The SA Rugby U20 Academy group hit the road running on Monday the first day of camp in Stellenbosch, with the group going through their paces in two very good on-field unit sessions as well as a solid early-morning workout in the gymnasium.
The squad - announced last week - assembled at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport on Sunday and will be in camp until 16 February before travelling to Georgia for a short tour of three matches, which include two Tests and a clash against a club side.
On Monday, early morning medical assessments were followed by some technical meetings before the squad headed for the gym facilities of the nearby Paul Roos Gymnasium indoor training centre, as well as a technical lineout session.
This was followed by on-field training, during which the players were split into forward and back units. The backs worked on skills execution and passing, while the forwards completed a good couple of lineouts and mauls.
Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote kept a watchful eye on proceedings, and he was a pleased man following the group’s first outing of the camp.
“It’s awesome to be back, the guys have arrived in good shape, and I want to thank the unions for prepping the players well,” said Foote.
“They looked ready to go, there’s a lot of excitement and we are looking forward to working with the boys again.”
Foote was assisted by coaching consultants Johan Ackermann and Brok Harris, as well as former Springbok No 8 Duane Vermeulen, who forms part of SA Rugby’s Mobi-Unit.
“It is really good to have coach Akkers (Ackermann) with us, as well as Duane and Brok so there’s a lot of coaching support for the boys,” explained Foote.
“We’ve decided that we’re going to start the camp off with three mini-camps or unit sessions. So, the forwards will be focussing on their set-piece, lineouts, mauls, and scrum, while the backs will be looking at their skills execution, press, and kicking game.
“Those are really great fundamentals of the DNA of South African rugby. By the end of the training block, we will have our DNA embedded and we will understand from a selection point of view where the guys are at.”
The Junior Bok coach also reiterated that the selection door is still wide open: “We don’t want to leave any stone unturned, so we are making sure we are giving everyone an opportunity to be seen. The guys who maybe attended the two camps in November and December and are not present at the current camp, it’s not to say they’re out of the mix.
“We’ve got Georgia coming up, the U20 Rugby Championship, and then we will be building up towards the World Rugby U20 Championship, so there are still lots of opportunities for those guys who want to take it,” Foote emphasised.
SA Rugby U20 Academy squad for the first camp in Stellenbosch:
Props: Ranon Fouché (Vodacom Bulls), Jean Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls), Simphiwe Ngobese (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Herman Lubbe (DHL WP), Oliver Reid (DHL WP), Tebogo Nkosi (Toyota Cheetahs), Ulrich van der Merwe (Fidelity ADT Lions).
Hookers: Juandré Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls), HB Odendaal (Fidelity ADT Lions), Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls).
Locks: Heinrich Theron (Vodacom Bulls), Kuhle Mthimkhulu (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Morne Venter (Fidelity ADT Lions), Riley Norton (DHL WP), Arno van der Merwe (Toyota Cheetahs), James Schnetler (Vodacom Bulls), Johan Hattingh (Fidelity ADT Lions).
Loose forwards: JJ Theron (Vodacom Bulls), Bathobele Hlekani (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Yabo Ndzamela (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Thando Biyela (Fidelity ADT Lions), Divan Fuller (DHL WP), Xola Nyali (DHL WP), Stephanus Linde (Toyota Cheetahs), Wandile Mlaba (DHL WP).
Scrumhalves: Zeke January (Vodacom Bulls), Ceano Everson (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Haashim Pead (Fidelity ADT Lions).
Flyhalves: Matthew Coetzee (Fidelity ADT Lions), Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL WP), Kyle Smith (DHL WP), JT Kapank (Vodacom Bulls).
Centres: Pieter van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls), Albie Bester (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Outside backs: Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls), Chijindu Okonta (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Scott Nel (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gilermo Mentoe (Fidelity ADT Lions), Siya Ndlozi (DHL WP).
Utility back: Dominic Malgas (DHL WP).