The 17 uncapped players in the Springbok-squad and the schools they attended
Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus, named 17 uncapped players in his first Bok squad of 43 players that for the June tests against Wales and England. Interesting fact is that only five of the uncapped players in the group represented the South African Schools’ side earlier in their career.
The five players is Thomas du Toit (2013), Ox Nche (2012/13), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (2010/11), RG Snyman (2013) and Embrose Papier (2014/15). This shows that maybe the SA Schools’ program is of less importance than it is made out to be. Maybe the current system in use should be re-looked. The SA Schools’ program is doing some good work, but maybe it should be emphasised less if this conversion rate is taken into consideration.
A once-off match for the SA Schools’ team as showcase match might be sufficient to give recognition to players who performed well during the Coca-Cola Craven Week. But to criticise or change the system is not the purpose of this article, its rather to give recognition to the schools that played a role in forming these players.
The conversion rate of players who represented the Junior Springboks seems higher. Only five of the 17 didn’t play for the national u20-side. One of them Notshe did play SA Schools. The other four Akker van der Merwe (Outeniqua), Aphiwe Dyantyi (Dale College), Makazolo Mapimpi (Jim Mvabaza) and Cameron Wright (Hilton College) careers took a bit longer to develop.
The 17 uncapped players will only be recognised as Springboks if they take the field during one of the four test matches during June. The Springboks face Wales in a once-off test match in the United States of America, before facing England in a three-test Castle Lager Incoming Series at home.
A player like Kwagga Smith (HTS Middelburg) who is one of the uncapped players, was without a doubt the best flanker during the Coca-Cola Craven Week of 2011 in Kimberley. He was however overlooked for SA Schools’ selection due to the strict selection policies that were in place which dictated the size which a flanker needed to be to gain selection. Smith however overcame this setback and could make his test debut in June.
Another player who was unlucky not to make the SA Schools’ side is winger S’busiso Nkosi who was one of the standout players during the Coca-Cola Craven Week of 2014 in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. Interesting is that he is a home-grown talent from Barberton in the same province, but moved to Jeppe High School as a 17-year old to represent the Golden Lions during this prestigious tournament.
The highest accolade achieved by Bulls lock Jason Jenkins while a schoolboy at St Alban’s College in Pretoria was representing the Lynx at the annual VKB Week in the sleepy Free State town of Reitz.
Lions winger Aphiwe Dyantyi last representative rugby before breaking through to the Golden Lions u21-side was for Border u13 at the Coca-Cola Craven Week for Primary Schools. Dyantyi got his chance after making the University of Johannesburg’s team for the FNB Varsity Cup in 2015 before going on to make the provincial u21-side later that same year.
The 17 uncapped players in the Springbok-squad and their schools:
| # | Player | Primary School | High School | Craven Week | SA Schools | Junior Boks |
| 1 | Thomas du Toit | Dirkie Uys | Paarl Boys’ High | WP – 2013 | 2013 | 2014-15 |
| 2 | Jason Jenkins | St Paulus | St Alban’s College | – | – | 2015 |
| 3 | Ox Nche | Fauna Primary | Louis Botha | Free State – 2012-13 | 2012-13 | 2015 |
| 4 | Sikhumbuzo Notshe | Nomlinganiselo | Wynberg Boys’ High | WP – 2010-11 | 2010-11 | – |
| 5 | Marvin Orie | Gardenia Primary | Tygerberg | WP – 2010 | – | 2012 |
| 6 | Kwagga Smith | Lydenburg | HTS Middelburg | Pumas – 2011 | – | 2013 |
| 7 | RG Snyman | Hennopspark | Affies | Blue Bulls – 2013 | 2013 | 2015 |
| 8 | Akker van der Merwe | George South | Outeniqua | SWD – 2009 | – | – |
| 9 | Robert du Preez | Durban Preparatory | Kearsney College | KZN – 2011 | – | 2013 |
| 10 | Aphiwe Dyantyi | Dale College | Dale College | – | – | – |
| 11 | André Esterhuizen | Goudkop Primary | Klerskdorp | Leopards – 2011 | – | 2014 |
| 12 | Travis Ismaiel | Saffier | Tygerberg | – | – | 2012 |
| 13 | Makazole Mapimpi | Moni | Jim Mvabaza | – | – | – |
| 14 | Sibusiso Nkosi | Barberton | Jeppe High School | Golden Lions – 2013-14 | – | 2016 |
| 15 | Embrose Papier | Darling | Garsfontein | Blue Bulls – 2014-15 | 2014-15 | 2016-17 |
| 16 | Ivan van Zyl | Magalieskruin | Affies | Blue Bulls – 2013 | – | 2015 |
| 17 | Cameron Wright | Westville | Hilton College | KZN – 2012 | – | – |
![Charlie Hofmeyr u16 - 2018 [captained by Cameron Hanekom]](https://ssschoolsplus.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/WhatsApp-Image-2024-11-20-at-09.03.03-400x257.jpeg)
