There is some confusion among local Super Rugby coaches over where they stand with regards to players who have been selected for the national Under-20 squad about to contest the Junior World Cup in Stellenbosch and Bellville which starts next week.
According to the SuperSport website, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says he hopes common sense will prevail in the case of the man he could lose for the all-important Super Rugby clash with the Bulls at Loftus, prop Steven Kitshoff. And Sharks coach John Plumtree, while happy to let lock Pieter-Steph du Toit hook up with the Baby Boks, says he will not release Paul Jordaan as he needs him for the match against the Lions in Johannesburg.
“What is more important and what takes priority – is it Super Rugby or is it the national age-group team?” asked Plumtree when the question was put to him.
“We are releasing Pieter-Steph, so I think we are meeting them halfway on that so I don’t anticipate any problems. Paul is playing well for us and we need him for the match against the Lions. I think if you asked the players which games they would want to play I think they would say Super Rugby. It’s where the money is and we pay their salaries.”
Plumtree, like Coetzee, pointed out that the players would be free to join up with the national side immediately after Saturday’s games, and they don’t need to be involved immediately in the JWC challenge as the South African side has a relatively uncomplicated start to the competition.
“I had a meeting with Rassie Erasmus (in his capacity as SARU Performance Director) and Dawie Theron (Baby Bok coach) when we got back from tour four weeks ago and at the time the message we got was that they would make every effort to accommodate us by managing Steven effectively and managing the situation,” said Coetzee.
“There is a chance we will lose Steven for the match against the Bulls, but we are hoping not because he is an important player in our team and this is a heck of an important game for us. I think common sense should dictate. If you asked the players which games they would want to play, I am pretty sure I know how they would answer. Steven has played every game for us and he will want to play against the Bulls because it is such a massive game.”
Coetzee said that he hoped the under-20 management would comply with his request to use Kitshoff sparingly during the tournament, resting him in games where the Baby Boks were certain to win.
“He has had a tough Super Rugby season and there are some tough games still to come in June. It isn’t going to help us or him if he ends up playing a whole lot of matches in quick succession, which happens in age-group tournaments.”
Coetzee said a decision had been made by SARU earlier this year that the national age-group team would take preference over Super Rugby, a departure from what was the case in the past.
If that is the case, it really doesn’t make any sense as a player learns far more playing Super Rugby than playing age-group rugby.
Missing this opportunity knowing it might never come again would be plain stupid.
How others feel about this privilege might sway any player.
“No-one can ever take that away so it was something very special.
“It was a bit of rollercoaster, that is a pretty fair indication of those three weeks but I wouldn’t change any of it for the world. It was just an amazing experience and something that I will remember forever and cherish forever.”
Cruden’s story was already a remarkable one, the fly half having been diagnosed with testicular cancer at 19 and, after beating that, captained his country’s Under 20 side to the IRB Junior World Championship 2009 title in Japan under his mentor Dave Rennie.
His performances in the defeats of Australia and England in the semi final and title decider respectively marked him out as a potential long-term successor to Carter, not to mention saw him honoured as the IRB Junior Player of the Year 2009.
Squad
Full Name DOB (AGE) CM KG CLUB Position
Allan Dell 16/03/1992(20) 185 112 Sharks Prop
Oliver Kebble 18/06/1992(19) 189 128 Western Province Prop
Steven Kitshoff 10/02/1992(20) 183 114 Western Province Prop
Nicolaas Van Dyk 21/01/1992(20) 186 113 Sharks Prop
Mark Pretorius 09/06/1992(19) 176 102 Golden Lions Hooker
Jason Thomas 03/08/1992(19) 184 103 Blue Bulls Hooker
Ruan Botha 10/01/1992(20) 203 113 Golden Lions Lock
Pieter Steph Du Toit 20/08/1992(19) 200 115 Sharks Lock
Marvin Orie 15/02/1993(19) 197 102 Blue Bulls Lock
Paul Willemse 13/11/1992(19) 200 127 Golden Lions Lock
Shaun Adendorff 28/05/1992(20) 185 95 Blue Bulls Flanker
Fabian Booysen 21/03/1992(20) 190 102 Golden Lions Flanker
Wian Liebenberg 31/08/1992(19) 189 100 Blue Bulls Flanker
Khaya Majola 13/03/1992(20) 185 98 Sharks Flanker
Braam Steyn 02/05/1992(20) 192 104 Sharks Flanker
Abrie Griesel 15/01/1992(20) 182 85 Blue Bulls Scrumhalf
Vian Van Der Watt 18/11/1992(19) 175 85 Golden Lions Scrumhalf
Tony Jantjies 19/04/1992(20) 178 90 Blue Bulls Flyhalf
Dill Leyds 12/09/1992(19) 183 76 Western Province Flyhalf
Handre Pollard 11/03/1994(18) 188 94 Western Province Flyhalf
Patrick Howard 27/03/1992(20) 187 101 Western Province Centre
Paul Jordaan 01/04/1992(20) 179 90 Sharks Centre
Tshotsho Mbovane 01/08/1992(19) 175 81 Western Province Centre
Jan Serfontein 15/04/1993(19) 187 97 Blue Bulls Centre
William Small-Smith 31/03/1992(20) 185 90 Blue Bulls Centre
Travis Ismaiel 02/06/1992(19) 190 92 Blue Bulls Wing
Raymond Rhule 06/11/1992(19) 189 88 Free State Cheetahs Wing
Marais Schmidt 23/04/1992(20) 183 88 Golden Lions Fullback
The IRB Junior World Championship 2012 in South Africa will enjoy record broadcast, online and social media coverage for an Age Grade Rugby tournament.
The premier age grade event for international teams at Under 20 level, which runs from June 4-22 in Stellenbosch and Cape Town, will be screened live or as live to more than 240 million homes in 162 territories by 17 leading broadcasters, a 14 per cent rise in coverage from last year.
The cumulative total of live coverage for the three-week tournament is projected to exceed 300 hours for the first time.
The IRB Junior World Championship 2012 Host Broadcaster SuperSport will produce live coverage of all 30 matches, the first time the whole tournament has been broadcast.
Around the world, broadcasters showing live action for the first time include NBC in USA and ESPN Star in Asia, reflecting the strong growth of the Game in these territories, alongside leading sports broadcasters such as Fox Sport in Australia, Eurosport, France TV, RAI in Italy, Sky Sports UK, Bandsport in Brazil, Fiji TV and OSN across the Middle East. For the first time Maori TV in New Zealand and TG4 in Ireland will cover the tournament.
“The IRB Junior World Championship continues to go from strength to strength attracting new fans and broadcasters with its renowned brand of exciting and open matches played in a festival atmosphere at wonderful venues,” said IRB Tournament Director Philippe Bourdarias.
“The future stars of world Rugby will be on show in the rich Rugby heartland of Cape Town and Stellenbosch for 22 days next month, and the tournament provides fans around the world with the ability to see the next generation of Patrick Lambies, Sam Warburtons and Will Genias.”
The record number of matches will also be streamed live via SuperSport’s website at http://www.supersport.com ensuring an increased global audience can see the live action for free.
In addition to the record broadcast coverage, the IRB is offering multi-platform online opportunities to follow the tournament with daily digital updates, extensive highlights, news coverage and feature content all available at the official tournament website http://www.irb.com/jwc. Fans can also have their say by tweeting @irbjuniors and #JWC or following facebook.com/juniorworldrugby.
With a week to go until the event kicks off, organisers are anticipating an event that will showcase South Africa’s passion and appetite for major Rugby events, world class Rugby and a unique fan experience.
IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The IRB is confident that the IRB Junior World Championship 2012 in South Africa will be a resounding success, furthering the reach and profile of Rugby around the world while showcasing a great country. I would like to thank SARU and all stakeholders for their dedication and passion to deliver what promises to be an outstanding event.”
The record number of matches will also be streamed live via SuperSport’s website at http://www.supersport.com ensuring an increased global audience can see the live action for free.
A few members of the squad have already attended Meyer’s Springbok planning camps in recent weeks, including centre Pat Howard, prop Oliver Kebble and second row Pieter Steph du Toit, and the national coach was quick to let the players know he is keeping an eye on their progress.
“Internationally it’s standard practice that head coaches and high performance managers of national teams works closely with their junior structures, and it was great that Heyneke and Rassie spent time with the players and management,” said Theron.
“To have Heyneke and Rassie come out to visit us, was really good for the entire squad. I spent some time with the Boks at the Cape Town planning camp last week and now they came to visit us – I think this kind of mutual cooperation only bodes well for rugby in South Africa.”
Erasmus added: “I used to play with Dawie and Brendan (Venter) and also worked with Brendan and Nazeem (Adams) at coaching level. We had some great discussions and threw ideas around of where we could assist them and how they can also help us at the Boks.”
South Africa will face Ireland, Italy and England in the pool stages of the IRB Junior World Championship, which runs from 4-22 June in Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Only the Pool B winner is guaranteed a place in the semi finals and South Africa will be determined to better their fifth place finish of 2011.
OK that is my view, i feel the players MUST be released and that they would be stupid to miss the JWC
2@ superBul:
If you’re not in SA you can’t access live streaming on SS’s website, even if you registered while in SA, so I can’t see how that will significantly boot the viewing figures. Unless they change their rule, which if my experience with DSTV is anything to go by won’t happen.
On the one hand, who pays the salaries?
On the other, if you want INTERNATIONAL exposure on your CV, what better way.
Problem is, does SA have the ability to beat the rest of the world (OK, the Baby Blacks and England in particular), even with all of the SR players?
Has anyone here read Peter de Villiers’ book yet?
I am off to try and get my copy today….just need to confirm a few things about Hoskins, Cheeky and their cronies, things I suspected for a few years now.
But I need to hear it ‘from the horse’s mouth’.
And nobody will tell me me not to believe whatever Peter has put in black on white, I believe him….before I even start reading what he has to say.
Cape Town (sport24)- The Stormers have been dealt a massive blow with the news that loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff won’t be available for their Super Rugby clash against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
According to Die Burger, Kitshoff on Monday joined the SA under-20 squad that will be competing in next week’s IRB Junior World Championships in Cape Town.
In terms of the SA Rugby Union’s (SARU) latest regulations, the Baby Boks have first call on the player’s services but the Stormers were keen for him to play against the Bulls.
The Stormers tried to negotiate the issue with SARU on Monday but their attempts proved unsuccessful.
And Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is understandably upset, especially ahead of a huge derby against their arch-rivals which could determine their playoff fate.
He feels Kitshoff will now miss out on an opportunity to prove himself against a player of senior Springbok calibre.
“Werner Kruger (Bulls tighthead) could possibly play at tighthead for the Springboks. It would have been a good opportunity for him (Kitshoff) to meet him against a player of that quality.
“We’ve lost a quality player. It’s nice to see the young guys prove themselves against the best. Saturday’s game is important for us and the Bulls but there’s nothing we can do about it. The rule states that he must play for the under-20 team. We accept it as such,” said Coetzee.
Prior to this change bu SARU, Coetzee said he and the Baby Boks coach, Dawie Theron, had discussed ways of easing Kitshoff’s workload in a way that would benefit both teams.
“The plan was that he would start for us and be managed in a way that would be beneficial for both parties. He would have missed the under-20 team’s match against Ireland, but would have played the rest of the tournament.
“If the Baby Boks made the final we would have given him a rest afterwards,” said Coetzee.
The Baby Boks play their first match next Monday evening, with the tournament concluding on June 22.
Theron didn’t want to comment about his and Coetzee’s earlier arrangement.
“I’m here to prepare a team to win the Junior World Cup on home soil with the players SARU has given me.
“The Super Rugby players are now training with us. Steven Kitshoff, Ruan Botha, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Paul Jordaan are all here,” said Theron.
Sharks coach John Plumtree was also keen to use centre Jordaan for their clash against the Lions in Johannesburg this weekend.
Ooooo jinne … die bulle gaan ons opfork hierdie naweek … ek hoop ons (Stormers) maak die play-offs!
With the Junior World Championship only starting after this weekend’s round of matches, and the public rugby passion directed far more at Super Rugby than it ever will be at an age-group competition, you would have thought that Coetzee would have his wish for common sense to prevail granted, but that has not been the case.
Kitshoff has played all the Stormers’ games this season and has hardly been off the field in that time, so Coetzee is facing a problem that is partially of his own making in that you could argue that there should have been more rotation.
But there again, Kitshoff has been rock solid for most of the season, and has only recently started to show a few signs of wear and tear, something that will not necessarily be helped by playing games within every couple of days of one another in the JWC.
“I just hope he is properly managed and doesn’t have to play in all the games, that would really not be good for Steven or for us,” said Coetzee at the weekend.
superBul wrote:
AC wou maar net die laaitie rus , nou befark SARU hom. Haha ek wed julle hy sou n besering gefake het as hy op Loftus gespeel het nou kry die “arme oorspeelde” ou nie daai gap nie.
SARU kan ook nie wen nie, nou blame hulle weer die nuwe reel.
Ook maar goed die reel is gemaak anders was die Bokkies veel swakker.
I think its right that the u20’s has got preference, international rugby should always be seen as a higher level than regional/club/domestic rugby, no matter whether its senior or age group.
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