South Africa U19 for World Champs
Eloff is impressed
South Africa has announced the national Under-19-squad to defend its world crown at the IRB Under-19 World Championships to be held in April in Dubai.
The national selectors, convened by Peter Jooste, chose the team of 26 players after the final trials were held over the weekend at the Brandvlei Correctional Services facility on the outskirts of Worcester.
Coach Eugene Eloff, who last year led his exciting young team to a pulsating championship win over the All Blacks in Durban, said: "I am very impressed with the talent and commitment of the players that have been selected,.
"The training camps have been quite tough and I am looking forward to the final camp in March as we prepare to defend our title."
There are just three players back from the team which won the championship in Durban last year - Marlon Lewis, François Steyn, and PJ Vermeulen.
Most of the players were in the 2005 SA Schools or SA Academy sides:
South African Schools: Conraad Britz (South Western Districts), Riacco Ellerd (Griquas), Vincent Gwavu (Eastern Province), Morné Jooste (Western Province), Divan Kapp (Pumas), Marlon Lewis (Eastern Province), Edgar Marutlulle (Leopards), Pieter Meyer (Blue Bulls), Giant Nkosi (Golden Lions), Sewes Oosthuizen (Free State),Dewald Potgieter (Eastern Province), Christopher Juries (Eastern Province), André Smith (Western Province), PJ Vermeulen (Griquas).
SA Academy: Kirwan Frieslaar (Eastern Province), Johan Jackson (Leopards), Mnutsi Mabeta (Blue Bulls).
(The provinces given above were their provinces as schoolboys.)
Surprise omissions may well be fullback/wing Christopher Micklewood of KwaZulu Natal, centre Stefan Watermeyer of the Blue Bulls and flank Johan van Deventer of the Golden Lions.
The SA Schools players who did not make the SA Under-19 are: Christopher Micklewood, Stefan Watermeyer, Charlton Prinsloo, Hendrik Roodt, Zander de Kock, Hansie Moolman, Mandilakhe Tile and Aubrey McDonald.
Those who made neither of the South African schools sides are centre Dabeon Draghoender who was at Virginia Sports School last year, Hayden Groepes of Western Province, Conraad Hoffman of Western Province, Lehan Koekemoer of Golden Lions, Jacques Rossouw of Western Province, Musa Tukela of Border, Drew van Coller, a big prop who was at Waterkloof last year, and strong Hercules Venter of the Golden Lions.
The Van Coller case borders on the ridiculous. Regarded by many involved in rugby in the top schools as the toughest prop in schools rugby last year, he did not even make the trials for the Blue Bulls Craven Week side. Free State had identified him as a worthy player at the St John's Eastern Tournament and offered him a contract, which he has taken up.
Tall Lehan Koekemoer, a lock, was injured while at HTS Middelburg last year and missed out on the Craven Week.
Jean Rossouw did not play for Paarl Gim first team last year when both of the props were ineligible for the Craven Week but he went to Craven Week for Western Province.
Prop Musa Tukela of St Baths Senior Secondary was not in the Border Craven Week side but in the Country Districts side.
Morné Jooste of The Settlers School in Bellville is the son of Peter Jooste, the convener of selectors.
The SA Under-19 team is: Conraad Britz (Western Province), Dabeon Draghoender (Eastern Province), Riacco Eilerd (Blue Bulls), Kirwan Frieslaar (KwaZulu Natal), Hayden Groepes (Western Province), Lubabalo Gwavu (Blue Bulls), Conraad Hofmann (Western Province), Johan Jackson (Leopards), Christopher Juries (Eastern Province), Morné Jooste (Western Province), Divan Kapp (Golden Lions), Lehan Koekemoer (Golden Lions), Marlon Lewis (Blue Bulls), Mthunzi Mabeta (Blue Bulls), Edgar Maruthule (Leopards), Pieter Meyer (Blue Bulls), Malungisa Nkosi (KwaZulu Natal), Josephus Oosthuizen (KwaZulu Natal), Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls), Jean Rossouw (Western Province), Andre Smith (Golden Lions), François Steyn (KwaZulu Natal), Musa Tukela (Border), Drew van Coller (Free State), Hercules Venter (Golden Lions), PJ Vermeulen (Western Province).