IT is a tough assignment for the Eastern Province U/17 Sevens rugby side but the players are ready for the challenge.
The EP boys are drawn in a very strong Group D for the national tournament that is being played on Friday and Saturday in Rondebosch, Cape Town.
Friday is a full day of pool matches and the next day is the quarter-finals, followed by the semis and the finals.
“Yes, we are in a tough group but it is because we have done well in previous years. We deserve to be in a strong pool,” the EP coach, Beän van Eeden, of Grey High, said.
“You want to play and measure yourself against the best, so we are happy with the situation.”
The first match for EP is against the Pumas and then they take on the Bulls and Griquas later on Friday.
Van Eeden is satisfied with the team’s preparation.
“The players started to gel with each other in our practice sessions and they understood our plans.
“After the 15-man season, there were many sevens’ tournaments at various schools. That gave our players important game time (in this format).
“It also gave us a chance to look at the available talent and select our team. It is now a case of combining that speed and power. There is unbelievable sevens’ talent in the EP schools. Some players were very unlucky not to be picked for the squad.”
The coach feels that to be good at sevens at school level, a player must have a good balance of skills.
“Speed is very important. These days everyone is fast, even players of 100kg. Then you must be able to make your one on one tackles,” Van Eeden explained.
In the long traditional rugby season, it might be difficult for a school player to specialise in the sevens format. Van Eeden thinks it is not a bad idea though. “It’s good work for a player who feels he has the skills and talent for Sevens rugby. There are more and more sevens’ school tournaments these days and the demand in most sport codes now is for the shorter version, just look at cricket.
“If such a player has the right mindset and works on his own at his sevens game throughout the year, specialising can be a good move.”
EP’s fixtures on Friday:
10:00: v Pumas. 12:45: v Blue Bulls
15:15: v Griquas
The EP team is:
Conrad Botha (Marlow), Hein Terblanche (Framesby), Sive Bwowe, Xhanti Pongolo (both Grey High), Leonard Booysen, Dempers Meyer (both Marlow), Luke Rowley (St Andrews College), Hugo Nothnagel (Framesby), Ethan George (Brandwag), Asekhona Phuvani (Uitenhage High), Joshua Bands (Grey High), Jamian Dampies (Brandwag).
