The RBS Six Nations will have a strong South African flavour this year. No less than half-a-dozen South African born and bred players will be in action during the oldest international tournament on the globe.
The player who’s performance will be watch closely from South Africa when he make his debut is CJ Stander. The captain of Munster already made a huge impact in Ireland with his rugby. The former pupil from Oakdale Landou just outside Riversdal captained the South African u20-side in 2010 after also representing the team in the previous year.
Stander also captained the South African schools’ side in 2008. He also led the South Western Districts to the unofficial title of champions at the Coca-Cola Craven Week that year. They defeated Free State 31-25 in the main match in Pretoria. The eightman scored three tries in his side’s three matches at the tournament with his bullocking runs.
Stander also captained the Ostrich Farmers at the Coca-Cola Craven Week of 2007 which was held in Stellenbosch. Former Springbok captain Corné Krige is the only player to have led the South African Schools’ side and also went on to captain the country. Stander in future might also captain an international side in green onto the field after having the honour of leading the South African national schools’ side onto the field.
From the class of 2008 – Pat Lambie, Siya Kolisi and Elton Jantjes already made the step-up and represented the Springboks. Other players from this group who made the step-up to franchise level are Francois Venter (Cheetahs), Andries Ferreira (both Cheetahs) Ruan Smith (Brumbies) and Wandile Mjekevu (Sharks).
Richardt Strauss will also continue his career as an Irish international in the Six Nations. He is a former pupil of South Africa’s premier rugby school, Grey College of Bloemfontein. Strauss also represented the SA Schools’ side in 2004.
Dries van Schalkwyk will become his school’s first international rugby players when he gets his chance for Italy. Van Schalkwyk matriculated from St. Andrew’s School in Bloemfontein.
Former Springbok prop Guy Kebble also played for St. Andrews’ first XV while he was still in grade ten. Saints however don’t lay claim to Kebble as being a Springbok from their school. He matriculated from Diocesan College, better known as Bishops, from Cape Town.
The 31 year old Van Schalkwyk, a farm boy from Jagersfontein, is quite a journey man. He played rugby for the Blue Bulls, Golden Lions, Free State Cheetahs, Valke, Leopards, Boland and Southern Kings. He also took part in the annual Coca-Cola Craven Week as he represented the Central Region XV at the 2002 edition of the tournament.
Another South African who will take part in the RBS Six Nations is Braam Steyn. He represented South Africa u20 at the World Junior Championship of 2012. South Africa was crowned World Champions at the tournament they hosted.
Steyn is a former pupil of Paul Roos Gimnasium in Stellenbosch and represented Western Province at the Coca-Cola Craven Week in 2009 and 2010.
France who had three South Africans in their squad for last year’s World Cup will only have fullback Scott Spedding in their squad for this year’s Six Nations. Spedding matriculated from St. John’s College in Johannesburg and represented the Golden Lions at the Coca-Cola Craven Week of 2004 in Nelspruit.
Spedding was also a more than talented cricket player. His bowling figures of 6/14 for Gauteng against Kei at the annual Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week of 2004 is still the sixth best figures in the history of the tournament.
Scotland kept their two South Africans from last year’s World Cup in their plans for the Six Nations. Prop WP Nel and loose forward Josh Strauss will once again play for their adopted country. Nel, who matriculated from HTS Drostdy in Worcester, represented the Cheetahs in SuperRugby. Strauss captained the Lions’ side in the tournament. He is like Steyn an old-boy of Paul Roos Gimnasium.
The annual FNB Classic Clashes’ fixture list will produce like in the past some of the highlights of the 2016 schoolboy rugby season. The first FNB Classic Clash will be played in Johannesburg on 19 March with St. John’s College and Parktown Boys’ High locking horns. The clash between Grey College and Affies on 7 May will be one of the games of the season not to miss.
Gauteng and Western Province will meet each other for the fourth successive year in the main match of the annual Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week at St. Georges Park in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.