What 2007 promises for SA
Paul Dobson takes a look at which "youngsters" we can expect to shine for South Africa in 2007.
Munster punctuated their finest year with a hard-fought 19-8 Magners League over a game Connacht side at the Sportsground in Galway on New Year's Eve.
South Africa has several of them, though how "young" is defined is uncertain.
Jaco Pretorius played his first Test just before he turned 27 and Fourie du Preez is a veteran at 24, while JP Pietersen has travelled the world at the age of 20, but had precious little game time as he has adorned a bench for much of the time.
Mind you, Meyer Bosman is still only 21. And at a tender age Chiliboy Ralepelle (20) has captained the Springboks.
Do Pietersen, Ralepelle, Ruan Pienaar (22) and the like qualify as young players? Is Hilton Lobberts (20) still a young and promising player? After all he is now a Springbok who has played Test rugby. And does teenaged Frans Steyn (19) qualify as a young player, for he appears the brightest, youngest talent of them all? He is younger than 22-year-old Morné Steyn, who could well qualify as a promising player. Brightest? What about those other two – centre Wynand Olivier (23) and loose forward Pierre Spies (21)?
That is a goodly group of promising young players all right.
But even apart from those who are called Springboks and those who have migrated in search of fair employment opportunities, there are promising young players.
At fullback there is young, tall, fast Alwyn Hollenbach (22) of the Cheetahs and the Lions have enterprising Louis Ludik (20).
Gio Aplon of Western Province is older than Pietersen and it astonishes that nobody speaks of him as a promising player for he has a greater ability to counterattack at electric speed than any other rugby player in South Africa, plucks the high ball out of the sky with perfect timing and has a scything tackle.
Western Province have another electric player in wing Zhahier Ryland (25), whose nickname is Kakkalakkie – for his scurrying elusiveness. And where do you play eccentric Philip Burger (26)? Both of those have the speed that laughs at defences. If Sevens are anything to go by sturdy, fast Thobela Mdaka (26) is a player of promise. Mind you Burger and Mdaka are older than Spies, Pienaar, Du Preez and others!
Brad Barritt (20) of the Sharks, versatile at centre and fly-half, is certainly one – deceptive when running with the ball and efficient in mowing down opponents on defence. With him at the Sharks is young Waylon Murray (20), big and strong.
Could Corné Uys (25), the elegant Western Province centre, make it to the big time? If Ronnie Cooke (22) can keep away from injuries, he has the dash to do so well.
There is a scrumhalf who played his heart out for the Mpumalanga Pumas, Sarel Pretorius (22), who could just have a lot to offer a team. And Jano Vermaak (21) of the Lions is even younger.
In the forwards there is plethora of promising hookers. It is almost as if they have looked at what is at the top and decided that that must be a job opportunity. The Sharks have Bismarck du Plessis (22), who may be the best of them all though his mean streak may not help his cause, the Cheetahs have Richardt Strauss who has made the conversion from flank, Western Province have Schalk Brits and Tiaan Liebenberg who are both 25, the Cheetahs also have Adriaan Strauss, and the Lions have Ethienne Reynecke (24).
Props become promising when they are quite some way into their twenties but there is one who could just be close to stardom early on, the way Piet du Toit was – Heinke van der Merwe (21) of the Lions. And at the Cheetahs there are two 24-year-olds – Jannie du Plessis and Wian du Preez. And what about big, strong mobile Rayno Gerber (25) of the Blue Bulls?
Locks, too, tend to come on later, some even starting in the position after they have left school. a leader. Cliff Milton (22) of the Blue Bulls is another tall, promising lock and he is only 22. Andries Bekker, taller even than his tall father, is still only 23. But the most promising lock may just be rugged, rapid Ross Skeate (24) of the Western Province. But the lock who probably made the greatest headway in 2006 is massive François van der Merwe (23), son of massive Springbok Flippie.
Amongst loose forwards Robbie Diack (21) had a brilliant start to his first class career though he tailed off a little as the exacting season moved on, but he would appear a player of great potential. Then there is the speed, strength and toughness of Keegan Daniel (21) on the flank and the thrustfulness of young Ryan Kankowski (21) – two who have come from the tough schoolboy world of the Eastern Cape. And the Blue Bulls have another classy man in the wings – Derick Kuün (22). Just to get the ages into perspective, Schalk Burger is 23!
If we were to choose a 15 of these young, promising, non-Springboks, we should chose:
15. Gio Aplon
14. Louis Ludik
13. Ronnie Cooke
12. Brad Barritt
11. Philip Burger
10. Morné Steyn
9. Jano Vermaak
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Keegan Daniel
6. Derick Kuün
5. François van der Merwe
4. Ross Skeate
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Schalk Brits
1. Heinke van der Merwe
Do you agree with Paul? E-Mail us your view!
