The results from around South Africa will be updated here as we receive the results from the various schools.
If your school’s match is not listed below or you would like to send in your team’s results – please contact us via e-mail at hockey@superschoolsnews.co.za or via WhatsApp at 072 172 5455.
All the Results:
CENTRAL REGION
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EASTERN CAPE
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WESTERN CAPE
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*C – indicates match was cancelled
As Pearson and Die Brandwag finish off their 2023 season, they will both be looking for a win on Saturday.
Pearson is leading the charge with 11 victories so far this year.
In their last fixture against Parel Vallei, they managed a solid 38-12 victory.
In June, they took the win over Daniel Pienaar at 48-17.
When Die Brandwag encountered Daniel Pienaar last week, Daniel Pienaar secured a 20-13 victory.
In their three most recent match ups, in 2018, 2019 and 2022, Die Brandwag was undefeated.
In 2022, it was extremely close, ending at 20-19.
Despite previous successes, with Pearson’s performance this year, Die Brandwag will have to fight if they want to continue this streak.
Nico Malan and Framesby will take the field together on Saturday to end off their 2023 season.
Nico Malan will be aiming for their 5th consecutive win and their 13th this year.
They took a massive victory over Die Brandwag on the 5th of August, ending the game at 59-3, and defeated Hoërskool Punt 31-7 this past weekend.
Framesby will too be entering the game as champions after defeating Marlow 30-25 last Saturday.
The teams:
Pearson vs Die Brandwag in Gqeberha at 14:20:
Hoërskool Pearson: 15 Caleb Friskin, 14 Luyolo Mba, 13 Troy Hargreaves, 12 Casper Fouché, 11 Erin Baisley, 10 Darren Julies, 9 Luke Friend, 8 Emile van Dyk, 7 Franco Erasmus, 6 Nicholas Hughes, 5 Dalton van Wyk, 4 Kian Rademeyer, 3 Ockert Strydom, 2 Andrew Hall, 1 Lunathi Njara.
Die Brandwag: 15 Androcles Adams, 14 Bihaco Japhta, 13 Jamiane Dampies, 12 Godwin Fillis, 11 Caleb Williams, 10 Ethan George, 9 Lu-Crain Muggels, 8 Janu van Jaarsveld, 7 Connor Crouse, 6 Ruan Meyer, 5 Remy Heymans, 4 Ruan Engelbrecht, 3 Hanré Coetzee, 2 Zak Rudman, 1 Eu-Lynn Williams/ Kyle Thysse.
Nico Malan vs Framesby in Humansdorp at 14:30:
Nico Malan: 15 Jaden Witbooi, 14 Owen Breda, 13 Themba Hlela, 12 Simphiwe Dlamini, 11 Leo Lategan, 10 Blaine Isaacs, 9 Jean Joubert, 8 Geovani Francis, 7 Hannes Kleinhans, 6 Mias Bierman, 5 Xadrien Rupping, 4 Edrich Kleu, 3 Cobus Vlok, 2 Steven Flemming, 1 Francois Smit.
Framesby: 15 Tristan Afrika, 14 Co-Zay Hendriks, 13 Regardt Viljoen, 12 Tony Williams, 11 Hugo Notnagel, 10 Logan Muller, 9 Johnny Antonio, 8 Zander van Zyl, 7 Johan van Zyl, 6 Gideon Barnard, 5 Jaco Pretorius, 4 Ryan Rousseau, 3 Zanco Els, 2 Hein Terblanche, 1 Sean Vermaak.
Grey College is on the brink of adding another perfect season to its rich rugby history on Saturday when they host Paul Roos Gimnasium for their annual FNB Classic Clash at 14:00.
Catch all of the action live on SuperSport Schools – Register now
Grey has looked to be in a league of its own this year, winning all 15 of their matches so far this season with some world-class performances against the strongest teams in the country.
Their dominance has, of course, also caught the attention of the national selectors and six Grey players have been selected for the South African u18 group to compete against England.
Captain, JJ Theron (eighthman), Ranon Fouché (prop), Jean Erasmus (prop), Marno Stopforth (lock), Christiaan van der Westhuizen (scrumhalf) and Ian van der Merwe (flyhalf) are all unavailable for the last game of the season as they make part of the SA u18 group. Paul Roos is also without Riley Norton (lock) who has been called up to the team to face England.
This fixture has clashed with the u18 international games for a number of years with both schools regularly producing some of the best players in the country.
The Grey College captain has no doubt about the abilities of the boys who will be taking their places for Saturday’s clash.
“Every one of them deserves to be there, in that moment, because they worked just as hard throughout the season,” said Theron.
His message to the players tasked with protecting the team’s unbeaten record for the season is simply, “The entire Grey family is standing behind you and backing you all the way.”
This will be the 36th encounter between these two proud schools, and Paul Roos will be looking for their 10th victory.
Last year Paul Roos not only managed to beat Grey’s first team for the first time since 2015 (34-19), but they also won the u19B, u16A, u15A and u14A games in a very wet Stellenbosch, so the Bloemfonteiners will have a point to prove throughout the age-grades this year.
Paul Roos’ captain and flanker, Andreas Oosthuizen, his big prop, Ryan Jack, and centre, Phillip Groenewald, were in the victorious starting fifteen for the team from Stellenbosch last year and will hope to end their school rugby careers by backing that performance up with another big win.
Theron, Van der Merwe, Stopforth, Fouche and Erasmus played in the Grey team last year and will not have the opportunity to get their revenge on Saturday, but their big line-breaking flanker, Jean-Henri Smit, was also in that team and will be itching for the chance to help set the record straight this year.
Keegan Scholtz covers the eighth man position for Grey in the absence of his captain, which makes room for Juan Venter to start at flanker. Emile McGeer and Danie Kruger fill out the front row, where they will have a huge role to play in asserting their dominance over the pack from Stellenbosch.
Schalk du Plessis starts at lock in place of Stopforth who joins the SA U18 squad straight after coming back from Trinidad and Tobago where he captained the SA U18 Sevens team to a bronze medal at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games.
Pharrel van Wyk, Grey College’s big Craven Week flyhalf gets to start in the place of Van der Merwe, with Phillip Mclaren at scrumhalf.
For Paul Roos, the only change is Charl Hollwill starting at lock while Norton is away.
Norton is only in grade 11 this year and will be a player to watch next year, having already made the SA U18 group. He is also a keen cricketer and was selected as a non-travelling reserve for the SA U18 cricket team earlier in the year.
Grey’s backline remains mostly unchanged and the hosts will be looking to players like their centre-pairing of Benito Goeda and Pieter van der Merwe to lead their attack.
While Grey has stood out this season, Paul Roos has produced a number of extremely impressive performances as well.
They beat Paarl Boys’ High in Paarl for the first time in twenty years by 35-17 with their two big props, Jack and Oliver Reid having a massive impact on that game.
If the Maroon Machine can dominate the battle up front again in Bloemfontein they may be able to cause Grey some problems.
Paul Roos will need to be at their best though, and after being subdued by Boland Landbou in Paarl in their previous match and losing by 28-12, they need to find their rhythm again quickly if they are to topple the Bloemfontein giants.
The visitors are bolstered by the return of their live-wire centre, Samuel Badenhorst, who was also part of the u18 Sevens team.
Their captain, Oosthuizen and his eighthman, Reuben Kruger, have been enforcers for their team this season and will undoubtedly be bringing that same physicality to Bloemfontein over the weekend for the fixture that both schools look forward to the most throughout the season.
The battle between the flyhalves will also be an interesting one to follow on Saturday.
Van Wyk is the more physical of the two but Paul Roos’ Lee-Jay Petersen has combined brilliantly with his lively little scrumhalf, Zeke January, to manage the game all season and in a fixture that has been decided by the smallest of margins, goal kickers are always of the utmost importance and whoever steps up to the kicking tee in the place of Grey College’s trusted regular flyhalf, Ian van der Merwe, will have a big responsibility on their shoulders.
Whatever the outcome, a derby between two of the powerhouses in South African school rugby never disappoints, and Saturday promises to be another classic.
The teams are:
Grey College vs Paul Roos Gimnasium at 14:00:
Grey College: 15 Vincent Wolhuter, 14 Hayden Tolmay, 13 Benito Goeda, 12 Pieter van der Merwe, 11 Martin Botha, 10 Pharrell van Wyk, 9 Philip Mclaren, 8 Keegan Scholtz, 7 Juan Venter, 6 Jean-Henri Smit, 5 Schalk du Plessis, 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Emile McGeer.
Paul Roos Gimnasium: 15 Declan Croy, 14 Etson Keehan, 13 Samuel Badenhorst, 12 Phillip Groenewald, 11 Keenan Stoffels, 10 Lee-Jay Petersen, 9 Zeke January, 8 Reuben Kruger, 7 Jean-Luc Joubert, 6 Andreas Oosthuizen, 5 Charl Hollwill, 4 Truspe Schoeman, 3 Ryan Jack, 2 Christian de Villiers, 1 Oliver Reid.
Other fixtures:
u19 B – 11:30 (Main Field)
u16 A – 12:40 (Main Field)
u15 A – 09:10 (Main Field)
u14 A – 09:10 (Oval)
Previous Meetings:
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South Africa under-18 head coach Katleho Lynch could not hide his disappointment after his team went down to France in the U18 International Series on Tuesday, but he urged his team to lift their heads and knuckle down as they start preparing for their second game, against England on Saturday.
Lynch realises it will be a tough encounter against a well-coached England side, who recorded a comprehensive victory over France last Friday, while were way too strong for the Western Province XV on Tuesday.
After England beat the WP team by 78-15, the South Africans were made to pay for a slow start against France, who led by 23-0 at the break before recording a 37-24 win.
While their first half performance wasn’t what the coaches had expected, Lynch was far more upbeat about what he saw after the break, with the SA U18s “winning” the second half by 24-13.
“It really was a game of two halves, and the high error rate in the first half put us under immense pressure,” said Lynch.
“In Test matches at any level, if you allow errors to accumulate and you keep on repeating them, you’re going to end up chasing the score, and that’s exactly what happened against France.”
An early injury to starting prop Ranon Fouche didn’t help the SA U18s’ cause, but Lynch, who offered no excuses for the defeat, was happy that the changes they made to the team bore fruit in the second half.
“Yes, our performance in the second half was much better, but by then it was almost too late and we had to chase the game,” he said.
“I was happy to see more spark from the players and we scored some great individual tries. We will now look to build our confidence off the way we finished the game and prepare accordingly for England.
“Apart from preparing the players – all of whom are part of SA Rugby’s Elite Player Development pathway – for matches, we also have to expose them to the pressure of international rugby, as that is where the selectors can distinguish between players who can make the necessary step up as they progress into the next phase of their development.”
Lynch will name his team for Saturday’s match later in the week. The final round of the U18 International Series takes place at Paarl Boys High School’s Brug Street fields on Saturday.
France take on the WP XV at 13h00 and the match between South Africa and England is scheduled for 15h00. Both encounters will be streamed live on SuperSport Schools.
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
Supersport United and Mamelodi Sundowns are set to headline an exciting round of weekend fixtures in the Gauteng Development League.
The u17 division of the Gauteng Development League has been a one-team show.
The SuperSport United u17s have been far ahead of every team throughout the season and the log standings tell a vivid story of their dominance.
On the pitch, Supersport United u17s are a well-put-together unit so much that even when the main u17 players receive call-ups to the u19 division and semi-professional competitions, fringe players that are within the Supersport United u17 division are able to make the step up and maintain their flawless standards.
As log leaders, Supersport United have lost only one out of 23 matches and have accumulated 60 points thus far. They have scored the most goals at this stage in the season with a whopping 81 goals netted and 29 goals conceded.
Sitting second are Mamelodi Sundowns u17s with 50 points in the campaign, having uncharacteristically suffered three losses in the competition.
Kaizer Chiefs, Randburg AFC and the Kathorus Hyper Academy all make up the rest of the top five log standings in the u17 division.
This weekend, log leaders will welcome their Pretoria neighbours, Mamelodi Sundowns, in what is a highly anticipated fixture.
Kaizer Chiefs will visit TUKS, Kathorus Hyper Academy will lock horns with TS Galaxy, while Randburg AFC face off against the Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School.
On the other hand, the u19 division has been a different story in that a team that is often referred to as a ‘minor’ team has finally brought the mighty Mamelodi Sundowns u19s to a standstill as far as dominating the league is concerned.
Like how the Sundowns senior team in the Premier Soccer League have dominated South African football, their u19 team were making a name for themselves in similar fashion in the highly competitive GDL.
Mamelodi Sundowns have topped the u19 division throughout the season but somehow Highlands Park have been able to go top of the log after last weekend’s action.
Highlands Park, based at the Balfour Alexander Football Club in Johannesburg, are sitting top of the log with 55 points while Sundowns are placed second with 54 points in the bag.
School of Excellence, Kaizer Chiefs and Randburg AFC all make up the remainder of the top five spots in the u19 division.
Supersport United u19s are sitting just outside the top five and will be hosting a determined Sundowns outfit, while Highlands Park will host Jomo Cosmos Football Club.
All the action will be available for streaming on SuperSport Schools on Saturday from 10:30 am SAST.
Grey-kollege beleef weereens hierdie jaar ‘n seisoen wat vir lank onthou sal word, ‘n groot deel van hul suskes is die leiding van hul agststeman en kaptein, JJ Theron.
Theron kon sy span tot dusver tot ‘n vlekkelose rekord vanjaar aanvoer. Paul Roos Gimnasium staan egter die naweek tussen Grey en ‘n onoorwonne seisoen.
Die span van die Rosestad sal boonop sonder hul inspirerende kaptein asook nog vyf staatmakers die wedstryd in Bloemfontein moet aanpak.
Theron sal saam met Jean Erasmus (vaskopstut), Ranon Fouché (loskopstut), Marno Stopforth (slot/flank), Christiaan van der Westhuizen (skrumskakel) en Ian van der Merwe (losskakel) Saterdag vir die SA o.18-span teen Engeland in aksie wees.
“Elke speler moet net die ou wat voor hom daar was se tokse vol staan. Een en elkeen van hulle verdien om daar te wees, op daardie oomblik, omdat hulle net so hard gewerk het deur die seisoen.” sê Theron oor die spelers wat hul plekke sal inneem om hul trotse rekord vir die seisoen te beskerm teen hul aartsvyande van Stellenbosch.
Die kaptein se boodskap aan sy span is eenvoudig, “Die hele Grey familie staan agter julle en ons ‘back’ julle al die pad.”
Theron is ook, na sy vertoning vir die Vrystaatse Cravenweek-span in George gedurende die skoolvakansie, gekies vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Skole-span, waar hy ook die span aangevoer het. Die SA Skole-span het sy wedstryd teen die SA Skole A-span met 36-26 gewen.
Theron se wedstryd is egter weens ‘n besering kortgeknip.
“Die SA Skole-groep is baie hardwerkend en doelgerig. Elke speler in die groep is gedrewe en ek dink ons kan baie suksesvol wees waneer ons weer saam op die veld uitdraf. Ek het ‘n skouer-besering opgedoen, maar ek’s reeds besig om te herstel. Ek voel baie positief en sien uit om so vinnig as moontlik weer op die veld te kom,” het Theron gesê.
Van volgende jaar af sal hy sy vaardighede verfyn by die Blou Bulle in Pretoria.
“Ek sien ongelooflik baie uit. Ek dink dit is die regte plek om myself te verbeter, as ‘n mens, en as ‘n rugbyspeler,” sê hy oor die komende skuif.
Theron het al in 2022 die verantwoordelikhede as kaptein oorgeneem by sy skool, toe Grey ‘n span sonder matriekstudente gestuur het om by die World Schools Festival in Thailand mee te ding.
“Ek dink die Word Schools Festival was gewis baie goed vir ons span. Dit het ons goed voorberei vir dié seisoen. Dit het my ook gehelp voorberei vir die kapteinskap. Dit was moeilik gewees, maar na daardie toernooi het ek baie tyd gehad om te dink aan hoe ons as ‘n span kan verbeter en te werk aan my leierskap,”
Grey het tot in die eindstryd van daardie toernooi deurgedring, waar hulle teen die room van Niee-Seelandse skole, Hamilton Boys’ High, die knie moes buig met 22-10.
Theron sien die toernooi as ‘n positiewe ervaring, wat hulle voorberei het vir die 2023 seisoen.
“Dit was goed vir die span om saam te reis en nuwe plekke te verken en die band wat ons met mekaar het net te versterk. Om dit tot in die eindstryd te maak was ‘n hoogtepunt, ek dink dit was ‘n goeie prestasie om met so ‘n jong span teen top-skole te kan presteer.”
Dit was ook die laaste keer wat die Bloemfonteinse rugbyfabriek se eerstespan nie aan die wenkant kon eindig nie.
JJ en sy span is onoorwonne hierdie jaar met 15 agtereenvolgende oorwinnings teen die top-skole in die land.
“Eerstens is dit vir my ‘n baie groot eer en ‘n voorreg om kaptein te kan wees van ‘n span soos Grey. Sonder Grey sou ek nie wees waar ek is vandag nie. Grey het my verander in die speler wat ek vandag is, en al van graad agt af geleer om onder hoë druk te kan presteer,”
Alhoewel daar nie ‘n geskiedenis van sport-presteerders in sy familie is nie, sê JJ dat hy eenvoudig van die begin af ‘n liefde en aanvoeling vir rugby gehad het.
“Ek het vir die eerste keer in graad een aan ‘n rugbybal gevat, en van daardie dag nog nooit weer terug gekyk nie. Oor die jare het ek al ‘n groot verskeidenheid posisies gespeel, van voorry tot senter, maar vandat ek by Grey is het ek in die agttal gespeel totdat ek myself uiteindelik op agtsteman bevind het. Dit is tans die posisie waarvan ek die meeste hou en waar ek voel ek al die meeste ontwikkel het,”
JJ kom van die Askham omgewing uit die Kalahari, maar was op Laer Volkskool Graaff-Reinet, waar hy sy liefde vir die spel ontdek het.
“Ek was van kleintyd af nog altyd ‘n WP-ondersteuner en as ek een spesifieke ‘n speler moet kies na wie ek opkyk sal dit definitief Duane Vermeulen wees, as ‘n speler asook ‘n leier. Ek probeer van sy leierseienskappe in my spel ontwikkel,”
Hy maak staat op sy geloof en ondersteuningsnetwerk om die druk te hanteer wat deesdae op jong spelers geplaas word.
“Druk is definitief vandag ‘n groot aspek van die spel. Ek en die span hanteer die druk te danke aan ons afrigters, ons ondersteuners en ons skool se ondersteuning en deur om in die Here te vertrou,”
Druk is egter volgens hom nie noodwendig ‘n negatiewe element van die moderne spel nie.
“Ek dink nie ons sou die gehalte rugby kon speel wat ons doen as dit nie vir daardie druk was nie, as ‘n span dink ek ons presteer op ons beste waneer ons onder druk is,”
“As jy daardie navy Grey-trui oor jou kop trek dan kry jy superkragte. Die motivering van die hele skool wat agter jou staan, en die trots wat gekweek is deur die ouens wat voor jou gekom het, dis wat ons in staat stel om onder soveel druk te kan speel.”
Waneer dit nodig is om te ontspan geniet JJ dit om weg te breek na waar hy die gemaklikste voel, saam met familie en in die natuur.
“Aftyd is maar min met skool en rugby, maar waneer ek die geleentheid kry geniet ek dit om tyd saam met familie te spandeer op ‘n plaas. Ek geniet die rustigheid en dit is vir my belangrik om weg te breek en net bietjie te vergeet van hoe besig dit kan raak,” het Theron gesê.
Die tyd het aangebreek vir die bestes om mekaar te pak in die uitspeelrondes van die SDC Noordvaal Cup Skild-afdeling.
Heidelberg Volkskool durf die rit Pretoria toe aan om swaarde met die gunstelinge tussen die twee, Oos-Moot te kruis. Oos-Moot beleef tot op hede ‘n droom seisoen en het nog net in ‘n naelbyt stryd teen Secunda in dié reeks vasgeval, waar hy die knie moes buig met ‘n telling van 41-44 op tuisbodem.
In die vroeëre kragmeting teen die Volkies kon Oos-Moot daarin slaag om met ‘n punt as oorwinnaars met ‘n telling van 33-32 uit die stryd te tree.
Die tuisspan was intussen die slagoffer van die beseringsduiwel en moes hy klaar kom sonder sekere sleutelspelers, waarvaan die spelskeper en agtsteman, Gert-Hendrik Grobler, waarskynlik die grootste terugslag is. Dit blyk egter of Grobler se afwesigheid ekstra wind in sy mede-gevaarmanne, Wade Williams en Ryan Scott, se seile blaas.
Die duo het uitstekende vertonings in Oos-Moot se laaste twee vertonings opgelewer en albei sal beoog om hul goeie spelpeil in Saterdag se halfeindstryd voort te sit.
Agterlangs sal die staatmaker, Charl van der Sluis (losskakel) saam met die gevaarman aan sy buitekant, Ruwan Allen (binnesenter) weer te siene wees. Allen se vermoë om swakpunte in enige verdedigingslinie uit te wys, sal die Volkie-verdedigers sonder twyfel op hulle hoede laat wees.
Aan die kant van Volkies het sy afrigter, Louwtjie Dalhouzie, nie minder as tien veranderinge gemaak aan die span wat verlede week teen Secunda vasgeval het. Die grootste daarvan is die posisionele skuif van Kayle Venter. Die gevaarlike Venter, skuif vanaf heelagter om sy posisie op buitesenter in te neem, wat die Volkies nog meer skietgoed in die middelveld sal gee.
Voorlangs skuif verlede week se slotpaar, Daniel Munro en Joshua Munro, onderskeidelik na oop- en toekant-flank om plek te maak vir Wilco Janse van Rensburg en Dyllan Stuart wat sal beoog om die fisieke stryd wat voorlangs wag, te oorheers. Die Munro-duo se skuif na die kant van die skrum beloof om vrugte af te werp, siende dat albei uitstekend is by die afbreekpunte.
Met Heidelberg wat die stryd betree as die buiteperd en Oos-Moot wat sy lippe aflek vir nog ‘n moontlike kans teen Secunda beloof hierdie stryd tussen Dawid en Goliat om ‘n volle 70-minute van klipharde rugby te wees.
Secunda sal hoop om een van die laaste hekkies wat tussen hom en die eindstreep staan te oorkom wanneer hy die buiteperd, Ligbron Akademie, Saterdag in Secunda pak.
Die onoorwonne span van Secunda is die gunstelinge om die beker huis toe te bring, maar gaan op sy hoede moet wees teen ‘n gevaarlike Ligbron-span. Die span van Ermelo het al vier sy laaste kragmetings gewen. Dit sluit ‘n intrukwekende oorwinning teen mede halfeind-finaliste Heidelberg Volkskool waar hy met ‘n telling van 31-17 geseëvier het.
Secunda verwelkom sy vurige haker, Henrico Fourie, en gevaarman in die 13-trui, Tyron Moolman, terug in die beginspan. Hulle sal hoop dat albei die spelpeil wat hul tot dusver getoon het kan voortsit om ‘n plek in die eindstryd te verseker.
Die besoekers het besluit om die vetroue in te span, wat hulle so ver kon bring, te behou en durf Secunda met ‘n onveranderde span aan.
Die Spanne:
Oos-Moot vs Heidelberg Volkskool in Pretoria om 12:45:
Oos-Moot: 15 Jeandré de Bruyn, 14 Ewald Wolmarans, 13 Stian Oosthuizen, 12 Ruwan Allen, 11 Tapiwa Rwafa, 10 Charl van der Sluis, 9 Jacques Benadé, 8 Gert-Hendrik Grobler, 7 Wade Williams, 6 Nathan Kleynhans, 5 Jaydon Botha, 4 Deon Badenhorst, 3 Christian Smith, 2 Ryan Scott, 1 Braam Bezuidenhout.
Heidelberg Volkskool: 15 Joshua Booysen, 14 Jeandré Kleinhans, 13 Kayle Venter, 12 Ruduwaan Rodgers, 11 Rhys Thompson, 10 Keane Duckitt, 9 AJ Engelbrecht, 8 Daniel Jordaan, 7 Joshua Munro, 6 Daniel Munro, 5 Dyllan Stuart, 4 Wilco Janse van Rensburg, 3 Handré Strydom, 2 Dian la Grange, 1 Botsi Motsepe.
Secunda vs Ligbron in Secunda om 11:00:
Secunda: 15 Tiaan Delarey, 14 Ryan Erasmus, 13 Tyron Moolman, 12 Tian Steyn, 11 Luan Lottering, 10 Jean du Toit, 9 Jarno Haaroff, 8 Mike Pretorius, 7 Hanré Hattingh, 6 Sibusiso Ngubane, 5 Armand Kwooitz, 4 Bakkies Bezuidenhout, 3 Tumelo Mtshali, 2 Henrico Fourie, 1 Jayden Schnuir.
Ligbron: 15 Khaya Mahlangu, 14 Landulwasi Nkosi, 13 Qgawe Lukhele, 12 Sithelo Zikhali, 11 Asanda Mabuza, 10 Anele Ngwenya, 9 Diean Swart, 8 Kyle Alves, 7 Vannie Fourie, 6 Ayanda Mkwebane, 5 Sinothele Madonsela, 4 Arno Koekemoer, 3 Mpho Ngwenya, 2 Henco du Bruyn, 1 Tiaan Venter.
CAPE TOWN.- The South African u18 team will rue their slow start, and ill-discipline which resulted in Katleho Lynch’s side going down 37-24 at the hands of France in their first match of the U18 International series at Stellenberg High School in Bellville on Tuesday.
South Africa, who came into the match as favourites with the home support behind them, and having thumped France in their previous meeting in last year’s campaign, struggled early in the match and allowed the French to fully get into their stride.
As for France, they came into the match looking to bounce back from their humiliating (41-0) defeat against England in their first match of the series in Paarl last Friday.
The French looked much better as a team from the get-go, applying pressure to the hosts, interlinking well between the forwards and backs, while showing composure in attack and defence in the early exchanges.
The visitors opened their tally early with a penalty from flyhalf, Diego Jurd to take a 3-0 lead.
Three points quickly turned to nine for the French as Jurd slotted in two more penalties to create breathing ground between them and the South Africans.
South Africa, trying as they may to disrupt France at their own game, made silly mistakes in the breakdown, giving away penalties, which allowed the visitors to pounce and build scoreboard pressure.
The visitors then went on to score two tries before the halftime interval through scrumhalf, Temanatua Boichot, and winger, Charly Mignot to extend the lead to 23 points at the halfway point.
The home side, having been treated to a masterclass in the first half were on a mission to stage a comeback in the second stanza, and the home side started the half like a wrecking ball.
The South Africans applied much needed pressure to the French defence and got a penalty inside their 22 meters with just a minute played.
Head coach, Katleho Lynch made crucial changes to his backline in the second half, and one player that repaid the coach’s faith was Haashim Pead.
The scrumhalf dotted over when his side won a penalty in the opposition half. He quickly tipped the ball, sliced his way through the defence untouched to score South Africa’s first points of the match.
That score turned the tide of the match around, making it an end-to-encounter with both sides dotting over the whitewash in quick succession.
First up, France managed to retain the ball from a scrappy lineout, and string together a couple of phases which resulted in Eliott Duthil crashing over for his team’s first of the second half.
On the other hand, another backline replacement for South Africa, Janco Purchase bulldozed his way over the line to bring some respectability to the scoreline before France’s Gabin Garault cancelled that score to lead to 37-14 with 20 minutes to play.
The host nation would then go on to finish the match strongly as they scored two more tries with Pead getting his brace while Luyanda Kunene also got in on the action later on in the match.
Unfortunately for Lynch’s side, the staging of the comeback came too late, as France managed to hold on despite being down to 14 men with flanker, Marceau Marzullo receiving a yellow card for repeated infringements.
Reacting to the match, Lynch attributed the defeated to their lack of discipline which resulted in the several errors that cost them in the first half.
“I think we made too many consecutive errors,” he said.
“It was 3-0, 6-0, 9-0 and then 23-0 and if you’re playing at test match level, conceding those points consecutively makes it difficult to come back but the fight back was commendable,” he added.
With a fired up England side in the corner on Saturday, the coach did however remain optimistic, stating that there were some positives they will take from the defeat.
“There’s lots of positives, just in terms of the message we gave the boys at halftime,” he added.
“We asked for go forward, to get us over the advantage line, I think Haashim (Pead) really brought that to the game and Janco (Purchase) also had a little bit of X-factor to the way we tried to finish off in the second half.”
“We will be better going into Saturday; I think the team was a little bit shocked in terms of how the match started with the intensity and all the other variables that come with it.”
South Africa will play their last match of the u18 series against England at Paarl Boys High on Saturday. Kick-off to that clash is 15:00.
Scorers:
France 37 (23) – Tries: Temanatua Boichot, Charly Mignot, Eliott Duthil, Gabin Garault. Conversions: Diego Jurd (3), Luka Keletaona. Penalties: Jurd (3). South Africa 24 (0) – Tries: Haashim Pead (2), Janco Purchase, Luyanda Kunene. Conversions: Dominic Malgas (2).
CAPE TOWN.– The England U18 team scored a total of 12 tries to secure a resounding 78-15 victory in their second match of the u18 International series against a Western Province Invitational side at Stellenberg High School in Durbanville on Tuesday.
The win also sees the visitors keep their unbeaten record intact after they brushed off France (41-0) in their opening match at Boland Landbou last Friday.
High in confidence, the visitors made wholesome changes to their starting fifteen for the Province encounter resting crucial players with the clash against South Africa on Saturday in mind.
That, however, didn’t affect the English as they put Western Province under immense pressure when they opened the scoring as early as the second minute through winger Finlay Wiseman who was set free by a pass from his flyhalf, Louie Platt.
That score, converted by Platt sparked England to life as they took the ascendency to the home side, dominating the scrums, lineouts and exposing the cracks in Province’s defensive line.
The visitors soon doubled their lead when Platt ran from his own half and managed to collect a kick that bounced off a Province player to score his first try of the match.
It was all England from there on, as three more tries scored by scrumhalf, Dom Hanson, tighthead prop, Sam Graham, and a second for Hanson saw the side open up a convincing lead ahead of the interval.
Province did manage to get onto the scoreboard late in the half with two tries from HB Odendaal, and Frank Hitimane alongside Marno Pretorius’s penalty kick to see the home side trail 33-15 at the halfway point.
The second stanza was just a masterclass in play from the England side. From their five tries scored in the first half, the visitors ranked up the changes and added 43 more points to their tally.
One substitute that stood out was utility back Jack Bracken who bossed proceedings, capitalizing on Province’s poor defence to score a hattrick in spectacular fashion.
Bracken, alongside centre Toby Baker, Charlie West, Angus Hall, and Finn Newton, who all got onto the scoreboard in the second half. Province made it look easy for the visitors and were spectators for most part of the second stanza.
That allowed the English to secure the emphatic 78-15 victory for England.
The visitors will face South Africa in their final match of the U18 International series on Saturday at Paarl Boys High at 15:00.
Scorers:
England 78 (33) – Tries: Jack Bracken (3), Dom Hanson (2), Finlay Wiseman, Louie Platt, Sam Graham, Toby Baker, Charlie West, Angus Hall, Finn Newton. Conversions: Louie Platt (7), Ollie Davies (2). Western Province Invitational 15 (15) – Tries: HB Odendaal, Frank Hitimane. Conversion: Marno Pretorius. Penalty: Pretorius.
CAPE TOWN– There will be two sides of the story on Tuesday at Stellenberg High School when England look to build momentum from the win against France in the first match of the U18 series against a Western Province invitational side, while Wynberg flanker, Xola Nyali will lead South Africa in their first game of the series against France.
England U18 captain Kepueli Tuipulotu believes his team need to stay the course and trust the process when they take on a Western Province Invitational side in their second encounter of the U18 international series in Stellenberg High School on Tuesday.
Catch all the action from the u18 International Series live on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com). Broadcast brought to you by Investec.
England, who opened their campaign with an emphatic (41-0) against France at Boland Landbou in Paarl last Friday will go into the match high in confidence and looking to sharpen certain aspects of their game ahead of the big clash against South Africa on Saturday.
In their match against France, Tuipulotu’s side dominated proceedings from the get-go and were clinical in most facets of the match.
The new look, energized team bossed the breakdown battle, won 80% of their lineouts and managed to collect penalties from their powerful scrum led by their rugged front row of Will Conduit, Tuipulotu, and Billy Sela.
Their lock pairing of Junior Kpoku, and Olamide Sodeke were also lively, causing France several issues during line out time and at the breakdown.
The backline, which scored five of the seven tries registered on the day, were breathtaking, playing with confidence, trying out new things with the pace of Angus Hall and Charlie Griffin on the outside, always ready to pounce on every opportunity.
England, however, will approach the Western Province match with a different perspective, that of giving every player an opportunity to play while resting crucial players for the clash against South Africa.
The exhibition match, as many may call it, will also give head coach, Jonathan Pendlebury an opportunity to try out new combinations within his team, testing out what works and what needs fixing days before their final match of the series.
The clash between the English and the Western Province invitational side kicks off at 13:30.
In the final match of the day, host nation South Africa will be in action for the first time in this year’s series when they take on France at 15:00.
The SA u18’s will be captained by Wynberg Boys High skipper, Xola Nyali who also led Western Province to this year’s Craven Week title in George.
Nyali will be assisted by vice-captain, and flyhalf, Ian van der Merwe.
The side boasts the likes of Luyanda Kunene from the Sharks, Jameel de Jongh, Christiaan van der Westhuizen, and Batho Hlekani, just to name a few. On the bench, head coach Katleho Lynch will be spoilt for choices, with 11 quality players to choose from that can come on, and make an impact.
And despite being dealt a late blow when Divan Fuller was forced to withdraw from the squad, Lynch will be happy with his replacement, Riley Norton who slotted in the match day squad.
Fixtures:
15 August 2023:
13:30 – England u18 vs Western Province Invitational
15:00 – South Africa u18 vs France u18
The teams:
England U18 squad: Forwards: Tayo Adegbemile (Saracens, St Albans), Will Conduit (Midlands West, Stourport College), Ronan Daniell (Harlequins, Hurstpierpoint College), Sam Graham (Newcastle Falcons, Durham), Junior Kpoku (Exeter Chiefs, Finborough), Jack Lightbown (Sale Sharks, The Sixth Form Bolton), Alfie Longstaff (Yorkshire Academy, Woodhouse Grove), Jamie Miller (Harlequins, Whitgift), Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff), Solomon Shand (Gloucester Rugby, Hartpury College), Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Gravesend Grammar), Connor Treacey (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff), Kepueli Tuipulotu (South Central London Academy, Harrow), Charlie West (Saracens, St Albans).
Backs: Toby Baker (Bristol Bears, St Peter’s, York), Jack Bracken (Saracens, St Albans), Ollie Davies (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar), Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Trinity), Charlie Griffin (South Central London Academy, Harrow), Angus Hall (Saracens, The Judd School, Tonbridge), Dom Hanson (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar), Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College), Finn Newton (Saracens, Haileybury), Louie Platt (Yorkshire Academy, Mount St. Mary’s), Toby Wilson (Sale Sharks, Kings Macclesfield), Finlay Wiseman (South Central London Academy, Hampton).
Western Province Invitational squad: Ryk Groenewald, HB Odendaal, Herman Lubbe, Danio Botha ©, Eduan Vosloo, Ruben Dames, Marco Ferreira, Liberty Nyashanu, Juan Loots, Marno Pretorius, Rami Moastshe, Frank Hitimane, Daniel Van der Merwe, Freek De Kock, Tazreeq Moerat, Xander Mynhardt, Almero Keizer, Alfie Holm, Neil Hansen, Cole Wedgeworth, David Kotze, Ashwin Cox, Riyaad Bam, Luke Swart, Yibanathi Boncama, Iian Knoetze.
South Africa U18 squad : Luyanda Kunene, Scott Nel, Jameel de Jongh, Dominic Malgas, Cheswill Jooste, Ian van der Merwe (vice-captain), Christiaan van der Westhuizen, Batho Hlekani, Thando Biyela, Xola Nyali (captain), Ulrich van der Westhuizen, Jacobus Grobbelaar, Simphiwe Ngobese, Imaani Pemba, Ranon Fouche, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Lithemba Mfupi, Jean Erasmus, Riley Norton, JJ Theron, Haashim Pead, Janco Purchase, JC Mars, Marno Stopforth, Phiwayinkosi Kubeka, Gino Cupido.
France u18 squad: Liam Couturier, Gabin Garault, Thomas Marceline, Noe Theraube, Romeo Martin Bonnard, Marceau Marzullo, Dany Kevin Lamataki, Ellyjah Ibsaiene ©, Temanatua Boichot, Diego Jurd, Charly Mignot, Quentin Valentino, Adrien Drault, Tom Leveque, Melvyn Rates, Samuel Jean Christophe, Quentin Algay, Edouard Jabea, Eliott Duthil, Antoine Deliance, Nathan Llaveria, Luka Keletaona, Pierre Ourtaud Cren, Bastien Rasal, Thomas Alary, Ruben-Diego Pargade.