If I was the coach, these youngsters would be involved in my set up straight away.
Fullback: Jessie Kriel, this kid is the real deal has it all and is equally at home at 13
Bubbling under – Andries Coetzee, SP Marais
Wings: Senatla, has already set the 7’s world alight and should go down as a Bok great
Kolbe – I am all for the big guys, but this little lad punches way above his weight and has the ability to rip defences apart.
Bubbling under – Sithole, Rhule and Jordaan
Centres: Kobus v/Wyk – wasted on the wing, played all his age group rugby at centre, I want to see him at 13. Has the same skill set as JJ, but might have a harder edge.
Andre Esterhuizen – a powerhouse at 106kg, needs to be moulded into a SBW
Bubbling under – Pat Howard, Tyler Fisher, Frans Venter, Odendaal, Mnisi, Stokkies and Vorster
Flyhalf: None
Bubbling under – Tim Swiel
Scrumhalf: Faf de Klerk – the find of last season
Bubbling under – Groom, Schrauder and Luithers
Props: Thomas du Toit – this kid has the world at his feet, our new Os
Kitshoff – came of age only to be struck down by injury
Bubbling under – Ollie Kebble, Morne Mellett and Maks v/Dyk
Hookers: None
Bubbling under – Cooper, Malcolm Marx and Scara
Locks: Willemse – how Meyer has missed out on this lad is beyond me. He should be Etzebeth’s Bok partner now
Jacques du Plessis – the next big thing since Eben and PSDT
Bubbling under – Jean Kleyn, Jandre Marais and Ruan Botha
Loosies: Mtembu – this lads all round skills really impressed me last season
v/d Walt – lost to France but has test rugby written all over him
CJ Stander – setting Munster alight this season, if Meyer had any brains he would secure his services instead of Ireland claiming him in a years’ time.
Kriel – toured but got no game time, he is worthy
Bubbling under – Elstadt, Labascagne, Etienne Oosthuizen, Oupa
Then we have a list of youngsters who have tasted test rugby and now need further investment:
De Allende, JJ, Goosen, Pollard, Hougaard, Reinach, v/Zyl, Marcel v/d Merwe, Malherbe, Coenie, Nyakane, PSDT, Lood, Lewies, Carr Arno Botha and Kolisi.
It’s a sad state of affairs that the only entrenched Bok youngsters are Willie, Serfontein, Lambie, Etzebeth and Coetzee.


