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Die Luiperds het met hul prooi gespeel en toe in doodsnikke danksy ‘n drie deur hulle skrumskakel, Max Williamson, die noodlottige byt toegedien. Die Luiperds het sy kragmeting teen Griekwaland-Wes op ‘n sopnat en koue Brugstraat in die Paarl met 17-6 gewen. 

Die wenspan het teen rustyd ‘n voorsprong van 10-6 geniet wat hy slegs met desperate lakwerk en stukkies geluk in die tweede helfte verdedig het. Griekwas het deurgans druk op die Luiperds in die tweede helfte geplaas. En voor Williamson se drie die uitslag in die Luiperds se guns beklink het, was daar slegs een span op die veld in die tweede helfte en dit was Griekwas.  

Hoewel die Poubloues kamp in die Luiperds se gebied in die tweede helfte opgeslaan het, kon hy net nie deurkomkans vind nie. Veral die buitesenter, Cole Arnoldus, het ‘n hele paar keer daarin geslaag om in die moeilike omstandighede oor die voordeellyn te kom. Die slot Marco van der Merwe het ook vir die verloorspan voorlangs ingeklim. 

Die Luiperds se flank Gustav van Staden het met sy spel by die afbreekpunte op gereelde grondslag gesorg dat belowende bewegings van Griekwas in die kiem gesmoor word. Dit het telkens die druk op die Luiperds verlig.

Puntemakers: 

Luiperds 17 (10) – Drieë: André Rossouw, Max Williamson. Doelskoppe: Frank-Lee Jackson (2). Strafdoele: Jackson. Griekwaland-Wes 6 (6) – Strafdoele: SJ Oberholzer, Handré Bruwer. 

Die Westelike Provinsie het waarskynlik sy plek in Saterdag se nie-amptelike eindstryd van die 55ste Coca-Cola Cravenweek in die Paarl met ‘n sege van 13-5 op die derde dag van die toernooi bespreek. Daar sal ook ‘n nuwe nie-amptelike kampioen gekroon word. Die Goue Leeus het verlede jaar die Sharks met 45-18 in die hoofwedstryd van die week verslaan. 

Dit was ‘n klipharde stryd tussen die twee spanne, maar nie ‘n baie opwindende een nie. Die twee spanne het mekaar fisiek aangevat en daar was min deurkomkans met albei spanne se verdediging wat rotsvas was. 

Indien die hoofwedstryd van die Cravenweek soos in die vervloë dae deur die gehalte van ‘n span spel bepaal is, sou die eers waarskynlik vir Grens te beurt geval het. 

Om die stelling te beaam, haal ons aan uit die vorige Cravenweek in die Paarl se program. “Ek wil weereens beklemtoon dat wen ondergeskik is aan konstruktiewe spel en in wese beteken dit dat die bal lewendig gehou moet word, totdat hy op ‘n regmatige wyse doodgemaak kan word, naamlik as ‘n drie gedruk word.”

“Ek kan hierdie feit nie oorbeklemtoon nie, want dit was nog altyd die doel van die spel om die bal lewendig te hou, dit wil sê in spel en deur middel van hardloop en hanteer,” lui ‘n frase uit Dr. Danie Craven se voorwoord uit die program van 1987. 

Indien die stelling van Cravenweek vandag nog gewig gedra het, sou Grens se spel tydens die eerste twee wedstryde sonder twyfel aan hom ‘n plek in Saterdag se hoofmaal bespreek het. 

Maar terug na die stryd tussen die Streeptruie en die Goue Leeus. WP kon met die wind van agter slegs ‘n voorsprong van ‘n enkele punt van 6-5 teen die omdraaislag opbou. Die tuisspan het meeste van die gebiedsvoordeel in die eerste helfte geniet, maar kon dit nie in punte omskep nie. 

Die Goue Leeus se buitesenter, Henco van Wyk, het vir ‘n ligpunt in die eerste helfte gesorg toe hy ‘n briljante individuele drie gedruk het. Dié drie het aan hom die toekenning van Coca-Cola se Held van die Dag besorg. 

Die Streeptruie se kaptein en slot, Adrian Alberts, het sy span se enigste drie gedruk na die haker van die Leeus, Morné Brandon, met ‘n geelkaart koelkas toe gestuur is. Alberts, wat verlede jaar die SA Skole-span gehaal het, het waarskynlik met sy vertoning seker gemaak dat hy vanjaar weer vir die span sal uitdraf. Alberts is ook ‘n sterk aanspraakmaker om vanjaar die nasionale skolespan te lei. 

Buiten Alberts het die agtsteman, Evan Roos, ook weer ‘n stewige vertoning gelewer. Sy twee vertonings tot dusver op vanjaar se toernooi was sy beste nog vanjaar. 

Puntemakers: 

Westelike Provinsie 13 (6) – Drie: Adrian Alberts. Doelskop: Kade Wolhuter. Strafdoele: Wolhuter. Goue Leeus  5 (5) – Drie: Henco van Wyk. 

The U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week and Coca-Cola Academy Week kept the passionate Paarl crowd gripped in another entertaining day’s action at Paarl Boys’ High’s Brug Steet Grounds on Tuesday, as 24 teams battled it out in their opening matches after watching their counterparts kick off the action on Monday.

In the main U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week game, the Blue Bulls started their clash against the Free State with a bang as they raced to 10-0 lead in the first seven minutes, before facing a backlash from the Bloemfontein team, who ended up sealing a 38-21 victory. Back-to-back tries by Free State’s Richard Kriel before and after halftime bolstered their confidence, and they built on this to outscore the Blue Bulls six tries to two.   

The NWU Valke stamped their authority against the Leopards from the outset to secure an impressive 63-24 victory and the biggest score of the day. The players forced their way over the advantage line consistently and supported this with a committed effort from their backs, and the tries followed, with eight players scoring their 10 tries.

Boland had too much firepower for Griquas as they laid a solid foundation upfront and used their speedy backs to overpower the Kimberley outfit 61-14. Such was their dominance on attack, they ran in 11 tries, with Christie Grobbelaar earning a hat-trick, and Conner Mahoney and Heinrich Naude scoring two tries each, while the team’s solid defence limited Griquas to two converted tries.

A strong second-half showing by the DHL Western Province XV saw them break away from the Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions XV on the scoreboard to earn a rewarding 57-15 victory. The first half was close as the teams hard ran on attack, with each side breaching the defence twice to enter the break level on 10-10. The home team, however, dominated the second half to increase their try tally to nine for a runway victory, with Mikyle Vraagom making a solid contribution with two tries and six conversions for 22 points.

The Sharks also hit their straps in the second half against SWD to power their way to a 46-28 victory after holding a narrow four-point lead at the break. SWD dominated possession in the first half, but the Durbanites took control as the game progressed as they capitalised on their point-scoring chances. Dylan Pretorius was instrumental in the victory as he scored two tries, and kicked five conversions and two penalty goals for a total of 24 points. SWD fought hard in the hope of securing a late victory, but the Sharks defence did well to hold them out. 

In the Coca-Cola Academy Week, Free State overturned a 11-0 halftime deficit against Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions to outscore their Johannesburg counterparts five tries to three for a 36-28 victory. The Bloemfontein side did well to stick to their structures and it paid off, while MJ Odendaal kept the scoreboard ticking with a solid kicking performance in which he converted four of their tries and kicked a penalty goal.

Eastern Province dominated their clash against Limpopo to earn a convincing 34-10 victory in an encouraging start to their campaign. The team from the Eastern Cape delivered a solid performance in all facets of the game and did well to capitalise on their try-scoring chances, which saw them cross the tryline six times, with Hlumelo Gumatana and Abongile Klaas each touching down twice.

SWD overcame a tight first half against the Thepa Trading Griffons in which they held a slender 10-5 halftime lead to register a 29-20 victory. The George team’s superior finishing allowed them to score five tries, with Zinedine Robinson earning a double, while Kobus Hattingh scored two of the Welkom outfit’s three tries. 

The first half between the Blue Bulls and Eastern Province was equally tight, with the Pretoria side leading 5-0 before finding their form a 26-7 victory. The Blue Bulls delivered a balanced showing between their forwards and backs and used their chances to earn four tries, while their effective defence saw them leak only one try. 

Border CD ground out a 15-8 victory against Pumas CD thanks to their two tries to one, after both teams were only able to score a penalty goal in a hard-fought first half. The sides were closely matched on attack and defence, but Border CD’s better finishing paid off.

Griquas CD and the Thepa Trading Griffons CD fought hard throughout their clash and the score reflected that as the Kimberley side took a narrow 7-5 lead at the break before the Thepa Trading Griffons CD snuck ahead for a 17-13 victory.

An extra conversion by the Bidvest Golden Lions CD edged them to a 25-23 victory against DHL Western Province CD in a nail-biting encounter in which both sides gave everything. Each team scored three tries and two penalty goals, but the Johannesburg side scored two conversions to one by the home side for the win. 

Scorers:

Western Province XV 57 (10) – Tries: Seth Christian (2), Mikyle Vraagom (2), Cullen van der Merwe, Marcqiewn Titus, Jovan Bekker, Juanré de Klerk, Remy Engelbrecht. Conversions: Vraagom (6). Golden Lions XV 15 (10) – Tries: Brendon Pawson, Simon Dionisio. Conversion: Tiaan Botes. Penalty: Botes.

Valke 63 (27) – Tries: Raynard Nel (2), Leshley October (2), Tony Edmund, Thabang Mahlasi, Danny Keyser, Thabo Ndimande, Dylan Schwartz, Zeilinga Strydom. Conversions: Zian de Jager (5). Penalty: De Jager. Leopards 24 (17) – Tries: Kobus Burger, Isrome Phatudi, Frank-Lee Jackson. Conversions: Jackson (3). Penalty: Jackson.

Boland 61 (29) – Tries: Christie Grobbelaar (3), Heinrich Naudé (2), Conner Mahoney (2), Storm Hanekom, Jacobus Groenewald, Shaun Baxter, Thinus van Zyl. Conversions: Lionel April (2), Mahoney. Griqualand West 14 (7) – Tries: Marco van der Merwe, Linton Maritz. Conversions: SJ Oberholzer (2). 

Sharks 46 (17) – Tries: Dylan Pretorius (2), Lwandile Menze (2), Joe Jonas, Andrew James. Conversions: Pretorius (5). Penalties: Pretorius (2). South Western Districts 28 (13) – Tries: Derick Jooste, Pieter Maritz, Braam van Huysteen, Janco Klinck. Conversion: Clyde Lewis. Penalties: Lewis, Jan-Daniel Strydom. 

Free State 38 (7) – Tries: Richard Kriel (2), Wyclef Vlitoor, Lehlohonolo Litabe, WJ Steenkamp, Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Conversions: Zander du Plessis (4). Blue Bulls 21 (15) – Tries: Bernard van der Linde, Diego Appollis. Conversion: Regardt Roets. Penalties: Roets (3). 

 

History is being made this year during the 55th Coca-Cola Craven Week in Paarl. For the first time in the prestigious history of the tournament which started in 1964 referees from overseas is also officiating at the festival of rugby. 

Three referees who are contenders on the Pro14 panel – Ian Kenny (Scotland), John Erskine (Ireland) and Mike English (Wales) will be part of the referee panel that will be officiating at the Craven Week. The level of referees at the week was also boosted by the decision by the South African Rugby Union (Saru) to send a panel of more experienced referees to this year’s edition of the tournament. 

Two referees in action from South Africa, Ruhan Meiring and Jaco Kotze, have been in charge of a main game of the Craven Week before. Meiring was in charge of the main match of the 2016 tournament between the Golden Lions and Western Province. Kotze was in charge of the main game back in 2012 in Port Elizabeth when the Blue Bulls defeated the Golden Lions by 46-0. 

Kotze and Ben Crouse has been regular referees on the World Rugby Sevens circuit. Aimee Barrett-Theron has made her international test debut last year when she was in charge for the World Cup qualifier between Japan and Fiji in Hong Kong. She was also on the panel for the historic first sevens tournament at the Olympic Games. 

“We wanted to make sure that the referees contribute to the success of the Craven Week. It is a high performance environment and we want to have the best possible officials at the tournament,” said Banks Yantolo, referees manager at Saru. 

Erskine became the first referee from overseas to officiate a match at a Craven Week when he was in charge in the match between the Golden Lions and Eastern Province during the opening day of the 2018-edition of the tournament at Brug Street. The Golden Lions won the match by 46-25. 

Scotland’s referee commissioner, Tappe Henning, is also in attendance. The referees of the week are assessed after each day’s play. 

The panel of referees for this year’s Craven Week is: 

Ruhan Meiring, Vusi Msibi, Ben Crouse, Jaco Kotze, Aimee Barrett-Theron, Cwengile Jadezweni, Ian Kenny, John Erskine, Mike English.    

Western Province gave out a clear warning in the main match of the opening day of the 55th Coca-Cola Craven Week in Paarl. The home side won their opening encounter against the Pumas convincingly by 72-10. 

Their outside centre, Duffy Kellerman, combined really well with Brendan Venter in the midfield. Kellerman scored four of his side’s nine tries. WP will probably face the Golden Lions in the main match of the third day on Wednesday. The Lions defeated Eastern Province by 46-25 in their clash on the opening day. 

Besides the centre pairing of Kellerman and Venter the home side’s flyhalf, Juan Mostert, wing Stravino Jacobs and fullback, Darren Hendricks, could also feel more than pleased with their performances in the match. 

In the forwards the No. 8, Evan Roos, produced his best performance of the season. He carried the ball well and hit quite a number of rucks. 

The Pumas’ centre Sphe Mthethwa produced a moment of magic to score his side’s only try after a turnover on the tryline. Mthethwa found himself with the ball in hand before putting boot to ball. The bounce and a mistake or two by Western Province helped him to regather and score a spectacular try. He was also named Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for his effort.  

Scorers: 

Western Province 72 (36) – Tries: Dawid Kellerman (4), Evan Roos (2), Romeo Mtumba, Juan Mostert, Stravino Jacobs. Conversions: Darren Hendricks (6), Juan Mostert. Penalty: Hendricks. Pumas 10 (10) – Try: Sphe Mthethwa. Conversion: Coenraad Visser. Penalty: Visser.  

Day 1 

Griffons 51 (15) – Tries: Georgen Kiewiet (2), Keith van Aswegen (2), Ruben Liebenberg, Leonard Jacobs, JP de Kock, FC du Plessis. Conversions: Liebenberg (4). Penalty: Liebenberg. Blue Bulls XV 17 (5) – Tries: Eduan Swart (2), Boipelo Kgatlhanye. Conversion: Kenan Wessels.

Border 68 (40) – Tries: Sibabalwe Xamlashe (4), Jarrod Ramsay (2), Mnombo Zwelindaba (2), Sakhekile Dingile, Nolan Kemp. Conversions: Thomas Bursey (9). Limpopo Blue Bulls 17 (10) – Tries: Erik Snyman, Anthony Brand, Ofentse Maubane. Conversion: Reece Wynne. 

Golden Lions 46 (26) – Tries: Franco Schutte, Izan Esterhuizen, Karel Zowitsky, Emmanuel Tshituka, Zihan Coetzee, Muzi Manyike, Ronald White. Conversions: Declan Raubenheimer (4). Penalty: Manyike. Eastern Province 25 (20) – Tries: Basi Malesu, Dumisa Ngcivana, Ryben du Pont. Conversions: Juandré Liebenberg (2). Penalties: Liebenberg (2).

Western Province 72 (36) – Tries: Dawid Kellerman (4), Evan Roos (2), Romeo Mtumba, Juan Mostert, Stravino Jacobs. Conversions: Darren Hendricks (6), Juan Mostert. Penalty: Hendricks. Pumas 10 (10) – Try: Sphe Mthethwa. Conversion: Coenraad Visser. Penalty: Visser.  

Day 2 

Western Province XV 57 (10) – Tries: Seth Christian (2), Mikyle Vraagom (2), Cullen van der Merwe, Marcqiewn Titus, Jovan Bekker, Juanré de Klerk, Remy Engelbrecht. Conversions: Vraagom (6). Golden Lions XV 15 (10) – Tries: Brendon Pawson, Simon Dionisio. Conversion: Tiaan Botes. Penalty: Botes.

Valke 63 (27) – Tries: Raynard Nel (2), Leshley October (2), Tony Edmund, Thabang Mahlasi, Danny Keyser, Thabo Ndimande, Dylan Schwartz, Zeilinga Strydom. Conversions: Zian de Jager (5). Penalty: De Jager. Leopards 24 (17) – Tries: Kobus Burger, Isrome Phatudi, Frank-Lee Jackson. Conversions: Jackson (3). Penalty: Jackson.

Boland 61 (29) – Tries: Christie Grobbelaar (3), Heinrich Naudé (2), Conner Mahoney (2), Storm Hanekom, Jacobus Groenewald, Shaun Baxter, Thinus van Zyl. Conversions: Lionel April (2), Mahoney. Griqualand West 14 (7) – Tries: Marco van der Merwe, Linton Maritz. Conversions: SJ Oberholzer (2). 

Sharks 46 (17) – Tries: Dylan Pretorius (2), Lwandile Menze (2), Joe Jonas, Andrew James. Conversions: Pretorius (5). Penalties: Pretorius (2). South Western Districts 28 (13) – Tries: Derick Jooste, Pieter Maritz, Braam van Huysteen, Janco Klinck. Conversion: Clyde Lewis. Penalties: Lewis, Jan-Daniel Strydom.  

Free State 38 (7) – Tries: Richard Kriel (2), Wyclef Vlitoor, Lehlohonolo Litabe, WJ Steenkamp, Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Conversions: Zander du Plessis (4). Blue Bulls 21 (15) – Tries: Bernard van der Linde, Diego Appollis. Conversion: Regardt Roets. Penalties: Roets (3). 

Day 3 

Blue Bulls XV 55 (19) – Tries: Enrique Coutriers (3), Junior Snyman (3), Adolph Visser, Wesley Damons, Ruan Oosthuizen. Conversions: Dieter Crafford (4), Keenan Wessels. Limpopo Blue Bulls 5 (5) – Try: Shaun Mulder. 

Pumas 45 (33) – Tries: Coenraad Visser (2), Chyle van Zyl (2), Estian Schroeder, Mfihla Phakathi, Teboho Mosia. Conversions: Visser (5). Eastern Province 29 (10) – Tries: Zukisa Sali, Claude Jacobs, Octavian Muller, Enrique Franks. Conversions: Monray Potgieter (3). Penalty: Claude Jacobs.

Border 52 (33) – Tries: Jacques Goosen (4), André Nel, Jarrod Taylor, Kwezi Dlamini, Sibabalwe Xamlashe. Conversions: Thomas Bursey (6). Griffions 12 (5) – Tries: Rian Olivier, JP de Kock. Conversion: Ruben Liebenberg. 

Western Province 13 (6) – Try: Adrian Alberts. Conversion: Kade Wolhuter. Penalties: Wolhuter. Golden Lions  5 (5) – Try: Henco van Wyk.  

Day 4 

Leopards 17 (10) – Try: André Rossouw, Max Williamson. Conversions: Frank-Lee Jackson (2). Penalties: Jackson. Griqualand West 6 (6) – Penalties: SJ Oberholzer, Handré Bruwer. 

South Western Districts 38 (28) – Tries: Vernon Paulo (2), Magnus Muller, Hannes Gous, Clyde Lewis, Janco Klinck. Conversions: Lewis (4). Golden Lions XV 24 (12) – Tries: Brendon Pawson, James MacIndoe, Ngia Selengebe, Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Conversions: Reece Botha (2).

Western Province XV 26 (8) – Tries: Allister Williams (2), Dean Nieuwoudt. Conversion: Nivan Petersen. Penalties: Petersen (3). Valke 8 (3) – Try: Dian Coetzee. Penalty: Aurelio Philander. 

Boland 19 Blue Bulls 17 

Sharks 29 Free State 20

Day 5 

Western Province 47 () – Tries: Juan Mostert (2), Evan Roos, JJ Kotze, Mihlali Mgolodela, Jason Alexander, Brendan Venter. Conversions: Kade Wolhuter (5), Darren Hendricks. Sharks 8 () – Try: Dylan Pretorius. Penalty: Pretorius.   

Golden Lions 51 (32) – Tries: Henco van Wyk (2), Morné Brandon, Franco Schutte, Ruben Westraad, Tino Swanepoel. Conversions: Declan Raubenheimer (3), Muzi Manyike (2), Penalties: Raubenheimer (2). Boland 16 (7) – Tries: Conner Mahoney, Lionel April. Conversion: April. 

Border 33 (19) – Tries: Jordan Janse van Rensburg (2), Jarrod Taylor, Jacques Goosen, Mnombo Zwelendaba. Conversions: Thomas Bursey (4). Free State 17 (10) – Tries: Ian Small-Smith, De Wet Marais, Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Conversions: Zander du Plessis (2). 

SWD 48 Pumas 14
Griquas 24 Limpopo Blue Bulls 15
Western Province XV 20 Blue Bulls 16
Eastern Province 21 Leopards 10
Blue Bulls XV 29 Golden Lions XV 17
Valke 19 Griffons 22

Grens se heelagter, Sibabalwe Xamlashe, was in ‘n vernietigende bui en het vier keer die doellyn in sy span se weghol-sege van 68-17 oor die Limpopop Blou Bulle gedruk.  

Dié sege is Grens se grootste nog sedert die ontstaan van die Cravenweek in 1964. 

Grens het teen rustyd reeds ‘n voorsprong van 40-10 opgebou. Die vleuel Jarrod Ramsey en senter Mnombo Zwelindaba het elk ook twee lopies agter die doellyn afgerond. Die wenspan het in totaal tien drieë gedruk. 

Daar was die begin af geen twyfel oor wie die wedstryd sou wen nie. Xamlashe het al vier sy drieë in die tweede helfte gedruk. Dit is nie aldag wat ‘n heelagter vier keer ‘n doellyn oorsteek nie, so vier drieë in ‘n tweede helfte getuig van ‘n uitsonderlike vertoning. 

Grens se skrumskakel, Thomas Bursey, het slegs een doelskop skeefgekorrel vir ‘n persoonlike bydrae van 18 punte tot die oorwinning. 

Die Limpopo Blou Bulle se vleuel Ofentse Maubane se drie was een van min ligpunte vir die verloorspan. Hy het ‘n steekskoppie van die skrumskakel, Anthony Brand, opgevolg en die losbal opgepik om te gaan druk. 

Puntemakers: 

Grens 68 (40) – Drieë: Sibabalwe Xamlashe (4), Jarrod Ramsay (2), Mnombo Zwelindaba (2), Sakhekile Dingile, Nolan Kemp. Doelskoppe: Thomas Bursey (9). Limpopo Blou Bulle 17 (10) – Drieë: Erik Snyman, Anthony Brand, Ofentse Maubane. Doelskop: Reece Wynne. 

Griffons het vuur gespoeg tydens sy eerste vertoning op vanjaar se 55ste Coca-Cola Cravenweek vir hoërskole teen die Blou Bulle se XV-tal in die Paarl. Die Perses het die toernooi met ‘n klinkende sege van 51-17 oor die Ligbloues se naasbestes afgeskop.

Dit was veral die wenspan se losskakel, Ruben Liebenberg, wat met sy besluitneming die span op die voorvoet gehou het. Hy het die bal seepglad langs die agterlyn afgestuur. Sy vleuels, Leonard Jacobs en JP de Kock, het baljaar op die punte danksy al die gehalte balbesit.

Die balbesit was natuurlik nie moontlik sonder die harde werk deur die agttal nie. Die Perses se aanslag voorlangs is deur die slot Hussayn Banzi gelei. Die haker, Valie Wiggens se ingooiwerk in die lynstane was ook van hoogstaande gehalte.

Die Perses se skrumskakel, Georgen Kiewiet, asook die senter Keith van Aswegen het elk twee keer die Ligbloues se doellyn oorgesteek. Die Blou Bulle se beste speler was sonder twyfel sy haker, Eduan Swart, wat behoorlik in die los gewoel het. Hy is vir sy uitstaande spel met twee drieë beloon.

Puntemakers: 

Griffons 51 (15) – Drieë: Georgen Kiewiet (2), Keith van Aswegen (2), Ruben Liebenberg, Leonard Jacobs, JP de Kock, FC du Plessis. Doelskoppe: Liebenberg (4). Strafdoel: Liebenberg. Blou Bulle XV 17 (5) – Drieë: Eduan Swart (2), Boipelo Kgatlhanye. Doelskop: Kenan Wessels.

School of Rugby het soos verlede jaar besluit om weer ons eie SA Skole-span voor die toernooi te kies.

Van verlede jaar se SA Skole-span is daar vyf spelers wat vanjaar weer verkiesbaar is. Die vyftal is Adrian Alberts (slot), Banele Mthenjane, Jordan Clarke (albei stutte), Diego Appollis (senter) en Morné Brandon (haker).

Al vyf behoort vanjaar weer sterk aanspraakmakers op plekke in die nasionale span te wees. Die grootste besprekingspunt sal egter wees na die span verkies is. Die wedstryd wat vanjaar sal bepaal wie 2018 as Suid-Afrika se voorste skolespan afsluit tussen Paul Roos Gimnasium en Grey-kollege sal sonder twyfel deur die spankeuses beinvloed word.

Volgens Saru se strategiese transformasieplan kan daar verwag word dat die groep van 28 spelers uit 14 wit spelers en 14 spelers van kleur sal moet bestaan. Van die 14 spelers van kleur sal die helfte etnies swart moet wees.

Daar sal ook ‘n nasionale o.17-span verkies word wat later vanjaar aan ‘n toernooi in Zimbabwe, wat deur Kennedy Tsimba gereel word, sal deelneem.

Ons sal weer Vrydag ‘n span kies na aanleiding van die spelers se vertonings tydens die 55ste Coca-Cola Cravenweek vir hoërskole in die Paarl. 

School of Rugby se SA Skole-span is:

Agterspelers: Richard Kriel (Vrystaat), Sibabalwe Xamlashe (Grens), Stravino Jacobs (WP), Siyanda Cele (Sharks), Trevino Gordon (SWD), Diego Appollis (Blou Bulle), Wyclef Vlitoor (Vrystaat), Muzi Munyike (Goue Leeus), Brendan Venter (WP), Rynardt Jonker (Sharks), Juan Mostert (WP), Lionel April (Boland), Jurich Claassens (Blou Bulle), Dewald Strydom (Valke).

Voorspelers: Celimpilo Gumede (Sharks), Werner Gouws (Vrystaat), Sibusiso Sangweni (Sharks), De Wet Marais (Vrystaat), Keke Morabe (Griffons), Adrian Alberts (WP), Hannes Gous (SWD), Lunga Ncube (Sharks), Hanru Jacobs (WP), Banele Mthenjane (Pumas), Jordan Clarke (Sharks), Dewald Donald (Blou Bulle), Morné Brandon (Goue Leeus), JJ Kotze (WP).

Die Coca-Cola Cravenweek vir hoërskole keer van more af vir die eerste keer in 31 jaar terug na die Paarl. Die toernooi wat vanjaar die 55ste keer aangebied sal word, is laas in 1987 tydens die Paarl se 300ste bestaansjaar hier gehou.

Die week van 1987 het ‘n belangrike bydrae gelewer tot die Springbokke se verowering van die Wêreldbeker van 1995. Vier spelers wat op dié week in aksie was James Small, Brendan Venter (albei Transvaal), Chris Rossouw (Oos-Transvaal) en Ruben Kruger (Vrystaat) tel onder die helde van 1995.

Venter se seun sal reeds soos sy pa die nr.12-trui tydens vanjaar se toernooi vir die Westelike Provinsie dra. Die Streeptruie tel vanjaar saam met die Vrystaat en die Sharks as die gunstelinge om die kroon as nie-amptelike kampioen te dra.

Die WP se loskopstut, Robbie Rodgers, se pa, Heinrich Rodgers het ook as voorryman op sy dag vir die Bokke diens gedoen. Die Sharks se veelsydige agterspeler, Rynardt Jonker, se pa is die voormalige skeidsregter, Marius Jonker.

Die Vrystaatse span het ook heelwat oud-Bokke se seuns in sy geledere. Die gewese Bok-senter, Franco Smith, wat op ‘n tyd ook die rekord vir die meeste punte op ‘n Cravenweek gehou het se seun Franco sal ook op binnesenter vir die Vrystaat in aksie wees. Smith jr. en Venter jr. behoort albei sterk aanspraakmakers te wees om die nr 12-trui van die SA Skole-span te dra. 

Die ysterman van Bok-rugby André Venter se seun, André-Hugo Venter, sal op haker vir die Vrystaat uitdraf. Die span se slot Danwich Beukes se pa, Joe Beukes, het die Vrystaat in meer as 100 wedstryde verteenwoordig.

Die WP XV-tal se slot Emile van Heerden se pa Fritz van Heerden het as flank en slot die Springbokke verteenwoordig. Sy haker wat die bal in die lynstane by hom moet uitkry is Cullen van der Merwe. Sy pa is die voormalige heelagter en afrigter van Griekwas en die Westelike Provinsie, Kobus van der Merwe.

WP se vleuel Tiaan Pretorius se pa Torros Pretorius het vir die destydse Suidoos-Transvaal as losvoorspeler Cravenweek asook vir die seniorspan uitgedraf. Hy is ook die neef van die Bok-flank, Kwagga Smith.

Terug na 1987 in die Paarl. Rossouw was vanaf agtsteman die Rooi Duiwels se kaptein. Hy het later na haker verskuif. Toks van der Linde het Oos Vrystaat aangevoer. Hy het slegs 92kg geweeg en was 1.89m lank, wat nie groot in vandag se terme van voorrymanne op skoolvlak is Die gewese Bok-haker Charl Marais het die Vrystaters se skrum as vaskopstut geanker. En saam met Kruger in die lostrio en ook kaptein van die span was wyle Protea-kaptein Hansie Cronjé op agtsteman. Nog ‘n toekomstige Springbok Pieter Muller het daardie jaar die laaste vesting van die Vrystaters beman. 

‘n Verdere drie Bokke Phillip Schutte (Noord-Transvaal), Tinus Linee (WP Federasie) en Botha Rossouw (Verre Noord) was ook in 1987 op die Paarl in aksie.

Die Bolandse slot JW Human van Hermanus sal die langste speler in aksie wees op die week. Hy staan ‘n allemintige 2.02 meter in sy sokkies. Die lenige slot weeg slegs 88kg.

Die Wynboere sal ook die swaarste speler op vanjaar se toernooi hê. Sy loskopstut, Tommie Bezuidenhout, laat die skaal op 120kg kreun. Die leerling van HTS Drostdy is 1.85m lank.