ high schools, eight girls’ high schools and nine primary schools will showcase their skills and enjoy competitive fun during their mid-year holidays.
The senior boys’ teams which will participate are the defending champions’ Durban High School (DHS), Northwood and Clifton College (Durban); Maqhutshane Secondary and Siyajabula High (both KwaNyuswa); Curro Grantleigh (Richards Bay); Ashton Ballito; Paul Roos (Stellenbosch); Urban Academy (Gqeberha); Tuks Sport High School, Sutherland High and Curro Hazeldean (Gauteng); Lebone ll College (Rustenburg), with hosts Kearsney College, Thomas More and Pinetown Boys’ High from the Highway area.
Participating girls’ high schools are Durban Girls’ High, Danville Park and Maris Stella (all Durban); St Mary’s DSG and Thomas More (Kloof); Ashton Ballito; Curro Hazeldean (Pretoria) and Lebone ll College (Rustenburg).
They will be joined by nine local primary school teams – Highbury Prep, Hillcrest Primary, Kloof Senior Primary, Winston Park, Thomas More, Atholl Heights Primary, Ashton Ballito, Reddam Ballito and Merchiston Prep, from Pietermaritzburg.
Kearsney Headmaster Patrick Lees said, following the tremendous success of last year’s inaugural tournament, the College was proud to continue to be a catalyst in the development and growth of football among girls and boys at school level in South Africa.
He said he had no doubt that matches would again be fiercely contested but played in a spirit of true sportsmanship.
“Playing in these matches allows young sportspeople the opportunity to meet and interact with many new friends. Memories and friendships will be forged that will stand the test of time in the years ahead – be it during the players’ school years, tertiary or adult lives.”
FIXTURES
SENIOR BOYS
Friday, 12 July
7:30 – Kearsney vs Paul Roos, Roberts
8:30 – DHS vs Urban Academy, Roberts
9:30 – Thomas More vs Curro Grantleigh, Roberts
10:30 – Sutherland vs Curro Hazeldean, Roberts
11:30 – Kearsney vs Curro Grantleigh, Roberts
12:30 – DHS vs Curro Hazeldean, Roberts
13:30 – Thomas More vs Paul Roos, Roberts
14:30 – Urban Academy vs Sutherland, Roberts
15:30 – Kearsney vs Thomas More, Roberts
7:30 – Pinetown vs Northwood, Osler
8:30 – Lebone II College vs Clifton, Osler
9:30 – Tuks vs Maqhutshana , Osler
10:30 – Siyajabula vs Ashton, Osler
11:30 – Pinetown vs Maqhutshana, Osler
12:30 – Lebone II College vs Siyajabula, Osler
13:30 – Northwood vs Tuks, Osler
14:30 – Clifton vs Ashton, Osler
15:30 – Pinetown vs Tuks, Osler
Saturday, 13 July
7:30 – DHS vs Sutherland, Roberts
8:30 – Paul Roos vs Curro Grantleigh, Roberts
9:30 – Urban Academy vs Curro Hazeldean, Roberts
7:30 – Clifton vs Siyajabula, Osler
8:30 – Northwood vs Maqhutshana, Osler
9:30 – Ashton vs Lebone II College, Osler
11:00 – 1st A vs 2nd C (Champs Quarterfinal) – 1, Roberts
12:00 – 1st C vs 2nd A (Champs Quarterfinal) – 3, Roberts
13:00 – 3rd A vs 4th C (Plate Quarterfinal) – A, Roberts
14:00 – 3rd C vs 4th A (Plate Quarterfinal) – C, Roberts
11:00 – 1st B vs 2nd D (Champs Quarterfinal) – 2, Osler
12:00 – 1st D vs 2nd B (Champs Quarterfinal) – 4, Osler
13:00 – 3rd B vs 4th D (Plate Quarterfinal) – B, Osler
14:00 – 3rd D vs 4th B (Plate Quarterfinal) – D, Osler
15:00 – Winner 1 vs Winner 3 (Champs Semi-final) – 1, Roberts
15:00 – Winner 2 vs Winner 4 (Champs Semi-final) -2, Osler
16:00 – Winner A vs Winner C (Plate Semi-final) – A, Roberts
16:00 – Winner B vs Winner D (Plate Semi-final) – B, Osler
Sunday, 14 July
8:00 – 7 vs 8 (Play-off Champs), Roberts
9:00 – 5 vs 6 (Play-off Champs), Roberts
10:00 – Winner A vs Winner B (Plate Final), Roberts
11:00 – Winner 1 vs Winner 2,) Championship Final), Roberts
8:00 – 15 vs 16 (Play-off Plate), Osler
9:00 – 13 vs 14 (Play-off Plate), Osler
10:00 – Loser A vs Loser B (Play-off Plate), Osler
11:00 – Loser 1 vs Loser 2 (Play-off Champs), Osler
SENIOR GIRLS
Friday, 12 July
8:00- St Mary’s vs Curro Hazeldean, Matterson
9:00 – Ashton College vs Thomas More, Matterson
10:00 – Maris Stella vs Lebone II College, Matterson
11:00 – Curro Hazeldean vs Danville Park, Matterson
12:00 – Thomas More vs Lebone II College, Matterson
13:00 – Durban Girls’ High vs St Mary’s, Matterson
14:00 – Ashton College vs Maris Stella, Matterson
15:00 – Danville Park vs Durban Girls’ High, Matterson
Saturday, 13 July
08:00 – Curro Hazeldean vs Durban Girls’ High, Matterson
9:00 – Lebone II College vs Ashton College, Matterson
10:00 – St Mary’s vs Danville Park, Matterson
11:00 – Thomas More vs Maris Stella, Matterson
12:30 – 3rd A vs 4th B (Plate Section Semi-final) – A, Matterson
13:30 – 3rd B vs 4th A (Plate Section Semi-final) – B, Matterson
14:30 – 1st A vs 2nd B (Championship Semi-final) – 1, Matterson
15:30 – 1st B vs 2nd A (Championship Semi-final) – 2, Matterson
Sunday, 14 July
8:00 – Loser A vs Loser B (Plate 7th/8th Play-off), Matterson
9:00 – Winner A vs Winner B (High Schools Girls’ Plate Final), Matterson
10:00 – Loser 1 vs Loser 2 (Championship 3rd/4th Play-off), Matterson
11:00 – Winner 1 vs Winner 2 (High Schools Girls’ Champs Final), Matterson
PRIMARY BOYS
Friday, 12 July
08:00 – Ashton Ballito vs Thomas More, Silcock
8:50 – Athol Heights vs Reddam Ballito, Silcock
9:40 – Highbury Prep A vs Kloof Snr, Silcock
10:30 – Hillcrest vs Merchiston Prep, Silcock
11:20 – Kloof Snr vs Ashton Ballito, Silcock
12:10 – Atholl Heights vs Hillcrest, Silcock
13:00 – Thomas More vs Winston Park, Silcock
13:50 – Reddam Ballito vs Highbury Prep B, Silcock
14:40 – Highbury Prep A vs Winston Park, Silcock
15:30 – Highbury Prep B vs Merchiston Prep, Silcock
Saturday, 13 July
8:00 – Merchiston Prep vs Atholl Heights, Silcock
8:50 – Ashton Ballito vs Highbury Prep A, Silcock
9:40 – Hillcrest vs Highbury Prep B, Silcock
10:30 – Winston Park vs Kloof Snr, Silcock
11:20 – Merchiston Prep vs Reddam Ballito, Silcock
12:10 – Kloof Snr vs Thomas More, Silcock
13:00 – Reddam Ballito vs Hillcrest, Silcock
13:50 – Thomas More vs Highbury Prep A, Silcock
14:40 – Highbury Prep B vs Atholl Heights, Silcock
15:30 – Winston Park vs Ashton Ballito, Silcock
Sunday, 14 July
8:00 – 5th Group A vs 5th Group B (9/10 Play-off), Silcock
8:50 – 4th Group A vs 4th Group B (7/8 Play-off), Silcock
9:40 – 3rd Group A vs 3rd Group B (5/6 Play-off), Silcock
10:30 – 2nd Group A vs 2nd Group B (3/4 Play-off), Silcock
11:20 – 1st Group A vs 1st Group B (Primary Champ Final), Silcock
SASHOC Chairperson Wendell Domingo at the 2024 u18 SASHOC National Week closing ceremony. Photo: TeamPhotoSA
The annual SASHOC National Week tournaments concluded this past Wednesday when the curtains were drawn on the u16 events hosted at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein.
In the A Section, the Boland u16 boys claimed the top honours, defeating Eastern Province 1-0 in a penalty shootout after regulation time in the final had ended at 2-2.
The girls’ section was won by Eastern Province A, who edged out Boland A 1-0 to claim their first national title since 2017.
A week before that, the Western Province boys and girls won the u13 titles.
Last month, the Western Province u18Aboys successfully defended their title, holding off Boland 3-2 in the final, while Southern Gauteng beat Northern Gauteng 4-3 in a penalty shootout to take home gold in the girls’ section. The teams had finished level at 2-2 in regulation time.
While the action was exhilarating in the Free State, the u14 event was hosted in Johannesburg, where the Southern Gauteng boys won gold, while the girls’ title went to KZN Coastal.
It was four weeks of enthralling hockey, which brought together the best of the country’s school players.
One man who was pleased with the talent on show was South African Schools Hockey (SASHOC) Chairperson, Wendell Domingo, who attended all of the Bloemfontein events and experienced the action firsthand.
In it, he spoke about growing the game, how teams can look towards the top regions to learn lessons about preparation, and he also looked ahead to next year’s events.
2024 was a success
Domingo began by declaring the 2024 events a success.
The u14 tournament, after several years of being played on a regional basis, was re-introduced as a national tournament, with Jeppe High School for Boys and King Edward VII hosting it during the holidays.
Meanwhile, Bloemfontein hosted the u13, u16, and u18 events for a second year running.
“Our events seem to be getting better as the years unfold, and I’m quite pleased,” Domingo told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“The standard of hockey has improved from what it was two or three years ago. I’m also happy that our regions are embracing our plans for the future.
“We started eight years ago trying to transform our game and giving everyone an opportunity to participate, and the teams are happy. There’s camaraderie among the players, and it looks like our future is in safe hands.”
Domingo cited Western Province A and Boland A as two of the regions that are “planning well” ahead of each SASHOC National Week. Photo: TeamPhotoSA
How teams can prepare better
In the u18 event, the Western Province boys were a cut above the rest and, despite being pushed by a resilient Boland side in their second meeting with their neighbours at the SASHOC National Week, they finished the tournament unbeaten.
That clean record was a repeat of the achievement of the 2023 Western Province team, and it was also a third gold medal in succession for Province.
Boland, who finished in fourth place in 2023, finished as the runners-up this time around, while KZN Coastal A secured the bronze medal for a second year in a row.
Those three teams were challenged by Southern Gauteng A, Northern Gauteng A, and KZN Inland A.
Meanwhile, in the girls’ section, Southern Gauteng A was unstoppable, while Northern Gauteng A and KZN Coastal A, the silver medal and bronze medal winners, were not far off the pace.
Domingo said the performances of those teams was a testament to the hard work those regions are putting in. He added that exposing players to club hockey further helps their development.
“Western Province, Boland, and a few of our top regions, seem to be getting it right,” he said.
“They start preparing their players before the end of each year, and you find, when they come back to the event, they’re better prepared and in good shape.
“I’ve also found that players that play league club hockey in their regions are much more mature compared to players that only play at school.
“You can see the difference and that’s why regions need to prepare players beforehand and not a month or two before the event.”
Photo: TeamPhotoSA
Taking the game to more communities
Currently, hockey in South Africa is being played at predominantly private and Model-C schools, and that’s something SASHOC wants to correct, Domingo said.
Despite the game being the fastest-growing sport in schools, there’s room for improvement, he said, and SASHOC, along with its partners, is on a mission to expose more communities to hockey.
“What we’ve done as SA Hockey in the past few years is that we’ve launched what we call the modified hockey programme,” he explained.
“The programme focuses on starting hockey in areas where the sport was never played before and having a footprint of hockey in all the districts in our country.
“Out of the 52 districts, we have [hockey in] 37 now, and the aim is to get the game out there. At the moment, the game is being played by a quarter of our schools, and out of the 23 000 schools, we’d like to see hockey grow.
“In terms of development, that must take place in schools and the club system. We, as a structure, can’t necessarily develop players. We don’t have the budget.
“We have programmes in place, and, with the help of the Department of Sport, we are trying our best to not only get more eyeballs on the game but also players picking up the stick.”
Looking ahead
For the past two years, the SASHOC National Weeks have been hosted in the cold of Bloemfontein.
Domingo hinted that a new location for the events would be on the cards because it is SASHOC’s policy to allow different regions to stage the events.
He further said that in the future SASHOC is looking at combining the u13 and u14 events at one location and doing the same for the u16 and u18s.
“We had this event in Bloemfontein, also, last year. We were always going to give a region a two-year stint to correct the mistakes of the previous year and improve,” he said.
“We have a tender system, where we send the events out, and at our annual general meeting (AGM), we will announce where the events will be for next year,” he concluded.
Kaizer Chiefs celebrate annexing the Gauteng leg of the 2024 Engen Knockout Challenge.
Kaizer Chiefs claimed the Engen Knockout Challenge title on Sunday after an intense battle in the final against the defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, which concluded the three-day tournament at the Marks Park Sports Club in Johannesburg.
The newly crowned champions were clinical throughout their title chase and capped off their stellar performances with a surgically efficient 2-0 win over the former champions, who were good but unable to match the Amakhosi‘s sharp finishing.
While the loss was a huge disappointment for the Brazilians, they will draw solace from the fact that Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies were crowned the champions of the women’s division.
After winning consecutive Engen Knockout Challenge gold medals, the University of Johannesburg(UJ) fell to Sundowns Ladies in the final.
That winning feeling! Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies celebreate dethroning the two-time defending champion, the University of Johannesburg.
Regulation time, a tactical battle, finished in a 0-0 stalemate, but Sundowns showed excellent composure in the penalty shootout, which garnered them a 4-3 victory and denied UJ a hattrick of titles.
The crowning of the Gauteng champions also marked the conclusion of the provincial phase of the competition. The winners will now prepare to compete at the highly anticipated Engen Champ of Champs where the winners from the nine provinces will tackle each other head-on for the ultimate prize of being crowned the champions of the 2024 season.
As it has in years past, the Gauteng leg of the Engen Knockout Challenge saw top football coaches and players coming out to enjoy the talent on display, with coaches such as Pitso Mosimane (Abha FC, Saudi Arabia, and former Bafana Bafana coach) and Desiree Ellis (Banyana Banyana) spending their afternoon at the tournament.
Other notable attendees include players’ Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana), Shandre Campbell (SuperSport United), Siyabonga Mabena (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Sphelele Mkhulise (Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana).
Engen Knockout Challenge Individual Winners
Girls u20
Goalkeeper of the Tournament – Casey Gordon (JVW)
Defender of the Tournament – Shannon Macomo (UJ)
Midfielder of the Tournament – Jabulile Mbatha (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Striker of the Tournament – Gugu Dlamini (UJ)
Top Goal Scorer of the Tournament – Gugu Mabitsela (JVW)
Referee of the Tournament – Sibusisiwe Mdluli
Coach of the Tournament – Andisiwe Mgcoyi (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Fair Play Team of the Tournament – Mito Stars Ladies
Player of the Tournament – Jabulile Mbatha (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Boys’ u18
Goalkeeper of the Tournament – Colby Sinclair (Randburg AFC)
Defender of the Tournament – Gopolang Taunyana (Kaizer Chiefs)
Midfielder of the Tournament – Gomolemo Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Striker of the Tournament – Ofentse Kgosana (Kaizer Chiefs)
Top Goal Scorer of the Tournament – Lucky Muthewi (SS United)
Coach of the Tournament – David Mathebula (Kaizer Chiefs)
Fair Play Team of the Tournament – Kathorus Hyper Academy
Player of the Tournament – Ofentse Kgosana (Kaizer Chiefs)
In a special season for Parktown hockey, 1st XI captain Ryan Venter led the side to the final of the Aitken Cup for a first time since 2010.
During the SASHOC National Week, hosted in Bloemfontein from 16-21 June, Ryan Venter was one of Southern Gauteng‘s standout players.
While Southerns didn’t enjoy as good a run at the tournament as they would have hoped for, the Parktown Boys’ High School 1st team captain and his team-mates were typically competitive as the Johannesburg-based team always is.
In the end, they finished fourth, going down 0-1 to KwaZulu-Natal Coastal A in their final playoff game. In total, Southerns played seven games, won two, drew two and lost three, with two of those being in the battle for the top four positions.
In their opener, against Eastern Province, a tight contest ended in a 2-2 draw. Second time out, they edged out the hosts, Southern Free State, 2-1.
They claim a hard-fought victory in their third match, edging out Northern Gauteng 4-3 at Grey College.
Then, in one of the games of the tournament, they fought back from a 2-4 deficit at half-time to rescue a 4-4 draw with KwaZulu-Natal Coastal A.
Southerns suffered a significant setback in their next outing, however. They led KwaZulu-Natal Inland 2-1 but were then brushed aside as the KZN boys produced a stunning fightback to capture a 5 -2 victory.
Still, Southerns made it through to the semi-finals, but Boland had their number, recording a comfortable 4-1 victory.
For Venter, being part of a side that made it through to the final four was a big step up. In 2023, he was part of the Wits team that won promotion to the A section.
Venter also shone for Parktown this season in the Aitken Cup, helping the school reach the final for the first since 2010 after a 5-3 defeat of St John’s College in the semi-finals.
The 2024 hockey season brought renewed pride in Parktown Boys’ High hockey. Here, captain Ryan Venter leads the school in a war cry after a game.
It runs in the family!
Now 18, he started hockey playing hockey when he was in grade 5, in 2017. Since then, he has made his mark in local schools’ competitions and on the national stage.
In 2022 and 2023, he represented the Southern Gauteng B team at the Inter-provincial Tournament, which is now known as the SASHOC National Week.
Venter comes from a hockey-playing family, he explained: “My mother was a provincial hockey player for Free State, when she was in high school, and my father was an ice hockey player, when he was in school. Hockey has been in my family for a long time, and I wanted to be just like my role models, my parents.”
If he’s not busy with hockey, then you’ll find the 18-year-old playing and following football, his other love. He told SuperSport Schools Plus that he has played the sport for as long as he can remember.
“I’ve played soccer my whole life,” he said. “My favourite player is Lionel Messi.”
The highlights
This season, Venter achieved a big milestone when he received his 100th 1st team cap for Parktown, alongside one of his best mates, Nicholas Townsend. Two other achievements in 2024, reaching the Aitken Cup final and representing Southern Gauteng A at the SASHOC National Week, also rate highly, in his book.
Ryan Venter’s commanding presence in defence was one of the keys to Parktown’s rejuvenation in the 2024 hockey season.
“Playing in the Aitken final is my number one,” he reckoned. “After years of Parktown not being on that stage, it was my proudest moment, as well as the team and [Parktown coach] Mr Reddy‘s, and playing in the u18 IPT finals with the Southern Gauteng B side last year and winning the game to promote the B side back to A section is definitely something I’ll always remember,” he added.
The Parktown Boys’ High hockey whizz also identified their first contest of the season, against St Alban’s College, as being particularly rewarding. After trailing, they fought back to claim a 3-2 victory.
“It was a very tightly contested game. St Alban’s managed to go 2-1 up. We won a shortie with only a few minutes left of the game and I took the flick and scored to equalise,” he recalled. “Not long after, Zeyad Davids scored an amazing backstick to put us up 3-2 at home. During that game, I feel like I played well. I moved the ball well and I was solid at the back.
“To play in a game like that, with the whole school watching, was something special. My teammates, Mr Reddy, and the school, were a driving force that helped me play a perfect game.”
For the team
Venter credits his coaches for helping him to achieve what he has in hockey. Team-mates, too, have made it a special journey, he added.
“Although we have been through a lot of good and bad times together, there isn’t any other team I’d rather end my Parktown hockey career with. These boys are amazing hockey players and even better human beings,” Venter said.
“I owe all my success to Mr. Kyle Reddy, for putting his trust in me to play in the side from grade 10. He saw something in me that many others did not. I’m forever grateful for what the team, Mr. Reddy and Mr. Le Forestier have done for me.”
The future
While playing for Southern Gauteng A at the SASHOC National Week was a big achievement for Ryan Venter, he has bigger goals on the hockey field.
“My goal is to play for the national side one day and hopefully professionally overseas somewhere,” he shared.
“Making the u18 A provincial side this year was one of the goals I’ve been working towards, and I hope to one day tick off more from my list,” he concluded.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 29: Likhona Finca of South Africa U20 celebrate after scoring a try during the World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 match between South Africa and Fiji at DHL Stadium on June 29, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
The Junior Springbok team to face England on Tuesday at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town in a vital Pool C match of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, show several changes from the line-up that faced Argentina.
The final group encounter kicks off at 19h00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Likhona Finca will make his debut for the SA u20s at right wing, while Herman Lubbe (tighthead prop) is set to earn his first Junior Bok cap off the bench.
Finca’s inclusion, in the place of Joel Leotlela in the No 14 jersey, is one of three changes amongst backs. Michail Damon is back in the starting line-up, as fullback in place of Bruce Sherwood, while Josh Boulle got the nod at inside centre over Phillip-Albert van Niekerk.
The pack of forwards show a further four. Casper Badenhorst rotates at loosehead prop with Ruan Swart; Thomas Dyer will start at lock, with Jaco Grobbelaar named on the bench; Sibabalwe Mahashe moves up from the bench and will start at flanker; and Thabang Mphafi moves from the side of the scrum to No 8.
Junior Boks head coach Bafana Nhleko said his team realises the magnitude of Tuesday’s game and they are ready for the big battle, having put the Argentina disappointment firmly them.
“For us it was about getting stuck into our processes and fixing a few areas from the Argentina game, ensuring we get our energy and focus back, for what is an important game for us” said Nhleko.
“We are mentally prepared and know the scale of this encounter and we are ready to meet the challenge of an England side that’s full of confidence following two wins.
“The players pride themselves on representing South Africa and they want to deliver an improved performance.”
Eastern Province and Western Province claimed big wins on the final day of the U18 Girls Week staged at Jeppe High School in Johannesburg, and they also contributed the most players of a new Elite Player Development squad that was named on Friday.
EP proved too strong for the hosts in the final match of the competition. The girls from the Eastern Cape led 10-0 at the break, before lifting the tempo in the second stanza. Lukhanye Lolo (wing) scored two tries in EP’s 36-0 win.
Meanwhile, WP scored 10 tries in their 62-5 victory over Border, with prop Anathando Khatshwa, wing Saadiqah Corbett and replacement Somila Magida bagging a brace apiece.
Earlier in the day, Free State crossed the line 11 times in their 57-0 win over the Leopards.
Zimbabwe fought back from a two-point half-time deficit to down the Blue Bulls 26-7, while the Sharks scored three late tries to edge the Pumas 20-17.
At the conclusion of the tournament, SA Rugby confirmed that a group of 36 players will attend the inaugural Elite Player Development camp for girls from Friday until Sunday.
Over the course of the camp, the EPD squad will be introduced to the Springbok Women’s vision, sit in on a talk from a former national player, undergo medical screenings, receive an introduction to rugby analysis, strength and conditioning as well as nutritional education, and a referee meeting.
Current Springbok Women assistant coaches Franzel September and Laurian Johannes-Haupt, as well as strength and conditioning coach Naasier Parker, will act as mentors during the camp.
Golden Lions coach Chanel Alberts has been named as head coach for the EPD programme, with former Test players Zolisa Noxeke and Nosipho Poswa as her assistants.
STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 04: Bruce Sherwood of South Africa U20 during the World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 match between South Africa and Argentina at Danie Craven Stadium on July 04, 2024 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
The race to the World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 semi-finals took several twists and turns on Thursday as England, Ireland and New Zealand maintained their 100 per cent starts, Argentina and Italy secured famous victories and Wales recorded their first win of the tournament.
The race to the World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 semi-finals took several twists and turns on Thursday as England, Ireland and New Zealand maintained their 100 per cent starts, Argentina and Italy secured famous victories and Wales recorded their first win of the tournament.
Los Pumitas and the Azzurrini saved the best until last as Argentina overpowered the Junior Springboks to win 31-12 at Danie Craven Stadium and Italy held on to beat Australia for the first time, finishing as 17-12 victors at Athlone Sports Stadium.
Argentina are now level on points with hosts South Africa in Pool C, five points behind leaders England, who beat Fiji 48-11 on day two.
Ireland leads Pool B, meanwhile, with two bonus-point victories from two, four points ahead of Australia with Italy two points further back in third.
Earlier, New Zealand produced a stirring second-half comeback to edge France in a 53-point thriller, and top Pool A ahead of Wales and Les Bleuets with one match to play. The Welsh had earlier beaten Spain 31-10.
Argentina had only beaten South Africa once in 11 attempts at this level before kick-off. However, they ran their hosts incredibly close in Australia in May and started quickly in Thursday’s Stellenbosch downpour.
Los Pumitas, who lost to England on day one, certainly weren’t scared of their opponents and took the lead in the fourth minute when hooker Juan Greising Revol profited from a powerful lineout drive.
South Africa looked stunned and fell further behind in the eighth minute as number eight Juan Pedro Bernasconi powered over in the right corner.
Fly-half Santino Di Lucca missed the conversion to leave the score at 12-0 but Argentina weren’t done there and another rolling maul led to Revol going over again early in the second quarter.
Di Lucca again failed to add the extras and although the Junior Springboks grew into the contest as the half wore on, errors cost them as they struggled to deal both with the physicality of their opponents and the conditions.
It meant Argentina led 17-0 at halftime but having been 21-7 in front at the break at Sunshine Coast Stadium two months ago, only to lose 30-28, they knew they had work to do in the second half.
Crucially it was Los Pumitas who scored next, in the 48th minute, and again it came from a lineout, albeit in very different circumstances to Revol’s first-half tries.
Perhaps evidence of the pressure the Junior Springboks were under, Argentina captain Efrain Elias picked off a Luca Bakkes throw on the hosts’ 5m line and gleefully dove over to score.
Di Lucca added his second conversion of the night but Argentina were pegged back for the first time just four minutes later as Elias’ second-row partner Felipe Bruno Schmidt sacked a South African lineout drive illegally and referee Takehito Namekawa awarded a penalty try.
Namekawa also showed Bruno Schmidt a yellow card, but Los Pumitas managed to see out the next 10 minutes without conceding further while a player light.
And as the rain continued to bucket down on the Danie Craven Stadium pitch, making the ball ever more slippery and harder to control, so the clock continued ticking on South Africa’s hopes of a comeback.
Argentina made sure of victory with a little over 10 minutes remaining as flanker Juan Penoucos charged down Liam Koen and then beat the Junior Springboks fly-half to the bouncing ball to touch down.
Di Lucca added the conversion to put Los Pumitas 31-7 in front and revitalise their hopes of making the semi-finals even after a late yellow card for Felipe Ladesma and the Bathobele Hlekani try that followed.
Boland, Western Province and the Sharks extended their respective winning streaks, while Eastern Province drew with the Blue Bulls on the second day of the U16 Girls Week staged at Jeppe High School on Thursday.
WP proved too strong for Free State, scoring 14 tries in an emphatic 88-0 victory. Winger Tamryn Booysen scored a hat-trick to help the Cape side finish the tournament unbeaten.
Boland also claimed their second win of the week when they beat SWD 13-0. The Sharks produced a superior second-half performance to down the Pumas 22-12.
The final game on the Jeppe A Field was a low-scoring contest, with the Bulls leading 7-5 at the break.
Bulls flyhalf Jordine Jonkers added a penalty goal while EP scored another unconverted try in the second stanza, and the game eventually ended in a 10-10 stalemate.
U16 results (Thursday 4 July):
Border 13 (10) Limpopo Blue Bulls 12 (12)
Griquas 5 (5) Griffons 10 (5)
Border CD 14 (7) Valke 15 (5)
Golden Lions 47 (26) Leopards 0 (0)
Free State 0 (0) WP 88 (52)
Pumas 12 (5) Sharks 22 (5)
EP 10 (5) Blue Bulls 10 (7)
SWD 0 (0) Boland 13 (6)
The final stage of the U18 tournament takes place at Jeppe High School on Friday, with the first round of matches starting at 08h00. EP will face the Golden Lions in the final match at 14h00 on the A Field, while the match between WP and Border will kick off at the same time on the B Field.
PIETER VAN DER MERWE, centre of the SA Schools side, is on his way to help his side down the SA Schools A-side in Krugersdorp. PHOTO: Marius Nortjé
KRUGERSDORP. – The South African Schools side survived another onslaught from their “second stringers” SA Schools A during their annual clash.
The SA Schools side won the encounter on the Ras van Rooyen field by 31-22 after trailing 17-19 at the break.
The first half of the match belonged to the second stringers as flyhalf Luan Giliomee showcased his class by outshining his opposite number, Yaqheen Ahmed.
The flyhalf from Charlie Hofmeyr in Ceres kept his pack on the forefoot with some long kicks while providing his backline with quality possession.
This gave Markus Muller at outside centre enough quality ball to slip more than a couple of times past the SA Schools centres. Muller scored a beautiful try as he slipped past Janco Purchase.
The national school side’s left winger, Zekhe Siyaya, scored a hat-trick of tries which helped his team bag the victory. Siyaya was named on the bench for the SA Schools side but got his opportunity once Cheswill Jooste (Noordheuwel, Golden Lions) had to withdraw from the team due to injury.
Jooste also missed the Golden Lions’ final match of the Stadio Craven Week against South Western Districts due to concussion. He will be ready to return to play just in time for the u18 International Series.
The SA Schools A-side also had the upper hand come scrum time which will have the selectors questioning a couple of their selections. It could also be that the SA Schools scrum doctor, Cobus van Dyk, who assists both teams with their scrummaging spent more time during the week with the second stringers.
Scorers:
SA Schools 38 (17) – Tries: Zekhe Siyaya (3), Kebotile Maake, Pieter van der Merwe, Ellie Meyer. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (3), Yaqheen Ahmed. SA Schools A 22 (19) – Tries: Junaide Stuart, Markus Muller, Dylan Miller. Conversions: Luan Gilliomee (2). Penalty: Viaan Mentoor.
