SA Schools announced on Monday

On Monday the selectors will announce two South African Schools teams – A and B, who will play each other at Newlands in a curtainraiser to the match between Western Province and the Blue Bulls on 21 July.

There are some players who made the team last year who are back at Craven Week this year. Flyhalf Justin Botha of the Golden Lions, eighthman Nick Koster of Western Province, lock/flank Yassir Hartzenberg of Western Province, lock Cornel Hess of the Blue Bulls, and prop Julian Redlinghuys of the Golden Lions were in the SA Schools side which beat Italy 39-13 in Bloemfontein.

Fullback Damian Janse van Vuuren of the Golden Lions, flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff of the Pumas, and fullback Wilton Pietersen of the Free State were in the South African B side which beat Italy 20-5 in Witbank. Pietersen is interesting as last year he was at Outeniqua and played for South Western Districts.

There were of course many players who caught the eye during the week, despite the rain and mud of Days 3 & 4 on the Markotter field.

Here are some:

Fullbacks: Wilton Pietersen (Free State), Corne Janse van Vuuren (Pumas), Hoffman Maritz (Griffons), Damian Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions), Patrick Lambie (KwaZulu Natal),

Wings: Alec Mhlanga (Limpopo), Omphile Marothodi (Blue Bulls), Hadley Smith (Free State), Deon Helberg (Pumas), Rian Arendse (Eastern Province),

Centres: Mauritz Pohl (Limpopo), Hennie Cloete (Griquas), Jaco Oosthuizen (Blue Bulls), Yondela Stampu (Blue Bulls), Johan van Schalkwyk (Free State), Robert Ebersohn (Free State), Bongi Luvuno (Pumas), Chris Botha (Pumas), Cameron Jacobs (Eastern Province), Branco du Preez (Griffons), Luan Steenkamp (Leopards), Earl Snyman (South Western Districts), Armand Joubert (Golden Lions), Danie Poolman (Western Province), Johann Sadie (Western Province), Xillen van Rooyen (KwaZulu Natal), Earl Snyman (South Wedstern Districts)

Flyhalves: Francois Brummer (Blue Bulls), Josias Ebersohn (Free State), Marnitz Boshoff (PPuamas), Louis Kruger (Eastern Province), Justin Botha (Golden Lions), Guy Cronje (KwaZulu Natal),

Scrumhalves: Casio De Sousa (Limpopo), Joe van Niekerk (Griquas), Danie Faasen (Blue Bulls), Kalvano King (Eastern Province), Francois Wolvaardt (Leopards), Wimpie Louw (South Western Districts), Rudi Page (Golden Lions), Ross Cronje (KwaZulu Natal), Justin Claassen (Griffons)

Eighthmen: Tendayi Chikukwa (Blue Bulls), Andries Theisinger (Free State), Philip van der Walt (Eastern Province), CJ Stander (South Western Districts), Nicholas Koster (Western Province),

Flanks: Marnus Schoeman (Blue Bulls), Roelof Pienaar (Free State) Hilton Jonkers (Boland), Susane Wesso (South Western Districts)

Locks: Cornell Hess (Blue Bulls), Marco-Pierre van Eeden (Pumas), Yaasir Hartzenberg (Western Province), Meiring De Clerq (Pumas), Gerhard Raal (South Western Districts), Shane Kirkwood (Golden Lions), Marchant van Rooyen (Golden Lions), Pieter Labuschagne (Free State)

Props: James Hallewell (Free State), Richard Harris (Free State), Coenrad Oosthuizen (Free State), Henco Dickason (Pumas), Francois Hanekom (Eastern Province), Franco Mateus (Griffons), Julian Redelinghuys (Golden Lions), Ryno Bosman (Golden Lions), Dale Chadwick (KwaZulu Natal),

Hookers: Eduan Neeb (Blue Bulls), Frank Herne (Free State), Martin Bezuidenhout (Leopards), Johan Oberholzer (Gol;den Lions), Dean Muir (KwaZulu Natal),

If we had to choose a frifteen, it could look like this:

15 Damian Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions)
14. Wilton Pietersen (Free State)
13 Bongi Luvuno (Pumas)
12 Robert Ebersohn (Free State)
11 Hadley Smith (Free State)
10 Marnitz Boshoff (PPuamas)
9 Wimpie Louw (South Western Districts)
8 Nicholas Koster (Western Province)
7 Roelof Pienaar (Free State)
6 Marnus Schoeman (Blue Bulls)
5 Shane Kirkwood (Golden Lions)
4 Cornell Hess (Blue Bulls)
3 Julian Redelinghuys (Golden Lions)
2 Martin Bezuidenhout (Leopards)
1 Ryno Bosman (Golden Lions)