SA U/19 trials

45 players invited

Eric Sauls, the new coach of the South African Under-19 team has invited 45 players to a trials camp in Saldanha on 14-21 January.

There is not a single player from last year's team which performed so badly at the IRB's Under-19 World Championship played in Dubai.

Two players who are especially interesting choices are centre Adrian Kirtzinger and scrumhalf François Hougaardt, both of Western Province. Their omission from the Western Province Craven Week side was at least controversial but they were offered contracts by their union and have now been chosen for this trial.

There are some South African Schools players of 2006 in the side – Aubrey McDonald, Stefan Watermeyer, Divan Kotze, Wynand Willis, Clayton Steward Yaazier Hartzenberg Cornel Hess, Frik Kirsten, Pieter-Willem Janse van Vuuren, Jean Jacques Rossouw, Luvuyo Lusaseni, Marlin Ruiters, Mlindazwe Nqoro and Cecil Afrika.

Those who played SA Schools in 2006 and are not in this team are: Tshepo Masuga, Justin Botha, Nick Köster, who is s till at school, Marnus Schoeman, Juan-Pierre Mostert, Alfred Ries, Julian Redelinghuys, Ntokozo Mashele .

Those in the invited 45 who did not play for SA Schools: Henri Bantjes, François Brummer, Corné Fourie, Troy Maswanganyi, Jannes Seegers, Gerrit-Jan Van Velze, Christopher Juries, Baphiwe Mfundisi, Josias Ebersohn, Gerard Swart, Pieter-Willem Janse Van Vuuren, Bernado Botha, Justin Wheeler, Byran Egan, Alex Kock, Sobelo Nhlapo, Berend Botha, Wiehan Herbst, Thiliphatu Marole Msizi Buthelezi, Njabulo Mchunu, Maritz Boshoff, Robert Kruger, Wilton Pietersen, Earl Snyman, Adrian Kritzinger, Martin Muller, Bertus O’Callaghan, Danie Schoeman, Siyasanga Mkiwa, Francois Hougaardt.

These were not picked for Craven Week at all:Troy Maswanganyi,Sobelo Nhlapo, Njabulo Mchunu, Adrian Kritzinger, Danie Schoeman and François Hougaardt. Of these Maswanganyi Nhlapo, Mchunu, and Danie Schoeman went to the Academy Week. Kritzinger and Hougaardt were not chosen for any week.

The 45 invited to trials:

Blue Bulls: Henri Bantjes, François Brummer, Corne Fourie, Cornel Hess, Frik Kirsten, Troy Maswanganyi, Aubrey Mcdonald, Vainon Willis, Stefan Watermeyer, Divan Kotze, Jannes Seegers, Gerrit-Jan van Velze

Border: Mindazwe Nqoro

Eastern Province: Christopher Juries, Marlin Ruiters, Baphiwe Mfundisi

Free State: Sias Ebersohn, Gerard Swart, Pieter-Willem Janse van Vuuren

Golden Lions: Bernado Botha, Justin Wheeler, Johan van Deventer, Byran Egan, Alex Kock, Sobelo Nhlapo

Griffons: Cecil Africa

KwaZulu Natal: Msizi Buthelezi, Njabulo Mchunu, Luvuyo Lusaseni

Leopards: Berend Botha, Wiehan Herbst, Thiliphatu Marole

Mpumalanga: Maritz Boshoff, Robert Kruger

South Western Districts: Wilton Pietersen, Earl-Jivan Snyman

Western Province: Yaasir Hartzenberg, Adrian Kritzinger, Martin Muller, Bertus O’Callaghan, Jean Jacques Rossouw, Danie Schoeman, Clayton Stewart, Siyasanga Mkiwa, François Hougaardt