SuperSport Schools Plus predicts the SA Schools side of 2025
It is that time of the year again when we act as selectors and pick our own SA Schools’ team before the annual FNB u18 Craven Week.
This year’s 60th edition of the prestigious event is hosted in Middleburg by Hoërskool Middelburg from 7 to 12 July.
Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).
Please note that this is SuperSport Schools Plus’ SA Schools side and not the official SA Schools side. The official SA Schools side will be announced later this week.
Western Province dominates our selection, but if someone manages to surprise the early favourites to be crowned unofficial champions, it could cause some new names to enter the SA Schools selectors’ selections.
Western Province has never managed to finish a Craven Week unbeaten in Middelburg.
This year’s selection has been easier than in previous years, as the two standout centres in the country — Markus Muller (Western Province) and Ethan Adams (Free State) — practically picked themselves. Muller also gets our nod as captain, his union’s side is captained by Josh Neill, who will also be a contender to lead the real side.
Adams already represented the squad in 2024. Another three returning members from the Class of 2024 – Zekhe Siyaya (fullback), Josh Neill (flanker) and AJ Meyer (lock) also naturally made our selection.
Another three players – Briint Davids (flanker), Jordan Jooste (prop) and André Poulton (prop), who represented the SA Schools A-side in 2024, made our selection.
Other easy picks are that of Jayden Brits (scrumhalf), Luan van der Berg (tighthead prop) and Clinton Agu (hooker).
SuperSport Schools Plus’ team:
15 Zekhe Siyaya (Westville Boys’ High, Sharks), 14 Damien Witbooi (Eastern Province), 13 Ethan Adams (Grey College, Free State), 12 Markus Muller (Paarl Gimnasium, Western Province), 11 Jadrian Afrikaner (Sharks), 10 Matthew Abbey (Hoërskool Middelburg, Pumas), 9 Jayden Brits (Boland Landbou, Western Province), 8 Quintin Potgieter (Paarl Gimnasium, Western Province), 7 Josh Neill (Rondebosch Boys’ High, Western Province), 6 Briint Davids (Western Province), 5 AJ Meyer (Grey College, Free State), 4 Daniel Malakiya (HeronBridge College, Blue Bulls), 3 Luan van der Berg (Garsfontein, Blue Bulls), 2 Clinton Agu (Noordheuwel, Golden Lions), 1 Jordan Jooste (Paarl Boys’ High, Western Province). Replacements: 16 Keenan Myners (South Western Districts), 17 Kai Pratt (Oakdale Landbou, South Western Districts), 18 André Poulton (Jeppe, Golden Lions), 19 Diaan Augustyn (South Western Districts), 20 Daniel Kazambo (Valke), 21 Sherwin Buys (Free State), 22 Ruben Groenewald (Affies, Blue Bulls), 23 Lamla Mgedezi (Free State).
Players to Watch:
Fullbacks: Zekhe Siyaya (Sharks), Lamla Mgedezi (Free State), Junaide Pasensie (Blue Bulls), Reinhardt Viljoen (South Western Districts), Meyer Prinsloo (Eastern Province), Tidi Moeketsane (Golden Lions), Joze Draghoender (Griffons), Clinton Brits (Griqualand West), Jadon Ocks (Western Province).
Right Wings: Damien Witbooi (Eastern Province), Lee-Winn Pretorius (South Western Districts), Jason Ocks (Western Province XV), Bradley Snyer (Leopards), Siyabonga Kenny (Free State), Jeneal Davids (Western Province).
Outside Centres: Ethan Adams (Free State), Leskin Samuels (Blue Bulls), Lindelani Nkambule (Golden Lions), Jacques Greyling (Pumas), William Ridl (Sharks), Randall-John Davids (Western Province), Tristan Joubert (Western Province XV).
Inside Centres: Markus Muller (Western Province), Christiaan Vorster (South Western Districts), O’Ryan Kleyn (Free State), Sean McCough (Sharks), Toriq Schambreel (Free State), Ethan Lourens (Golden Lions), Jonathan Harding (Griqualand West), Sean McGough (Sharks), Sedwin Gysman (Griffons).
Left Wings: Junaide Stuart (Blue Bulls), Jadrian Afrikaner (Sharks), Tinyiko Silubane (Pumas), Otlotleng Zulu (Valke), Ncutu Kepe (Border).
Flyhalves: Matthew Abbey (Pumas), Ruben Groenewald (Blue Bulls), Virgil Pockpas (South Western Districts), Will Stevens (Eastern Province), Jeandré Uithaler (Golden Lions), Darius Erwee (Free State), Liyema Nela (Sharks), Ethan van Biljon (Western Province).
Scrumhalves: Jayden Brits (Western Province), Sherwin Buys (Free State), Liam Pringle (Pumas), Morné Noble (Western Province), Mickyle Booyise (Western Province XV), Liam de Villiers (Western Province XV).
Eighthmen: Quintin Potgieter (Western Province), Gert Kemp (Western Province), Pietman Kleinhans (Eastern Province), Jacobus de Villiers (South Western Districts), AJ Booysen (Free State), Stefan McDonald (Blue Bulls), Chinedu Amadi (Golden Lions).
Flankers: Josh Neill (Western Province), Daniel Kazambo (Valke), Elwin Janse van Vuuren (Blue Bulls), Luan Potgieter (Blue Bulls), Josh MacKenzie (Eastern Province), Eugene de Lange (Golden Lions), Franko Rossouw (Pumas), Sam Bruwer (Golden Lions), Stefan Strauss (Griqualand West), KG Legodi (Leopards), Zander Muller (Sharks), Reabetswe Olifant (Griffons), Mumbere Vyambwera (Sharks).
Locks: AJ Meyer (Free State), Daniel Malikiya (Blue Bulls), Christiaan de Wet (Blue Bulls), Janco Aucamp (Pumas), Diaan Augustyn (South Western Districts), Jayden Joubert (Western Province), Juvan Burden (Western Province), Migael Turner (Western Province XV), Gershom Pieters (Western Province XV).
Tighthead Props: Luan van der Berg (Blue Bulls), JG Badenhorst (Free State), Matthew Prins (South Western Districts), Dian Ellis (Griqualand West).
Loosehead Props: André Poulton (Golden Lions), Kai Pratt (South Western Districts), Sphephelo Ntshangase (Sharks), Robert-John Osunkwo (Border), Roal Kruger (Blue Bulls).
Hookers: Clinton Agu (Golden Lions), Keenan Myners (South Western Districts), Altus Rabe (Western Province), Jaydrian Jacobs (Griqualand West), Marco Ventura (Valke), Tommy Muller (Western Province XV).
https://ssschoolsplus.co.za/supersport-schools-plus-predicts-the-sa-schools-side-of-2024/
