Blog

Groot tellings was aan die orde van die dag tydens die eerste dag van die tweede VKB-week vir stedelike spanne in Reitz. 

Die verdedigende kampioen, die Vrystaat Arende het in die hoofwedstryd van die openingsdag op Piet Geyer-park vir OP Platteland met 26-14 die loef afgesteek. Die Arende moes terugveg in die tweede helfte na OP ‘n voorsprong van 14-7 teen lemoentyd geniet het.

Die woelige skrumskakel van die Arende, Jandré van Zyl, het twee keer OP Platteland se doellyn oorgestreek. Nel is vir sy blink vertoning ook as Speler van die Wedstryd aangewys. 

Een van die twee nuwelinge by die toernooi, die Westelike Provinsie se span wat uit spelers vanuit die noordelike voorstede bestaan, het die Limpopo Blou Bulle met 45-33 in ‘n opwindende wedstryde verslaan. 

Limpopo het teruggeveg in die tweede helfte, maar dit was op die ou einde nie genoeg om die span van die Kaapstad te troef nie. Die WPNS se buitesenter, Dorian Windvogel, is vir sy skerp breekslae as die Speler van die Wedstryd aangewys.

Die wenspan se heelagter, Patrick Kotze, en die vleuel Shirnol Willemse het elk twee keer die doellyn oorgesteek. Kotze het ook vyf van sy span se drieë verdoel vir ‘n persoonlike bydra van 20 punte. 

Die Griffons het oor te veel skietgoed vir die Diggers beskik en met 50-16 as oorwinnaars van die veld gestap. Die Perses se kaptein en agtsteman, Jubaren Adriaanse, het met sy kraglopies beïndruk en was sonder twyfel sy span se beste speler op die dag. Die kleinste speler op die week, Aldino Erasmus (vleuel), het twee keer die Diggers se doellyn oorgesteek. 

Die Luiperds was in ‘n vernietigende bui en het die Barbarians met 79-7 kaf gedraf. Die wenspan se Rico Cilliers (slot), Ulrich Swanepoel (flank) en Pieter Wagner (linkevleuel) het almal dubbelle driedruk-plesier ervaar en die grootste bydrae tot die Luiperds se 12 drieë bygedra. 

Die Arende kom Dinsdag teen die WP se Noordelike Voorstede in die hoofwedstryd te staan, terwyl die Luiperds en die Griffons sake teen mekaar sal uitspook. Die Limpopo Blou Bulle pak die OP Platteland, terwyl die Barbarians en die Diggers mekaar die stryd sal aansê.

 Puntemakers: 

WPNS XV 45 (24) – Drieë: Patrick Kotze (2), Shirnol Willemse (2), JP Luise, Vleis Dippenaar, Dorian Windvogel. Doelskoppe: Kotze (5). Limpopo Blou Bulle 33 (12) – Drieë: Renier van der Heever, Renard Cronjé, Vick Swan, JP van Staden, Tokkie de Beer. Doelskoppe: WC Kriel (4). 

Vrystaat Arende 26 (7) – Drieë: Jandré Nel (2), Brandon Adams, Kobus du Plessis. Doelskoppe: Francois Bester (3). OP Platteland 14 (14) – Drieë: Quino van Staden, Siyolise Nqini. Doelskoppe: Geor Hoffman (2).

Griffons 50 (26) – Drieë: Aldino Erasmus (2), Jubaren Adriaanse, Hardy van Graan, Tshepo Moaha, Jean Wilken, Diaan Jordaan. Doelskoppe: Jaco Theron (5). Diggers 16 (16) – Drie: Dillon Willemse. Doelskop: Willemse. Strafdoele: Willemse (3).

Luiperds 79 (39) – Drieë: Rico Cilliers (2), Ulrich Swanepoel (2), Pieter Wagner (2), Christiaan Botha, Marco Olivier, Coenri van Rooyen, Zander Bezuidenhout, Estian van Tonder, Bryan Benette. Doelskoppe: Wiehan Kruger (4), Dian Venter, Van Rooyen. Barbarians 7 (0) – Drie: Thabo Mazhoa. Doelskop: Mazhoa.

[powr-comments id=”a8e8641a_1560843568666″]

Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux was bitterly disappointed on Monday as his team went down 20-7 against France in the World Rugby U20 Championship semi-final at the Racecourse Stadium in Rosario, which dashed their hopes of advancing to the final for the first time since 2014.

The Junior Springboks will meet Argentina in the third and fourth place-playoff on Saturday, after Australia defeated the hosts 34-13 in the other semi-final.

The first half proved to be a hard grind as both teams kept things close following heavy rains in Rosario since early in the morning. France took a 14-7 halftime lead thanks to three penalty goals by flyhalf Louis Carbonel and a try, to a converted try by the SAU20’s, with Carbonel adding two more in the second half, which steered the French to a 20-7 victory.

“We were beaten by the better side” said Roux. “I don’t think we pitched up mentally for this game and we made some silly mistakes. You need a little bit of luck as well.

“So there are no excuses, we were simply beaten by the better side today.”

With the bronze playoff left in the competition, Roux said: “We’ve been there in the past, but that is not what we came for.

“We have a couple of injuries, so we will see who is fit to play the next game and we will take it from there.”

France opened up the scoring with two penalty goals compliments of Carbonel in the first seven minutes, and they added the first try of the match shortly before the second quarter as Jordan Joseph touched down from a rolling maul.

Carbonel added his third penalty goal with 10 minutes left in the half to stretch their lead to 14-0.

The Junior Springboks fought back with intent and their patience on attack paid off on the stroke of halftime as hooker Fezokuhle Mbatha forced his way over the tryline from a rolling maul, with Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf) landing the conversion to reduce their deficit to 14-7 going into the break.

The Junior Springboks showed their determination to run hard at France from the outset of the second half, but mistakes at crucial times denied them from adding to their score on a few occasions in the third quarter.

France, in turn, opted their fourth penalty goal in the third quarter and added another several minutes later to extend their lead to 20-7 with minutes to play.

Neither team was able to add to the score despite their committed efforts to breach the defence, which saw France book their place in the final, with the Junior Springboks booking their place in the bronze-playoff.

Scorers:

France – 20 (14) – Try: Jordan Joseph. Penalty Goals: Louis Carbonel (5). Junior Springboks 7 (7) – Try: Fezokuhle Mbatha. Conversion: Jaden Hendrikse.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

[powr-comments id=”abbd1a49_1560836883295″]

Die Limpopo Blou Bulle kan vanjaar vir ‘n paar verrassings op die Cravenweek vir hoërskole oplewer. Die gesogte toernooi word van 1 tot 6 Julie deur Grey-kollege in Bloemfontein aangebied. 

Die Limpopo Blou Bulle het tydens die Noordvaal Bondedag by die Hoërskool Bekker net buite Magaliesburg met ‘n skitterende vertoning vorendag gekom om die Goue Leeus XV-tal met 38-33 die loef af te steek. Die Goue Leeus XV-tal neem ook aan die Cravenweek deel. 

Die telling vlei die Leeus so ietwat danksy die feit dat sy plaasvervanger-haker, Sebastian Motsage, oor die doellyn met speeltyd reeds verstreke gebars het. Sy drie is ook deur die plaasvervanger-heelagter, Herschelle Goodman, verdoel om meer aansien aan die Rooibontes se vertoning te gee. 

Dit was veral die wenspan se lostrio JT Cronjé, Renzo du Plessis en JB du Toit wat die Leeus probleme besorg het. Cronjé het die bal sterk gedra en sy posisionele spel as agtsteman was ook van hoogstaande gehalte. 

Du Toit het die veld vol gespeel en was meeste van die tyd byderhand wanneer een van sy spanmaats ondersteuning nodig gehad het.

Daar is geen twyfel dat Du Plessis ‘n loopbaan uit rugby kan maak nie. Vir sy skoolspan sak hy aan die oopkant, maar vir Limpopo het hy gewys dat hy as baldraer altyd ‘n manier vind om sy hande in die duikslag los te kry vir ‘n moontlike aangee. Wat egter die meeste van sy vertoning teen die Goue Leeus beïndruk het was die aantal duikslae wat hy uitgevoer het. 

Die trio is voorlangs goed bygestaan deur die slot Renier Els wat behoorlik in die los gewoel het. Die vaskopstut, Henco Swart, verdien ook ‘n pluimpie vir sy vertoning in die sege. 

Die span vanuit die Verre Noorde het vroeg ‘n voorsprong van 19-7 opgebou. Die blondekop heelagter, Brandon Cronjé, het vir sy drie soos ‘n warm mes deur botter in die middelveld vanuit die laaste vesting gesny. Cronjé kan self tevrede met sy vertoning voel, terwyl die losskakel, Divan van Zyl, ook ‘n paar belangrike duikslae uitgevoer het. 

Die Goue Leeus XV-tal het beter vertoon na Herschelle Goodman vanaf die plaasvervangersbank sy verskyning gemaak het. Goodman het vanuit die laaste vesting elke keer daarin geslaag om spasie op die aanval te vind. Die verloorspan se beste spelers was Heiko Pohlmann (vaskopstut), Alex Grové (slot) en Ethan Snyman (flank). 

Puntemakers: 

Limpopo Blou Bulle 38 (19) – Drieë: JB du Toit, Renier Els, Eduaniq Harmse, Brandon Cronjé, Taylor du Plessis, Matomi Manyama. Doelskoppe: Cronjé (2), Divan van Zyl (2). Goue Leeus XV 33 (21) – Drieë: Alex Grové, Melbirt van der Spuy, Heiko Pohlmann, Herschelle Goodman, Sabastian Motsage. Doelskoppe: Sebastine Watney (3), Goodman. 

[powr-comments id=”ccb9bd91_1560763811574″]

Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux named the same starting team that came out firing against New Zealand for their World Rugby U20 Championship semi-final against defending champions, France, at the Racecourse Stadium in Rosario on Monday.

The last time the Junior Springboks advanced to the final of the tournament was in 2014, while France made the most of their home final last year by defeating England 33-25 to win the trophy. The match kicks off at 20h30 SA Time.

With the player combinations settled and delivering on their roles, Roux said it was important to maintain consistency as they enter the final stages of the tournament.

“We tried to keep the momentum we have built up going, so we opted to name the same team that started in the last game,” said Roux.

The coach expects a big onslaught from France, who proved to be tough opponents in the last two World Rugby U20 Championships – France defeated the SA u20’s 46-29 in the south of France in 2018, while the teams played to a 23-23 draw in the pool stages of the 2017 edition of the competition in Tbilisi, Georgia, before the Junior Springboks defeated them 37-15 in the third and fourth-place playoff to win the bronze medal.

“France have a physical pack of forwards and a solid halfback combination that tends to kick a lot,” said the coach. “They are a talented team and they enjoy speeding up the game. I am not sure what the weather will hold, but if it is wet they will have a good kicking plan, so we need to be ready for that.”

Commenting on what he wanted to see from his team in the vital match, Roux said:

“I think we need to build on what we did in our last match. We need good first phases from the scrums and lineouts to ensure that our backs get quality possession, and we have to play in the right areas of the field. Hopefully our defence will also stand up to them, while it will also be important to use our opportunities when they arise.”

Meanwhile, South African referee Rasta Rasivhenge will officiate the match between Georgia and Fiji at the Old Resians Club in Rosario on Monday.

Junior Springbok team to face France:

15 – Vaughen Isaacs (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 14 – Angelo Davids (SA Rugby contracted), 13 – Marnus Potgieter (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 12 – Rikus Pretorius (vice-captain – DHL Western Province), 11 – Thaakir Abrahams (Cell C Sharks), 10 – James Mollentze (Toyota Free State), 9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks), 8 – Phendulani Buthelezi (captain – Cell C Sharks), 7 – Sibusiso Sangweni (Xerox Golden Lions), 6 – Dylan Richardson (Cell C Sharks), 5 – Elrigh Louw (Toyota Free State), 4 – JJ van der Mescht (Cell C Sharks), 3 – Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Xerox Golden Lions), 2 – Fezokuhle Mbatha (Cell C Sharks), 1 – Dian Bleuler (DHL Western Province). Replacements: 16 – Dameon Venter (Xerox Golden Lions), 17 – Kudzwai Dube (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 18 – Keagan Glade (Xerox Golden Lions), 19 – Thabiso Mdletshe (Cell C Sharks), 20 – Jaco Labuschagne (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 21 – Celimpilo Gumede (Cell C Sharks), 22 – Zwelendaba Mnombo (DHL Western Province), 23 – Sanele Nohamba (Cell C Sharks), 24 – Janko Swanepoel (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 25 – Emile van Heerden (Cell C Sharks), 26 – Caleb Dingaan (Cell C Sharks), 27 – David Coetzer (DHL Western Province), 28 – David Kriel (DHL Western Province).

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

 

Die Cravenweek word nie reeds op die Noordvaal Bondedag gewen nie. 

Almal weet sukses op die Cravenweek word nie reeds op die Noordvaal Bondedag verseker nie, maar die Blou Bulle sal heelwat selfvertroue uit hul sege van 40-38 oor die Vrystaat gister op Hoërskool Bekker net buite Magaliesburg put.  

Die Vrystaters het teen rustyd ‘n voorsprong van 26-14 opgebou. Dit is veral die gemak waarmee die span van Bloemfontein daarin geslaag het om drieë met indrukwekkende aanvalpogings te druk wat die span se afrigters, Adolf Swiegers en Bobby Joubert, nie te veel slapelose nagte oor die uitslag sal gee nie. 

Die Ligbloues se grondslag is voorlangs gelê met veral die vaskopstut, Gerhard van der Merwe, wat my sy skrumwerk teenoor Jan-Hendrik Wessels beïndruk het. Wessels behoort ‘n sterk aanspraakmaker op ‘n plek in die SA Skole-span te wees, terwyl Van der Merwe sy kanse meer as ‘n hupstoot met die vertoning gegee het. 

Van der Merwe se pa, Munnik van der Merwe, was op sy dag een van die voorste gewigstoters in Suid-Afrika met ‘n beste afstand van 18.18m. Sy oupa, Gert Snyman, aan sy ma se kant het in tien wedstryde tussen 1967-68 vir die Vrystaatse rugbyspan uitgedraf en ook naam gemaak as die stoeier Apollo. 

Die Vrystaters se senterpaar, Lesley Botha en Ian Small-Smith, het daarin geslaag om genoeg ruimte op die punte te skep sodat die vleuels, Paschal Ekeji en Katleho Chabanyane, kon baljaar. Veral Ekeji was moeilik om te stuit en het twee keer die Ligbloues se doellyn oorgesteek.  

Niemand was egter beter vir die verloorspan as sy agtsteman, George Cronjé, nie. Sy besluitneming was van hoogstaande gehalte en met die bal in die hand het hy ‘n hele paar keer probleme vir die Blou Bulle besorg. Hy is voorlangs gored deur André-Hugo Venter (haker) en Tiaan Jonker (slot) bygestaan. Jonker en Cronjé was ook hul span se belangrikste rankers in die lynstane. 

Die Ligbloues se flank MJ Janse van Rensburg het die veld vol gespeel en het ook welverdiend die wendrie gedruk. Agterlangs het die SA Skole-skrumskakel, Jurich Claassens, goeie spel vir die Ligbloues gelewer. Hy het later na losskakel geskuif en hier ook goed vertoon. Claassens het twee van die Ligbloues se drieë gedruk. 

Die Blou Bulle se heelagter, Zeilinga Strydom, kan ook tevrede met sy vertoning voel, terwyl die agtsteman, Adolf Visser, voorlangs niks op die veld agter gelaat het nie. . 

Puntemakers: 

Blou Bulle 40 (14) – Drieë: Jurich Claassens (2), Nsuku Baloyi, Lincooln Adams, AJ Johnson, MJ Janse van Rensburg. Doelskoppe: Wikus Basson (4), Rowan Cloete. Vrystaat 38 (26) – Drieë: Paschal Ekeji (2), Lesley Botha, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Nabo Sokoyi, Elmar Lintnaar. Doelskoppe: Juan-Dee Olivier (3), FC du Plessis.

[powr-comments id=”2da1b783_1560678435386″]

Wie gaan tydens die jaarlikse Noordvaal Bondedag as die noorde se Groot Hoop vir die 56ste Cravenweek vir hoërskole na vore tree? Die Bondedag word Saterdag op die hoofveld van die Hoërskool Bekker net buite Magaliesburg aangebied. 

Al die wedstryde word regstreeks op DigiTV.co.za gebeeldsend. 

Die Vrystaat behoort die vaandeldraer vir die spanne noord van die Oranjerivier te wees. Die jong Blikore met die land se voorste skolespan tot dusver in 2019, Grey-kollege, as rugsteun kan vanjaar op sy tuisveld tydens die Cravenweek die Westelike Provinsie as nie-amptelike kampioen onttroon. 

Die Vrystaters se rekord in Bloemfontein tydens die gesogte toernooi is egter nie so goeie leesstof nie.  Die span van Bloemfontein kom Saterdag teen die Blou Bulle te staan in wat beloof om die wedstryd van die dag te wees. 

Die Ligbloues het in sy enigste opwarmingswedstryd die Goue Leeus met 40-30 afgestof. Die Vrystaters het twee oefenwedstryde onder die blad met seges oor die Griffons (45-5) en Griekwas se Akademie-span (52-3). 

Die Goue Leeus kom in die hoofmaal teen die Sharks te staan. Die tuisspan se agtsteman, Izan Esterhuizen, en die kantman Zander du Toit behoort voorlangs die Piesangboere besig te hou. 

Agterlangs sal die Rooibontes se kaptein en buitesenter, Henco van Wyk, en die losskakel, Declan Raubenheimer, rigting aan die span se aanslag moet gee. 

Die Goue Leeus XV-tal lyk op die oog af na ‘n veel sterker span as die Rooibontes se uitsoekspan. Daarom kan die Limpopo Blou Bulle ‘n opdraende stryd te wagte wees. Die Leeus XV-tal se vaskopstut, Heiko Pohlmann, flank Rynard Mouton en vleuel Maurice Marks sou baie ander unies se Cravenweek-spanne gehaal het. 

In die vernaamste voorwedstryd pak die Valke en die Pumas mekaar. Dit sal die tweede keer die jaar wees dat hulle mekaar die stryd aansê. Die Pumas was met 52-40 in die vriendskaplike wedstryd baas.  

Die Valke se staatmakers behoort die losskakel, Kyle Potgieter, en die kantman Juandré Odendaal te wees. Die Pumas se woelige haker, Chyle van Zyl, sal fyn deur die Valke dopgehou moet word. Die binnesenter, Christiaan Vlok, is ook een van die voorste driedrukkers in die Virsekerbeker.

Die bepalings: 

08:30 – o.16 – Pumas vs Sharks; 09:35 – o.16 – Goue Leeus vs Limpopo Blou Bulle; 10:40 – o.18 – Limpopo Blou Bulle vs Goue Leeus XV; 11:50 – o.18 – Blou Bulle vs Vrystaat; 13:00 – o.18 – Valke vs Pumas; 14:10 – o.18 – Goue Leeus vs Sharks. 

[powr-comments id=”4a773712_1560509555241″]

SA Rugby High Performance manager and Junior Springbok assistant coach, Louis Koen, said the SAU20’s showed against New Zealand that if they are in the right frame of mind they can pitch up for big games, and he was confident they would ready for the World Rugby U20 Championship semi-final.

The Junior Springboks will face France in the semi-final on Monday, 17 June, at the Racecourse Stadium in Rosario, with hosts, Argentina, meeting Australia in the other semi-final.

The SAU20’s finished the pool stages of the competition as the only unbeaten team after defeating Scotland, Georgia and New Zealand, which saw them being drawn against France, who booked their place in the semi-final on points’ difference.

Commenting on the team’s 25-17 victory against New Zealand, Koen said: “We are very pleased with the attitude the players showed.

“We had a specific plan going into the game and they executed it perfectly. There was also great leadership from our captain and leadership group.

“I thought the guys really stepped up and they showed that if they are in the right frame of mind they can produce a great game of rugby. So we are very proud of them. We are blessed with some great potential among this group of players.”

Koen, however, said there were areas they had to improve on as the final stages approach.

“There are definitely things we need to improve on if we want to be in the mix going forward,” said the coach.

“Our game management still needs an improvement, and there are too many times that we want to play when we are under pressure. Our playmakers can also make small improvements in their decision-making and communication.

“Over and above that I felt that we had numerous opportunities to counter-attack from the opposition’s mistakes, and we didn’t always utilise those opportunities, so there are definitely still areas to work on going into the semi-final. “We have three days to prepare and we will do everything in our power to be as well prepared as possible. That said, the players showed that they have the right mind-set and that they can pitch up for important games, and we believe they will be ready for the semi-final.”

With only two matches left in the competition, Koen was pleased with the progress the team had made since the showpiece kicked off.

“There has been an improvement in every game we played and that is a big positive for us going into the semi-final,” said Koen. “Against Scotland we did well to create opportunities, although we didn’t finish them off, and against Georgia we made a lot of errors in the first half and then showed good maturity to come back in the second half, and we scored some fantastic tries.

“Against New Zealand it was all about attitude and mind-set, so we are growing as a team in every game, and if we can continue to do that, we will give ourselves a good chance to be successful.”   

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

[powr-comments id=”518951a5_1560501538116″]

The Coca-Cola South Africa under-19s will gather in Durban on Friday, 14 June, for a week-long training camp ahead of their Youth One-Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan, running from 22 June – 07 July in Chatsworth and Pietermaritzburg.

The seven-match tour forms an important part of the youngsters’ schedule in preparation for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, taking place in South Africa between 17 January and 09 February next year. Home fixtures against India, New Zealand and Zimbabwe in December and January have also been arranged to provide the team enough match practice before the global tournament kicks off.

Speaking on the eve of day one of the training camp, SA U19s head coach, Lawrence Mahatlane shared his reasoning for the camp:

“The role of the camp is getting the guys to be cricket-fit,” he stated. “A lot of players haven’t really had access to turf nets and Durban is the perfect place to go and prepare at this time of the year. It should stand us in good stead for the upcoming tour. We know how strong Pakistan is at age-group level and they have just been on a tour of Sri Lanka. Hopefully, we can do a bit of catch-up during that period.

The 15-man squad, which was announced in April following the U19 Talent Acceleration Programme (TAP) national camp, will be put through their paces in a rigorous fitness test before they focus on the three respective disciplines, fielding, bowling and batting. The future stars will then take on the KwaZulu-Natal Academy in a warm-up encounter on Monday, 17 June at the Chatsworth Oval.

Mahatlane, along with his management staff that includes assistant coach, Siya Sibiya, and bowling coach, Chris van Noordwyk, has made regular trips around the country, hosting group and individual coaching clinics with the players in the squad. Their respective provincial coaches have also provided weekly reports on the players’ development and preparations.

“The squad is very exciting,” Mahatlane added. “I am excited about this group of players. We’ve got nine guys coming back from India and we’ve got a few new and exciting characters. We’ve got a guy like Akeem Minnaar, who plays at Boland, Andrew Louw, who comes from the Northern Cape and young Khanya Cotani, who plays his cricket at North West now, having previously been with Boland.

“They bring so many different views, expertise and different characters to the group. I look forward to watching them gel.” he continued.

“Looking at the tour coming up against Pakistan, the process has several important objectives. The one is having the guys playing together and the second is giving opportunities throughout the tour to see where the guys are, cricket-wise. It’ s crucial we start giving as many opportunities as possible prior to the World Cup, ” Mahatlane concluded.

In the spirit of Youth Day, June 16, the SA U19s will be visiting the Lakehaven Child and Youth Care Centre in Durban, where the players and management will spend the afternoon bringing smiles to the kids’ faces while enjoying a fun match of backyard cricket.

The opening match of the series against Pakistan gets underway on Saturday, 22 June at the Chatsworth Oval.

Coca-Cola South Africa U19 squad: Bryce Parsons (captain, Gauteng), Luke Beaufort (Eastern Province), Jonathan Bird (Western Province), Achille Cloete (Boland), Gerald Coetzee (Free State), Khanya Cotani (North West), Micheal Copeland (Gauteng), Andrew Louw (Free State), Akeem Minnaar (Boland), Lifa Ntanzi (KZN Coastal), Imraan Philander (Western Province), Siya Plaatjie (Western Province), Ruan Terblanche (Boland), Tiaan van Vuuren (Eastern Province), Nonelela Yika (Border).

Series Itinerary

June 2019

Mon 17 Warm Up Match South Africa vs KZN Academy (Chatsworth Oval)

Wed 19 Warm Up Match KZN Academy vs Pakistan U19 (Varsity Oval)

Sat 22 1st Youth ODI South Africa vs Pakistan U19 (Chatsworth Oval)

Tue 25 2nd Youth ODI South Africa vs Pakistan U19 (Pietermaritzburg)

Thu 27 3rd Youth ODI South Africa vs Pakistan U19 (Pietermaritzburg)

Sun 30 4th Youth ODI South Africa vs Pakistan U19 (Pietermaritzburg)

July 2019

Tue 02 5th Youth ODI South Africa vs Pakistan U19 (Pietermaritzburg)

Fri 05 6th Youth ODI South Africa vs Pakistan U19 (Chatsworth Oval)

Sun 07 7th Youth ODI South Africa vs Pakistan U19 (Chatsworth Oval)

Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux was a pleased man on Wednesday after his team booked themselves a World Rugby U20 Championship semi-final against France with a 25-17 victory against New Zealand in their final pool match at the Racecourse Stadium in Rosario.

This victory means the SA Under-20s are the only unbeaten team left in the competition as they qualified in top spot for the semi-finals, which will be played in Rosario on Monday. France are the defending champions.

The Junior Springboks broke out of the blocks quickly with their first try, by Vaughen Isaacs (fullback), in the seventh minute. JJ van der Mescht (lock) scored their second try in the 18^th minute, while Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf) kicked three penalty goals to earn the team an encouraging 19-3 halftime lead.

The second half was tightly fought as New Zealand came back hard on attack and tightened up their defence, and a penalty try for them saw the Junior Springboks hold a slender 19-10 lead for most of the half, but two penalty goals by Sanele Nohamba (replacement scrumhalf) cancelled out New Zealand’s second try, which sealed the victory for the South Africans.

Both sides entered the clash knowing that the losing team would need to secure a bonus point, while ensuring that they do not suffer a heavy defeat to advance to the semi-finals, after France secured a bonus point in their 47-26 defeat against hosts, Argentina.

“I am very pleased,” Roux said of his team progressing to the semi-final.

“It was a great effort by the players. They executed the game plan excellently. We will enjoy it tonight, but there are still two games left, so we need to keep our feet on the ground and prepare for the next game.”

Roux lauded the quality of the team’s performance: “We worked hard on our scrums, lineouts and mauls, and that was excellent, but the outstanding part of our game was our defence. The players showed a lot of character and all credit to them for that.”

The SA Under-20 coach said the French will provide “tough opposition” in their semi-final.

“We played against France last year and year before, so we will have a look at the games and sit down tomorrow and work out a plan,” said Roux.

“At this stage, however, the important thing is to get the players ready and to ensure that we use every rest day as effectively as possible.”

Isaacs’ try came after he received a sharp pass out wide from Rikus Pretorius (centre), with Hendrikse adding his first penalty goal six minutes later to hand the Junior Boks an 8-0 lead.

They built on this shortly after compliments of a fantastic try by Van der Mescht, who gathered the ball from a stolen lineout and showed his pace to power his way to the tryline.

The Junior Springboks were reduced to 14 men shortly after as Dylan Richardson (flank) received a yellow card for a knock-down, and shortly after being restored to 15 players, Sibusiso Sangweni (flank) was sent to the sin-bin for a grass-cutter.

With the SA U20s’ defence holding well, New Zealand opted for a penalty goal in the 34^th minute, and that proved to be their only points in the half.

Roux’s charges, in turn, managed to apply consistent pressure until the break and their efforts allowed Hendrikse to add two more penalty goals in the dying minutes to push the team 19-3 ahead at halftime.

New Zealand earned the first points in the second half through a penalty try after Junior Springbok flyhalf James Mollentze made an early tackle on the tryline, with the offence seeing him also being sent to the sin-bin.

After several hard-fought minutes of rugby, Nohamba slotted over the team’s fourth penalty goal after another dominant scrum to stretch the team’s lead to 22-10 with nine minutes to play.

The Junior Boks’ lead shrunk again shortly thereafter as Lalomilo Lalomilo scored a try out wide, which saw them trail by five points with five minutes to play.

Nohamba, however, gave the SA U20s an eight-point buffer with his second penalty goal in the 78^th minute, which denied the New Zealanders the bonus point they needed to progress to the top-four and saw the Junior Springboks book their semi-final spot.

Scorers:

Junior Springboks 25 (19) – Tries: Vaughen Isaacs, JJ van der Mescht. Penalty Goals: Jaden Hendrikse (3), Sanele Nohamba (2). New Zealand 17 (3) – Tries: Penalty Try, Lalomilo Lalomilo. Conversion: Fergus Burke. Penalty Goal: Burke.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux made three changes to his starting team to face New Zealand in their World Rugby U20 Championship Pool C decider in Rosario on Wednesday, with Elrigh Louw (lock), Sibusiso Sangweni (flank) and Thaakir Abrahams (wing) earning their first starts.

They replace Emile van Heerden, Celimpilo Gumede and Caleb Dingaan respectively in the starting XV for the vital clash at the Racecourse Stadium.

The winning team will gain automatic entry into the semi-finals as the Pool C leaders, while the losing team will have to rely on log points and possibly points’ difference to snap up the last semi-final spot.

The SA U20s are currently the top team in Pool C with a narrow one-point points’ difference over New Zealand after both sides won their opening two matches with bonus points.

“We had a look at the opposition, and made a few changes,” Roux said of his team selection. “It is important to give a few players a rest, but also to keep the players on form in the team, so that we have consistency.”

The coach expected a big battle against New Zealand and said: “It is going to be a tough game.

“They like to keep ball in hand and they have some exciting runners, so it will be the same as facing any typical New Zealand team, we need to be up for it and be ready for them.”

Roux hoped for a solid performance all round from his charges and said: “Hopefully our defence will be up to the task to put them under pressure, while we also need to win our first phases, as the scrums and lineouts are the foundation of any rugby game.

“If we can do that, I think we will be in with a good chance.”

Meanwhile, South African referee Rasta Rasivhenge will again hold the whistle in what marks the final pool round of the competition as he takes charge of the Pool B match between Italy and Ireland at the CRAI Club in Santa Fe.

Junior Springbok team to face New Zealand:

15 – Vaughen Isaacs (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 14 – Angelo Davids (SA Rugby contracted), 13 – Marnus Potgieter (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 12 – Rikus Pretorius (vice-captain – DHL Western Province), 11 – Thaakir Abrahams (Cell C Sharks), 10 – James Mollentze (Toyota Free State), 9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks), 8 – Phendulani Buthelezi (captain – Cell C Sharks), 7 – Sibusiso Sangweni (Xerox Golden Lions), 6 – Dylan Richardson (Cell C Sharks), 5 – Elrigh Louw (Toyota Free State), 4 – JJ van der Mescht (Cell C Sharks), 3 – Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Xerox Golden Lions), 2 – Fezokuhle Mbatha (Cell C Sharks), 1 – Dian Bleuler (DHL Western Province). Replacements: 16 – Dameon Venter (Xerox Golden Lions), 17 – Kudzwai Dube (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 18 – Keagan Glade (Xerox Golden Lions), 19 – Thabiso Mdletshe (Cell C Sharks), 20 – Jaco Labuschagne (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 21 – Celimpilo Gumede (Cell C Sharks), 22 – Zwelendaba Mnombo (DHL Western Province), 23 – Sanele Nohamba (Cell C Sharks), 24 – Janko Swanepoel (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 25 – Emile van Heerden (Cell C Sharks), 26 – Caleb Dingaan (Cell C Sharks), 27 – David Coetzer (DHL Western Province), 28 – David Kriel (DHL Western Province).

Issued by SA Rugby Communications