The boys are ready!
The Eastern Province u/18 rugby squad will finish off their preparations today for Craven Week, which starts at Outeniqua Park in George on Monday.
A four-day practice camp held in Gqeberha, under the watchful eye of head coach and former EP Craven Week player, Elric van Vuuren, from Despatch High, will end today.
“I feel things are in place and I am excited about the coming week.
“Our preparation mostly follows the same path as last year’s, but with our practice camp we stayed at a place close to Grey High and made use of the Grey practice facilities.
Last year was Van Vuuren’s first as Craven Week coach, and he described it as “a huge learning process”.
“I learned a lot. We made some mistakes in our preparation last year, but we learned from that.
“This year we are much better prepared. I feel we are on the right track.”
EP used friendly matches against SWD and Border to try out various things.
“We weren’t result-driven in those matches. SWD is a very good team but we only had one practice session before that match.
“We tried a few things out against SWD, and then some other things against Border,” said Van Vuuren.
On Monday EP will be up against the very highly rated Free State outfit in their first match of the week.
“It is always nice to start the week with a match like this. You don’t need to motivate the players, because they are basically playing against the best rugby school in the world,” said Van Vuuren, in reference to Grey College, which forms the core of the Free State side.
“And what better way to test yourself against the best,” he added.
Van Vuuren reckons he has a well-balanced side and that the senior players in the squad with Craven Week experience offer a lot to the team.
“Players like Batho Hlekani, Burrie van Heerden and Jamaine Dampies played at that higher level already, and one can see that.
“We have a solid pack of forwards with very good loose forwards, strong runners, a halfback combination that knows each other well and then lots of speed at the back.”
With rain a possibility, the fields in George can be soft and even muddy, but that doesn’t bother the coach.
“We are well-equipped for a kicking game, so we will be able to adjust to conditions like that.”
EP will also be represented at the u/18 Academy Week, starting on Monday in Johannesburg.
