SA U23 Cup experiment pays off as Bulls and Lions eye title

EXCLUSIVE: When the inaugural SA Rugby U23 Cup was established earlier this year, there was scepticism and questions about how the tournament would operate.

During its launch, General Manager of SA Rugby’s High-Performance Department, Dave Wessels, described it as a pathway for the four unions [Sharks, Stormers, Bulls and Lions] to bridge the gap between the junior ranks and senior rugby while giving players sufficient gametime.

The format of the tournament meant the four sides would face off twice, home and away, with the top two progressing to the Final, which will be contested by the Lions and Bulls at Ellis Park this coming Friday.

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There was also a debate sparked with the “age rule”, which allowed the teams to select up to seven over-age players in each matchday squad.

That rule, however, seems to have worked wonders for the unions, and various matchday squads were littered with big names who were either returning from injury or out of favour in the senior side and looking to get match-fitness.

The Stormers, who finished third with two wins in six outings, fielded players like Hacjivah Dayimani and Sazi Sandi, while the Bulls had former Bok, Jan Serfontein, in their camp before his retirement.

The Sharks, plagued by injuries in the senior side, struggled for depth and relied heavily on youngsters, while the Lions selected balanced squads throughout.

“I think it’s a really good initiative,” Bulls XV coach Phiwe Nomlomo told Rugby365 on the eve of the Final.

“Something like this was needed for a while. Yes, there were teething challenges along the way, but should it be the same next year, I have no doubt it will be bigger and better.

“It’s really good to blend that youth with experienced players that have been around the block. We played a couple of ex-Springboks, and that really helped.”

While the early minor setbacks were a concern, the rugby on display when the first whistle went between the Lions and Sharks was of a high standard.

The Lions won that opener 24-7 and went on an unbeaten run to finish atop the standings and seal a home Final.

The Bulls were also on par during the competition, and the two blemishes on their record were against their Jukskei rivals, a 24-27 loss in Polokwane before going down 31-49 late last month.

“Yes, results matter, but my approach was that we will give everyone in the squad an opportunity,” Nomlomo added.

“We had a squad of 50 players and used 48, and the two that didn’t play are guys who were injured.

“Getting to the Final is important at the Bulls; we want to be there and win; however, the biggest thing was to expose the guys to this level.

“We weren’t sure what it would be like. We know now it’s a damn good level, and you will be punished if you’re not sharp.”

Before the U23 competition, a plethora of young players were falling out of the system after playing in the U21 competition, with no place to go.

Nomlomo believes the current model, which sees the junior structures end at the age of 21, needs to be revised in order for more talented players to remain in the picture.

“If we made our junior systems finish at U23, you would see a lot more players get opportunities and be kept in the system for longer.

“We see a lot of guys playing for the likes of Griquas who are of that age, 23, and 24, and they are at the right age where they’re starting to mature.

“From a franchise perspective, we have to make the decision by 21 whether we’re keeping the kid or not, but if we were to keep them until 23, we’d see a lot of players coming through.”

The former Selborne College mentor will be looking to get his side over the line on Friday.

As aforementioned, his side has lost twice against a Lions team that’s brimming with confidence under Mzwakhe Nkosi’s tutelage.

Nomlomo, however, believes history will count for very little come matchday.

“Both teams know each other well; however, the Final is a once-off.

“The only thing you get from past games is probably confidence. For us, we are hungry, we know what we need to do, and we know it’s going to be one hell of a good game.

“From what we’ve seen in the competition, set piece is important, but also the team that makes fewer mistakes puts itself in a good position.

“If you’ve got set piece and defence, 90 percent of your job is done.”

The Final kicks off at 13.00 (SAST) at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.