KZN's Craven Week team in profile
With the 2012 Craven Week tournament a few days away, we give details of the KwaZulu-Natal Craven Week side.
1. Patrick Sikhosana (Port Shepstone)
Position: Prop
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Port Shepstone
Height & weight: 1.75m; 93kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Mzizi Zondi (Westville)
Comment: As the only non-Tier 1 player in the team this mobile prop had to work extra hard to noticed during trials.
2. Vuyo Khatide (Maritzburg College)
Position: Hooker
Year of Birth: 1995
Primary School: Eshowe
Height & weight: 1.76m; 94kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Malcolm Marx (KES)
Comment: A good team player with experience of throwing in to one of the more technical lineouts in the province.
3. Mvelo Khumalo (Maritzburg College)
Position: Prop
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Pelham (Pietermaritzburg)
Height & weight: 1.65m; 100kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Dylon Smith (KES)
Comment: An energetic prop whose height and compactness make him fairly difficult to scrum against.
4. Justin Moberly (Michaelhouse)
Position: Lock
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Cordwalles (Pietermaritzburg)
Height & weight: 1.92m; 103kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Aiden Davis (Daniël Pienaar)
Comment: A player worth his weight in gold from a leadership aspect. Surprisingly good as a no. 4 jumper at 1st team level. Incredible stamina. Has shown Marcell Coetzee like ability as a first receiver ball-carrier.
5. Daniel du Preez (Kearsney)
Position: Lock
Year of Birth: 1995
Primary School: DPHS (Durban)
Height & weight: 1.96m; 101kg
Most Difficult Opponent: RG Snyman (Affies)
Cooment: A very powerful physical player with outstanding ball skills and ability to read of the game. Defensively astute as well.
6. Carel Swart (Glenwood)
Position: Flank/No.8
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Heuwelland (Empangeni)
Height & weight: 1.9m; 93kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Ruan Steenkamp (Monnas)
Comment: Has had to adapt to the role of openside flank, having spent most of his 1st team career and Craven Week 2011 at No.8. Can be deadly if given a bit of space.
7. Jean-Luc du Preez (Kearsney)
Position: Flank
Year of Birth: 1995
Primary School: DPHS (Durban)
Height & weight: 1.93m; 105kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Pierre Schoeman (Affies)
Comment: An extremely strong player with both ball in hand and on defence. Enjoys collisions but also does very well when he seeks space to run into. Loves offloading in contact.
8. Josh Moon (Michaelhouse)
Position: No.8
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Highbury (Hillcrest)
Height & weight: 1.84m; 95kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Justin Moberly (Michaelhouse)
Comment: One of the most exciting KwaZulu Natal player of 2012. Plays a very loose game. Has vision and pace to be able to make something out of nothing. Good feel for where defensive weaknesses lie. Excellent distributor as well.
9. Cameron Wright (Hilton)
Position: Scrumhalf/Flyhalf
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Westville (Durban)
Height & weight: 1.8m; 87kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Josh Stander (Queen's)
Comment: A broad shouldered player that is the complete package in his position. A strong pass, big kick from the base, quickness off the mark and strength to get through holes are amongst his assets
10. Rob Anderson (Michaelhouse)
Position: Flyhalf
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Pridwin Prep (Johannesburg)
Height & weight: 1.76m; 78kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Austin Lockington (Michaelhouse)
Comment: Easily the best flyhalf in KwaZulu Natal this season. A playmaker with a wide range of creative skills including the ability to step and put in well-weighted kicks. His passing game is of a very high standard.
11. .Corné Vermaak (Glenwood)
Position: Wing/Fullback
Year of Birth: 1995
Primary School: Drakensburg (Newcastle)
Height & weight: 1.83m; 88kg
Comment: One of KwaZulu Natal 's most improved players of 2012. A stronger runner who has worked hard at improving his lateral vision right.
12. Sandile Khubeka (Kearsney)
Position: Centre
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Glenwood Prep (Durban)
Height & weight: 1.76m; 82kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Pierre Schoeman (Affies)
Comment: A candidate for KwaZulu Natal player of the season. Quick off the mark and very strong on his feet with a good swerve. Has proven difficult to bring to ground.
13. Michael Mvelase (Michaelhouse)
Position: Centre
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Cordwalles (Pietermaritzburg)
Height & weight: 1.76m; 85kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Jesse Kriel (College)
Comment: Injury cut short his sensational start to the season. A powerfully built player with some toe and a strong hand-off. Has proven to be a deadly finisher.
14. Bruce Arnott (Michaelhouse)
Position: Wing
Year of Birth: 1995
Primary School: Cowan House (Hilton)
Height & weight: 1.78m; 80kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Sandile Khubeka (Kearsney)
Comment: A pacy young wing with good acceleration and finishing. He can hurt the best defence if he's given a little room to work with.
15. Jesse Kriel (Maritzburg College)
Position: Fullback
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Merchiston (Pietermaritzburg)
Height & weight: 1.85m; 94kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Daniel Kriel (Maritzburg College)
Comment: A solid player with save hands and a big punt. His positional awareness is top notch. He has the ability to take on defenders with ball in hand but many of his pleasing plays have come about as a result of making openings for teammates.
16. Stephan Hardman (Michaelhouse)
Position: Hooker
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Cornwell Hill College (Pretoria)
Height & weight: 1.85m; 104kg
Most Difficult Opponent: JL du Preez (Kearsney)
Comment: Converted from being a 1st team loose-forward in 2011 and has made excellent progress especially with regards to throw-ins. Strong player and a good scrummer.
17. Mzizi Zondi (Westville)
Position: Prop
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Benjamin Pine (Pinetown)
Height & weight: 1.79m; 95kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Mvelo Khumalo (Maritzburg College)
Comment: A hard worker that enjoys making strong carries up near the fringes.
18. Sihle Nqxabi (Glenwood)
Position: Lock
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Park Rand (Randburg)
Height & weight: 1.91m; 102kg
Most Difficult Opponents: Rikus Bothma, Corné Cooper (Paarl Gim)
Comment: An athletically built lock that gets through a fair amount of work. Good speed and aerial skills.
19. Michael van Aardt (Glenwood)
Position: Flank/No.8
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Oostekruin (East Rand)
Height & weight: 1.84m; 95kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Justin Moberly (Michaelhouse)
Comment: A very consistent and thus dependable performer at first team level. Versatile as well. Peaked at the right time to force his way into contention. 1.85m 104kg – –
High School: Michaelhouse
20. Mthokozisi Mkhabela (Glenwood)
Position: Scrumhalf
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Grantham Park (Empangeni)
Height & weight: 1.65m; 71kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Remu Malan (Outeniqua)
Comment: A very alert player. Very good at sniping. His pace often catches defences off guard. Links very well with teammates in open play.
21.Mondli Nkosi (George Campbell)
Position: Flyhalf/Fullback
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: IsiQophamithi (Ladysmith)
Height & weight: 1.76m; 75kg
Most Difficult Opponents: Sibulele Nanto, JL du Preez
Comment: A fantastic stepper. Keeps defenses honest. Not shy to put in a big hit either.
22. Nkululeko Marwana (Glenwood)
Position: Centre/Wing
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Charles Dinga (Port Elizabeth)
Height & weight: 1.76m; 85kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Tyler Fisher (Westville)
Comment: A reliable player with deceptive speed. Runs good lines. Also very versatile.
23. Dylan Coulsen (Glenwood)
Position: Centre/Wing
Year of Birth: 1994
Primary School: Alboretum (Richards Bay)
Height & weight: 1.82m; 80kg
Most Difficult Opponent: Daniel Kriel (Maritzburg College)
Comment: An adventureous speedy wing that with a never say die attitude. Always looking to spark something.
