The nine new Springboks and their schools
Springbok coach, Allistair Coetzee, named nine uncapped players in his first Springbok squad for the incoming test series against Ireland. The players will only become full fledged Springboks if they earn a test cap during the series of three tests.
The nine players are Garth April, Nic Groom, Steven Kitshoff, Jaco Kriel, Ruan Combrinck, Bongi Mbonambi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Scarra Ntubeni and Faf de Klerk. As we are a website dedicated to schools rugby we will have a look at the schools which the nine players attended.
The Sharks’ Garth April took an unusual path to the top. He played at the national club championship as a 16 year old for his club side, Roses United, in 2008. He represented the Boland’s u16-side at the Grant Khomo Week in 2007. In 2008 he also attended the Coca-Cola Craven Week as a fullback for Boland. He also made the SA Schools side in 2008.
April attended Bergriver in Wellington before switching to Florida in Roodepoort for 2009 where he matriculated. He represented the Golden Lions at the Coca-Cola Craven Week in 2009 and once again made the SA Schools’ side. April helped Durbanville-Bellville to be crowned champions of the Community Cup last year before getting a chance with the Sharks in this year’s SuperRugby competition. April and Elton Jantjes attended Florida.
Winger Ruan Combrinck attended Michaelhouse and will become his school’s third Springbok if he gets game time. Pat Lambie and Pat Cilliers is the only other two Springboks that Michaelhouse produced through the years. Combrinck represented KwaZulu-Natal at the Craven Week of 2008 in Pretoria.
Jaco Kriel will become Standerton’s second Springbok if he gets some game time. Standerton’s other Springbok is the former winger Pieter Hendriks. Interesting is that Howard Mnisi and Gary van Aswegen played in the same first XV for Standerton with Kriel in 2007. Kriel and Mnisi played for the Pumas at the Craven Week of 2007 in Stellenbosch, while Van Aswegen played at the 2008 edition of the tournament in Pretoria.
Stormers’ hooker Siyabonga “Scarra” Ntubeni matriculated at King Edward VII in Johannesburg. Ntubeni joined KES at the end og grade ten from Dale College in King William’s Town. He played for Border u16 at the Grant Khomo Week in 2007. He joined KES’ coach Carl Spilhaus who was the head coach at Dale College before making the move to the City of Gold.
In 2008 he played for the Golden Lions at the Academy Week. He progressed to hook the ball for them in the scrum at the 2009 Craven Week in East Londen and was named with Mbonambi as the two hookers in the SA Schools’ side that year.
The other Stormers hooker Bongi Mbonambi school career took a very similar rout as Ntubeni. He attended Voortrekker in Bethlehem and also represented the Griffons at the Grant Khomo Week in 2007. In 2008 and 2009 he attended St. Alban’s College in Pretoria and also made the Blue Bulls’ side in these two year for the prestigious Craven Week tournament. He also got his SA Schools’ cap in 2009.
Steven Kitshoff was earmarked to become a Springbok when still attending Paul Roos Gimnasium in Stellenbosch. Kitshoff represented Western Province at the Craven Week in 2009 and 2010. He also made the SA Schools’ side after some solid performances in Welkom in 2010.
Stormers’ scrumhalf Nic Groom attended Rondebosh Boys’ High in Cape Town, but only managed to make Western Province’s Academy side in 2008. His fellow WP scrumhalf, Louis Schreuder (Paarl Gimnasium), and Golden Lions halfback Rick Schroeder (Paul Roos) represent the Western Province Craven Week side that year.
Sikhumbuzo Notshe attended Wynberg Boys’ High and reptresented Western Province at the Craven Week of 2010 and 2011 in Welom and Kimberley respectively. Notshe also earned a SA Schools’ cap in both years with some outstanding performances.
Faf de Klerk attended Waterkloof in Pretoria. De Klerk was not rated enough to be included in the Blue Bulls’ Craven Week side in 2009, but he did make the SA Academy side after attending the Academy Week in Pretoria. That year’s SA Academy side did attend the Craven Week in East London.
The Springbok squad (and their schools):
Backs: Willie le Roux (Paul Roos), JP Pietersen (General Hertzog, Witbank), Ruan Combrinck (Michaelhouse), Lwazi Mvovo (Maria Louw), Lionel Mapoe (Fichardtpark), Jesse Kriel (Maritzburg College), Jan Serfontein (Grey College), Damian de Allende (Milnerton), Pat Lambie (Michaelhouse), Elton Jantjes (Florida), Rudy Paige (Bastion), Faf de Klerk (Waterkloof), Nic Groom (Rondebosch Boys’ High).
Forwards: Duane Vermeulen (Nelspruit), Warren Whiteley (Glenwood), Siya Kolisi (Grey PE), Francois Louw (Bishops), Jaco Kriel (Standerton), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Wynberg Boys’ High), Lood de Jager (Hugenote, Springs), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Swartland), Eben Etzebeth (Tygerberg), Julian Redelinghuys (Monument), Steven Kitshoff (Paul Roos), Frans Malherbe (Paarl Boys’ High), Tendai Mtawarira (St. Peter’s College, Bulawayo), Trevor Nyakane (Ben Vorster), Adriaan Strauss (Grey College), Bongi Mbonambi (St. Alban’s College/Voortrekker, Bethlehem), Scarra Ntubeni (King Edward VII).
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