NZ Rugby - ball handling at the school boy level

Here's an example of NZ school boy rugby & why we see such good handling at the professional level
Video

ball handling, big deal  can they crash ball and rolling maul though?!

 JW - there is a massive difference between school rugby and adult rugby in SA.  Problem is that the coaches in SA generally manage to coach ball skills out of players and that happens on most levels once kids leave schools.   The problem is also that the coaches go for big and clumsy players ahead of ball skill players.  

 See ball handling at schoolboy level doesnt just mean you have holes in yer pockets eh ? Or would that just be feeling coc-ky ?

Mike said a very true and important statement... - there is a massive difference between school rugby and adult rugby in SA.

I've watched many a game between the schools in KZN...Hilton, Maritzburg College, Kearsney (whose only 2 klms from me) Michaelhouse, Glenwood and DHS and once a year a schoolboy festival where I see schools from the other provinces, and what is very obvious to me is that there is a big difference...the schoolboy rugby is outstanding.

The biggest question is then what goes wrong?

Mike said...Problem is that the coaches in SA generally manage to coach ball skills out of players and that happens on most levels once kids leave schools.   The problem is also that the coaches go for big and clumsy players ahead of ball skill players. 

From what I've seen is that the passing and ball handling is good.

Are the school coaches being manipulated by the demands of rugby academy coaches at senior level or does the various academies over look players because of size...I know there are some that are infatuated by size but size only is not a gauge of effectiveness...take the late legend in boxing that whipped Sonny Liston and George Foreman...OK it's not the same but the same principle applies.

Maybe some of you fundi's can give input.

What I really think honestly is the fact that so many potential players are lost because they go to the lesser well known schools and never break through but there again it's only just a small excuse...if you are really good you come through despite your handicap.

Andre Joubert went to Ladysmith and Henry Honiball to Escourt and many others came from humble schools of rugby and this can cancel the argument...but we are talking about today.

I really think the problem might be in the inability of schoolboy heros to adapt to senior style agendas and the toughness of senior rugby.

Those of us that were academic at school got a wake up call when we went to university...some very clever okies never got a degree but some even standard ones became doctors and brilliant advocates...

PS...How did SAffex become a lawyer

 NZ have tried to create a seamless pathway from schoolyard to Eden park ,that includes all the coaches pulling in the same direction all to the betterment of our rugby from top to bottom.