One of the things that excited me most about the recently completed Super Rugby Unlocked series was to witness the rise of a new generation of seriously talented players who didn’t all attend the traditional rugby powerhouse schools in Bloemfontein, Tshwane and the Boland.
Several of them cut their teeth in Sevens, for the Blitzbokke, so they know how to move. And many were products of small Western Cape towns, where though baaskap reigns it cannot extinguish the talent of the people.
These super-talented performers perfectly complemented the more grizzly established stars, such as the Stormers front-row and the Bulls’ Duane Vermeulen – adding fizz and electricity.
Among the brightest lights at Loftus this season were Stedman Gans, who comes from Vredenburg, and Kurt-Lee Arendse, a product of Paulus Joubert Secondary School in Paarl.
Lining up between them in the Bulls’ backline was an old warhorse with serious new spring in his step, Cornal Hendricks, from Wellington.
Many people say that if all players played in the province of the birth, the Eastern Cape would be among the strongest provinces.
There’s no doubt the Boland would run them close.
These super-talented performers perfectly complemented the more grizzly established stars, such as the Stormers front-row and the Bulls’ Duane Vermeulen – adding fizz and electricity.
At the Stormers, new Sevens sensation Angelo Davids (Stellenberg High, in Bellville, made his much-anticipated franchise debut, while in the Free State, Rosko Speckman continued his role as the twinkle-toed genie whose skills sets Bloemfontein alight.
Had Springbok superstar Cheslin Kolbe graced Rugby Unlocked, instead of plying his trade in France, we could be discussing the fact that he attended Brackenfell High School, which made global news in November because of alleged racism.
But that’s a story for another day.
Comments