Thirty Craven Week players, five of whom played for the 2014 SA Schools team, and nine regular Under 19 First XV (or higher) captains from 2014 will form part of an exciting 2015 Western Province Rugby Institute intake.
With the WPRI already having produced the likes of DHL Stormers and / or Springbok stars Scarra Ntubeni, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr, Cheslin Kolbe and Juan de Jongh in recent seasons, there is plenty of excitement surrounding the announcement of the Class of 2015.
Five members of the 2014 SA Schools team – including captain and No 8 Jaco Coetzee – have chosen to join the WPRI in Stellenbosch, along with the 2013 Craven Week Player of the Year, Grant Hermanus, who featured for the cup-winning DHL Western Province Under 19 team in 2014, and another Paarl Gym star, lock Jaco Willemse (a WP representative in the 2014 SA Schools squad).
The 2015 WPRI squad is made of 75% local talent, with the likes of Coetzee (Glenwood), Michael Kumbirai (St Albans College), Eduard Zandberg (Outeniqua) and Eduan Keyter (Affies) – all members of the 2014 SA Schools team – joining from outside the boarders of the Western Cape.
It is the second year in a row that an SA Schools skipper has chosen to further his career at the WP Rugby Institute, with Jaco Coetzee following in the footsteps of Rikus Bothma, who captained the DHL WP Under 19 team to the Absa Provincial Under 19 title this season.
Paul Roos centre Edrich Venter, who captained the DHL WP Under 18 team in 2014, is another young leader who is part of the 2015 intake, whilst lock Willemse captained the SA Schools team against England this year – all of which, crucially, will add to the Institute’s leadership options next year.
WPRI CEO Jacques Hanekom told www.wprugby.com: “Rikus Bothma proved in 2014 (for the successful DHL WP U19 team) how important leadership is in rugby and, of course, we needn’t look further at the impact that Jean de Villiers has had on the Springboks (as captain) since 2012.
“Nine members of our new intake either captained at First XV or Craven Week level in 2014 – it’s crucial to have and to groom young leaders in a game like rugby and it’s exciting to welcome so many quality leaders into our next intake.
“As per last year’s intake, when we had five SA Schools players from outside of the Cape joining us, it’s nice to know that players from outside our region are choosing the Western Province Rugby Institute above other institutions – it says a lot about the work we have been doing here, the success-rates (here) and the belief all players have in the WPRI.”
The majority of the players are carefully identified and then invited to join the WPRI, whilst applications are also considered, both locally and from overseas, with scrumhalf Max Johnson (Leicester/Northampton Junior), flyhalf Ed Coulson (England Under 19) and wing Robrecht Bruneel (Lille Rugby Under 21) adding some international flavour in 2015.
“There is a lot to be excited about at WP Rugby, given that our Under 19 and Senior teams won trophies and the Under 21’s went down narrowly in their final, but it’s becoming a common trend for our young players, almost fresh out of the Institute, to get – and take – playing opportunities at senior level,” said Hanekom.
“We look forward to working with this new intake and we will do our utmost to help this exciting group develop even more – as players and as people.”
The WP Rugby Institute will continue to work closely with the WP Rugby Academy (WPRA) which opened its doors in Tokai in 2014 and boasted an impressive intake in year one.
“Not only did the WPRA help to increase the depth of the 2014 DHL WP Under 19 team, but it’s given an opportunity to (even) more aspiring players, who are also able to combine their studies with their rugby commitments thanks to the buy-in from Varsity College and False Bay College,” concluded Hanekom.
The 2015 Western Province Rugby Institute intake:
Hookers:
- Ruan Brits (Paarl Boys’ High School)
- Percy Mngadi (Glenwood)
- Jacques van Zyl (Paul Roos)
Props:
- Adriaan Geldenhuys (Paarl Gym)
- Jerome Korff (Paul Roos)
- Michael Kumbirai (St Albans College)
- Derick Marais (Paarl Boys’ High School)
- Carl Prinsloo (Paul Roos)
- Rueben Terblanche (Grey Bloem)
- FC Jansen van Rensburg (Bredasdorp High School)
Locks:
- Emil Cloete (Paul Roos)
- Gary Porter (Michaelhouse)
- Jaco Willemse (Paarl Gym)
- Eduard Zandberg (Outeniqua)
Flanks:
- Iver Aanhuizen (Klein Nederburg)
- Saud Abrahams (Bishops)
- Mitchell Carstens (Paul Roos)
- Mervano da Silva (Bishops)
- CF du Toit (Paarl Boys’ High School)
- Jacques Oosthuizen (Paul Roos)
No 8:
- Jaco Coetzee (Glenwood)
- HJ Luus (Paarl Gym)
- Daniël Maree (Oakdale)
Scrumhalves:
- Zandré de Koker (Paarl Gym)
- Paul de Wet (Paarl Boys’ High School)
- Herschell Jantjies (Paul Roos)
- Max Johnson (Trent College, UK)
Flyhalves:
- Dennis Cox (Excelsior)
- Ed Coulson (Sherborne School, UK)
- Robbie Petzer (Noord-Kaap)
Centres:
- Michael Andrade (Grey Bloem)
- Carlton Fortune (Boland Landbou)
- Justin Heunis (Bishops)
- Christiaan Smit (Paul Roos)
- Edrich Venter (Paul Roos)
Wings:
- Robrecht Bruneel (Ghent University, Belgium)
- Grant Hermanus (Paarl Gym)
- Wayne Parker (Pretoria Boys’ High School)
- Gerard Pieterse (Bishops)
- Duncan Saal (Kasselsvlei)
- Edwill van der Merwe (Paul Roos)
Fullbacks:
- Aidynn Cupido (Paul Roos)
- Eduan Keyter (Affies)
- Tiaan Swanepoel (Stellenberg)
Nice to see that we keep feeding the stocks with promising youngsters.
Obviously dont know many of these players, but I have picked up guys like Keyter and Jaco Willemse… These two have a promising future.
When WP is strong the Bokke are strong.
And by strong I’m not talking 1995 and 2007.
Before re-admittance. Both white and non white.
2 @ MacroBok:
I think CharlesM will be the only person who will be able to tell us about these players…..the rest of us won’t know anything about them either
@ nortie:
Been to few Boishaai vs Paarl Gym derbies.
Grant Hermanus can play.
If you put R5000.00 on him to becoming a Bok you’d be a rich man in 5 years time.
@ Jeraldjay:
Good stuff, looks like we are doing something right down there by producing and keeping the young talent.
Let’s hope we don’t have to by some 32 year old has been to “bolster” the stocks. 😆
Been a very melancholy day for me.
A years gone by since the passing of Madiba and the legacy he left behind seems to have disappeared like mist after sunrise.
@ Jeraldjay:
His legacy is difficult to see because those who took over after him can’t keep the lights on long enough for anyone to see it
8 @ nortie:
😆
Traffic was a nightmare in CPT today coz load shedding caused 50% of all the traffic lights to go out.
It’s a fark up.
@ Jeraldjay:
I’m in the middle of my second session today, from about 12:00 for a couple of hours and it went off again at about 18:00
Going to be a taxing weekend this…..
Nama would’ve loved that Janneman catch.
😆
Top over by De Allende.
Fokken Big Vic missed a sitter.
@ nortie:
Nortie as requested on the other thread, I’ll try to comment where possible.
2: Ruan B was injured at the end of 2013. Soon after his recovery, he injured his knee (torn ligaments) during March at Newlands when the WP hosted their yearly schools’ day – a weekday fixture where shortened matches are played. His school (he was head boy this year BTW) and Province missed him a lot. Super guy and player and I expect a lot of him. (He weighs about 105 kg.) I really rate him highly
I can’t comment on the Glenwood player.
Jacques van Zyl played WP Craven Week this year and is okay but not brilliant.
Props: I can’t comment on Kumbirai and Van Rensburg.
Geldenhuys and Prinsloo are okay. Neither played WP but we know that being a provincial rugby player at school level does not guarantee future success. They and the other non-provincial players should see this as an opportunity.
Korff is a powerful scrummager (huge tighthead) and played WP CW. He does his basics well but should be a bit more involved in the game IMO.
Derick Marais played WP Academy (AW) – okay at tighthead but he’ll have to prove his worth.
The player I’m very excited about is Terblanche from Grey College. The little I have seen of him has impressed me. I see a potential bright future. With him at 1 and Brits at 2 and perhaps Korff or one of the players I don’t know, WP should be able to field a powerful front row
@ charlesm:
Thanks, so we are well stocked with youngsters
@ nortie:
Locks: I don’t know Porter.
Cloete was a late inclusion in the CW side. He is not tall or big and will have to bulk up and hopefully grow some more if he wants to make it as a pro. He gives 100% and more in every game though which counts a lot in his favour. He will not drop a team through a lack of commitment.
Zandberg is a huge unit and I’m expecting big things from him. He is a powerful player, excellent in the lineouts and solid at the kick-offs. He is very active in the loose as well. I rate him highly.
Willemse weighs more or less 128 kg and is 1.99 m tall. When he is fit he can play good rugby. The environment like an institute where you have to practise a lot will assist him. IMO (and from what I have heard) he doesn’t like to work very hard. Hopefully he seizes the opportunity!!
Flanks: I don’t know Aanhuizen.
Abrahams is more of a 8. Du Toit played 8 for his school but can play 6 as well. I guess he’ll be the fetcher. Da Silva played 6 for Bishops but is more of a linking player (as you perhaps know Bishops are known for their running game: often to their own detriment). He is very quick though and should be able to compete for the ball at the breakdown.
Oosthuizen and Carstens are as hard as nails and are both good ball carriers / lineout forwards. Carstens had an exceptional Academy Week.
Red cart! No…
No 8:
The 3 players were, at different stages of the season, injured.
Luus is a powerful player and should make a good impact.
I haven’t seen Maree but according to various reports he is a great no 8.
Jaco Coetzee is an excellent signing IMO. Can perhaps work on his linking work but I’ll rather have him in my side than playing against him
Scrumhalves
Zandre de Koker suffered an horrendous freak accident earlier during the year when a car drove over his ankle in front of his “koshuis” – difficult to explain how it happened. There were fears that his rugby days were finished. I am really glad to see that he is carrying on. He was highly rated by his coaches. He was selected for the AW side but couldn’t take part because of his ankle
Paul de Wet is the son of former WP wing Bertie. He is okay but not that special IMHO.
I don’t know anything about the UK player.
Jantjies has the X-factor and has a lot of pace. He was a member of the SA Schools Sevens side
Time for a break and some vino
Flyhalves: I don’t know the UK and Noord-Kaap players. Cox was in the CW side the previous 2 years. He was U/19 this year and was therefore not eligible to play CW.
He has a rather “thin” frame and steps well (some X-factor too).
I’m not sure about his defensive abilities but I guess the opposition will try and target his channel. I haven’t seen him this year at all and can’t give an objective opinion about him.
Centres: Andrade of Grey is a good prospect. Fortune had a good AW.
Heunis is a good player but had some injuries during the season (hamstring if I remember correctly).
Smit was injured for quite a while too. I can’t really make comments about him.
Venter is a solid inside centre, tackles very well and is always extremely fit. He was a member of the SA Schools’ Sevens side. He is fairly big and quick. He captained the WP CW team this year and is a natural leader. IMO he lacks a bit of X-factor but always gives 100% and more.
Edrich has a remarkable story. I can’t recall the exact details but a few years ago he was told that he would never play rugby again. He had 2 fractures in the one fore-arm. The one bone did not want to grow and eventually he had a bone transplant. A piece of bone was removed from his hip and implanted in his arm. The operation had to be repeated because the initial one failed. Eventually it was successful but he had to work extremely hard to strengthen his arm. It is a bit of a miracle that he can play rugby at all !!
Wings:
I can’t comment on the Belgium and PBHS players.
Hermanus was injured for a long time this season and could only play the latter part of the season. He has a huge boot and lots of pace. He always seems to have lots of time – the mark of an excellent player IMO. I expect him to do extremely well over time.
Pieterse was a disappointment (at 15: his “real” position) at the CW. He still is a good player IMO and can also slot in at centre.
Ducan Saal and v d Merwe both have lots of pace. Saal is quite small but is quite stocky…….lots of X-factor. Province made a huge mistake by playing him at 13 in the game they’ve lost at CW. He played 13 for his school on occasion but should stick to wing.
Fullbacks:
Cupido played at 10 at CW but is perhaps better suited at 15. He is quite tall and should IMO do better at 15. He has a huge left boot.
Keyter is an excellent prospect. He is quite tall as well and can slot in on the wing (with his pace) too. I think he should do really well in the future. I am really glad that he has decided to go to WP.
Swanepoel is of average built but is quite strong. He has been a provincial javelin thrower at school and therefore has a lot of upper body strength. He kicks very well and I think he scored the most points (at school level) in the Western Cape the past season. It was more than 220 points if I remember correctly.
All in all it seems that WP have contracted quite a good squad for 2015.
Some of the players will not be eligible to play at U/19 but should therefore receive opportunities at U/21 level
@ charlesm:
It really sucks that you got keyter. He looked a different level to the affies guys in the televised footage this year
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