SuperSport Schools Plus pick their team of the NMI Toyota Noord/Suid tournament
As per the norm, SuperSport Schools Plus decided to act as selectors during the annual NMI Toyota Noord/Suid tournament held at the Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch.
Please note that this is not an official team and won’t be playing any matches. We also picked our team only on performances during the tournament in Stellenbosch and did not take future potential or previous performances into consideration.
Paarl Gimnasium has the most players in our team, with four after two comprehensive victories over King Edward VII (102-0) and Monument (66-16). Gimmies’ captain and outside centre, Markus Muller, was probably one of the easiest picks as he led his team from the front, scoring a hat-trick of tries in both outings.
Muller also scored a hat-trick in his side’s other official match against Stellenberg (39-17) earlier this year.
The other Gimmies in the team are Johan Kleynhans (right wing), Quintin Potgieter (eighthman) and Migael Turner (lock).
We decided to pick Oakdale Landbou’s Christiaan Vorster on Muller’s inside after some impressive performances during the tournament. Vorster was a stalwart for his team in their two outings in Stellenbosch.
Stellenberg’s Ralton Rhode gets the nod on the left wing. He reminded us a lot of Kurt-Lee Arendse during the tournament with his dazzling runs and scrum cap.
Grey College’s Lamla Mgedezi will man the fullback spot on our team after a match-winning hat trick against Noordheuwel. The Nories’s fullback, Tidi Moeketsae, also deserves a mention as he put in an incredible defensive performance in the same match.
No goal kicker had a better tournament than Paul Roos Gimnasium’s flyhalf, Travis Pheiffer. His scrumhalf in SuperSport Schools Plus’ squad, Jayden Brits (Boland Landbou), was without a doubt the best backline player during the festival.
Our front row will definitely be strong contenders to represent the SA Schools’ side later this year as well. Jordan Jooste of Paarl Boys’ High showcased his class in Stellenbosch. He already represented the SA Schools A-side in 2024. Our tighthead prop, Luan van der Bergh of Garsfontein, is the strongest scrumworker at schoolboy level in South Africa.
Nories’ hooker, Clinton Agu, cracked the nod after two impressive performances against Grey College and Paul Roos Gimnasium. Agu also probably had the toughest opposition to get picked as there was some excellent performances by hookers during the tournament. Other hooker which impressed was Ruan Jacobs (Waterkloof), Charles Whitehead (Paarl Gimnasium), Keenan Myners (Outeniqua), Tommy Muller (Paarl Boys’ High), Justin Blom (Garsfontein) and Declan Pelser (Menlopark).
SuperSport Schools Plus se Noord/Suid-span van die toernooi:
15 Lamla Mgedezi (Grey College), 14 Johan Kleynhans (Paarl Gimnasium), 13 Markus Muller (Paarl Gimnasium), 12 Christiaan Vorster (Oakdale Landbou), 11 Ralton Rhode (Stellenberg), 10 Travis Pheiffer (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 9 Jayden Brits (Boland Landbou), 8 Quintin Potgieter (Paarl Gimnasium), 7 Josh Neill (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 6 Luhan Potgieter (Affies), 5 Jayden Joubert (Paarl Boys’ High), 4 Migael Turner (Paarl Gimnasium), 3 Luan van der Berg (Garsfontein), 2 Clinton Agu (Noordheuwel), 1 Jordan Jooste (Paarl Boys’ High).
