Zanzaar Under 20 Cup Championship

Dave

This is for your information as I know you are always interested in potential future youngsters to come through the system - so have a look at the following:-

,https://super.rugby/therugbychampionship/news/sanzaar-confirms-venue-match-schedule-for-trc-u20-2025/

We have drastic problms in certain position back-ups at present and I am particularly interested in the flyhalf and props situation, as well as the inside center position - so erhaps another Sacha will be coming out to play for SA in future.

o maybe it would be a good thing if some other embrs also look at the series and be positive in what they write on site.

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I need to find a way to watch it as it’s not being televised here for obvious reasons

We have plenty of depth at 12 in Willemse , Hooker, David Kriel, Branson Mills, Roche and last years Baby Boks - Bruce Sherwood and Josh Bulle

Props we have plenty of depth at 3 with Wilco, Thomas, Frans Klopper, Hanro Jacobs, Carlu Sadie and Morne Smith

At loosehead we have Ox, Steenkamp, Wessels and Mchunu

We do have a new Sacha in Yaqeen Ahmed at Wynberg - this lad is sensational. Has already been training with the Baby Bok squad

Remember the name

Here goes Mike

Dave here is the squad:-

Props: Ranon Fouché (Vodacom Bulls), Jean Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls), Simphiwe Ngobese (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Herman Lubbe (DHL Western Province), Oliver Reid (DHL Western Province).

Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls), Jaundré Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls), HB Odendaal (Fidelity ADT Lions).

Locks: Neil Hansen (Fidelity ADT Lions), Morné Venter (Fidelity ADT Lions), Riley Norton (DHL Western Province), JJ Theron (Vodacom Bulls).

Loose forwards: Batho Hlekani (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Xola Nyali (DHL Western Province), Matt Romao (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wandile Mlaba (DHL Western Province), Thando Biyela (Fidelity ADT Lions).

Scrumhalves: Ceano Everson (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Haashim Pead (Fidelity ADT Lions), Elrich Visser (Toyota Cheetahs).

Flyhalves: Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kyle Smith (DHL Western Province).

Centres: Albie Bester (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gino Cupido (DHL Western Province), Demitre Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls), Dominic Malgas (DHL Western Province).

Outside backs: Scott Nel (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gilermo Mentoe (Fidelity ADT Lions), Siya Ndlozi (DHL Western Province), Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls), JC Mars (DHL Western Province).

Dave

There is somehing flyhals must have abd hat relates to instant reading of the game situations and take decisons instantly as to what actions are necessary to ensure best results instantly and instinctively.

Very few flyhalfs has that mental and physical abiliy and this guy Ahmed seems to be in that category, At Under 18 he needs furher physical development and one hope eh oes not go the waySwiel went. I think career wise h shuld go to the player development center in Stellenbosch and try and follow the Sacha road to perfection.

By the way I have never seen any SA flyhalf with teh phyicality and rugby acumen before, The person who was to my mind neaest to that was Pollard - but he was not on the same level, h was more physical and nt a pacey as Sacha, Sacha is fom the point of rugby instinct and mind has more to ofe than Pollard, , If we have a back-up for Sacha it would make a huge difference to the future functioning of the Springbok backline.

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Mike you are speaking shit - this kid is a good size for a flyhalf and as you see from some of his runs - it’s down to physical strength that he breaks through tackles

Dave

Any kid is in a development phase until he si fully grown. Shaza went through the Steellenbosch cente where the right diet is prescribed and the gym pogram is way beyond the capaciry of the schools,

I saw that he poduced and obviously is impressed by what I saw, So all I think is he can do well to fllow he same route Saca did, If he reaches the Sacha state of development the Springboks ould have te two best flyha;fs in the world.Not omly that with them as pivotts they will als have the ebst backlines in the world.- because thefly half is not withiut reason called the pivot/

Dve here is the Under 20 team playing Argentina at 16;10 SA Time:-

15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Albie Bester. 11 Gino Cupido. 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Matt Romao, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (captain), 3 Simphiwe Ngobese, 2 Sethu Mnebelele, 1 Oliver Reid

Replacements:

16 Juandré Schoeman/ 17 Ranon Fouché/ 18 JD Erasmus, 19 Morné Venter/, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Vusi Moyo,23 JC Mars

Riley Norton is an 18 year od from Paul Roos High Schools and play fpr SA in both Rugby Unde 20 and Cricket uder 19 - a rare combination indeed - the last similar case was Gibbs/

He actually prefe to play at 7 - but was elected as a kock. Anohe seeming the endless number of loosies that is in fuure going to contest for SA selection - his rolemodel in Rug by is Du Toit. In cricket he is a fast bowler 9 roll model Rabada,

Looking forward to seeing Matt Romao play...

A HTS Drostdy boytjie….

The achedule for todays matches are -

1. New Zealand vs Australia - 14:00 CAT
2. South Africa vs Argentina - 16:00 CAT

Missed the game - was watching Oz v NZ on Rugbypass with the Bok v Argie game advertised to follow only for the wankers not to show

Blob is there a link anywhere to watch a repeat?

What happened?

I watched it - had a replay on Rugbypass

Baby Boks won 36-25

But it could have been 3 tries more that were disallowed

Very well drilled side - huge improvement on the last clown that coached them when he had a bunch of super stars in his ranks

Plenty of attack play, nice interchanges with forwards and backs - strong defence. Line outs were a mess. Scrum could do with a bit more dominance - was parity in that department

I was very impressed - next game is against Oz on Tuesday who drew with NZ 29 all

I watched the game, they're a well drilled side which makes for a change from previous. Their enthusiasm to run the ball and score tries never dropped off.

Yeah the measure will be against Oz on Tuesday who are NZ’s equals

9 was very good as was 14 and captain Norton at 4 who played for the SA u19 cricket side last year

8 was very good - liked the work of the loosehead as well

They all looked pretty handy - can’t say I saw a passenger

Dave

I am actually delighted what I saw iro the Aussie team. THe fact is there is hope that the Ausie team will improve over the next few years - at present theya re no as strong as expected on test level and hope they become a foice be reckoned with in future,

Maybe I was a bt harsh - that Argentine team are indeed strong and probably better at the WC Under 20 Championship in late June 2025.

The next matches are as follows:-

Tuesday 6 May 2025

New Zealand vs Argentina - 14:00

Australa vs South Africa - 16:10

Sunday 11 May 2025

Argentina vs Australia - 14:00

New Zealand vs South Afrika - 16:10

Since Australia vs New Zealand was a drawn match the streng th of the eams will be tested on Tuesdy and Friday - so it is interesting to see what happens in the remaining two matches each team has to play.

Baby Boks make loads of changes for match against Oz tomorrow

Only about 3 or 4 of the team that beat the Argies have been retained

Squad rotation and squad depth is the order

SA Under 20 tean tmorrowe:

15. JC Mars, 14. Cheswill Jooste, 13. Scott Nel, 12. Dominic Malgas,

11. Siya Ndlozi. 10. Vusi Moyo, 9. Ceano Everson, 8 8. Wandile Mlaba,

7. Batho Hlekani, 6. Xola Nyali, 5. Morne Venter, 4. Riley Norton, captain), 3. Herman Lubbe, 2. Juandre Schoeman, 1. Simphiwe Ngobese

Replacements:

16. HB Odendaal, 17. Oliver Reid, 18. Jean Erasmus, 19. Neil Hansen,

20. Thando Biyela, 21. Erich Visser, 22. Kyle Smith, 23. Gino Cupido