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Five South African players to watch at World Rugby U20 Championship
The Baby Boks arrived at their training base at Gruissan last weekend, having done most of their preparation at home.
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They started their campaign against Georgia with a 33-27 win in Perpignan on Wednesday.
Next up for the Junior Springboks is Ireland, who they face on Sunday June 3rd, followed by hosts France next Thursday, June 7th.
Salmaan Moerat (lock, captain)
Hailing from Paarl in the Western Cape, the Moerats are arguably the most successful sporting family in South Africa. Their achievements can be traced all the way back to 1944, when Moutie Moerat and his brother in law, Esa Abrahams, founded Vineyards RFC – a club which still exists today.
Fast forward 72 years and a 19-year-old Salmaan Moerat has now been handed the baton of continuing the family’s legacy. With such a rich family history in the sport, it was almost certain that he would follow in the steps of those family members before him.
Salmaan’s cousin Ebrahim Moerat played for the SA Under-21 team in 2003.
Young Salmaan also captained the SA Schools team in 2016. He made his Super Rugby debut for the Stormers against the Highlanders in Dunedin in March 2018
Damian Willemse (flyhalf)
He was earmarked to be a Springbok when – only months after finishing school – he made Super Rugby debut at the age of 18 years, 301 days – in Round Three of the 2017 season.
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He has been the regular starting flyhalf for the franchise in 2018 season, but it was wisely decided to give him time to mature and give him his first taste of ‘international’ rugby in the junior ranks.
Willemse is the younger brother of Ramone Samuels, the current Stormers hooker.
Both brothers were members of the Western Province squad that won the 2017 Currie Cup.
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Wandisile Simelane (centre)
The exciting centre first burst into the spotlight as one of the stand-out players at the 2016 Craven Week schoolboy tournament.
A strong carrier of the ball, with a good rugby brain. versatile enough to play anywhere in the backline.
Also featured prominently for Wits University in the 2017 Varsity Cup, as well as the SA U20 team last year.
An interesting fact about Wandisile Simelane is that he is also a great footballer and he feels, if he hadn’t become so successful in rugby, he probably would have gone on to play soccer as he represented Soweto Giants Moroka Swallows at junior level but had to leave that behind for the oval ball.
Muller du Plessis (Utility back)
The South African Sevens team has been a superb breeding ground for future stars and it has introduced the world to another of the country’s talented youngsters.
The 19-year-old became BlitzBok No.168 when he took to the field in the United States leg of the World Series in March.
This time last year, Du Plessis was a matric pupil at Paarl Gimnasium and captain of the school’s first XV. He was subsequently invited to join the SA Sevens Academy in Stellenbosch and has since been fast-tracked into the BlitzBoks set-up.
Du Plessis has played in four tournaments of this season’s Sevens World Series, scoring 11 tries.
Rewan Kruger (scrumhalf)
The 2016 SA Schools player is a product of the Varsity Cup conveyor belt – where he represented Shimlas in 2017.
The 20-year-old has joined the fast-growing list of players using the Varsity Cup to launch their careers.
He is one of five players who featured in the Junior World Cup last year – Salmaan Moerat, Gianni Lombard, Wandisile Simelane, Muller Uys and Kruger.
Via @rugby365com
Comments on RugbyPass
Nice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
38 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
38 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
10 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
38 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
10 Go to commentsWowee!
10 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
10 Go to comments