The green jerseys of SA Schools lit up Hoërskool Middelburg in Mpumalanga on Thursday afternoon, delivering a masterclass performance that left no doubt about the selection hierarchy following last week’s FNB U18 Craven Week at the same venue.
In what can only be described as a statement victory, SA Schools ran in seven tries to demolish their SA Schools ‘A’ counterparts 49-14, proving that the national selectors had struck gold with their team combinations.
First half masterclass sets the tone
The writing was on the wall from the opening whistle. SA Schools exploded out of the blocks like a house on fire, with wing Jadrian Afrikaner crossing the whitewash just two minutes into the match following a brilliant attack down the left flank. Flyhalf Liyema Nela added the extras, and the rout was underway.
The green machine dominated every aspect of play in the opening 40 minutes, establishing complete control at scrum time while their backline ran with pace and precision that left spectators gasping. By the break, they had built an impressive 28-0 lead with four well-constructed tries that showcased the depth of South African schoolboy rugby talent.
Siyaya steals the show with hat-trick heroics
Fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya emerged as the star of the show, treating the good crowd to a hat-trick of tries that will be remembered long after the final whistle. His second try was pure poetry in motion – collecting the ball 60 metres out, the talented fullback embarked on a mesmeric run that left defenders grasping at thin air before finishing with a spectacular swallow dive under the posts.
The combinations began clicking like clockwork as the match progressed. Hooker Altus Rabe powered over from a lineout drive, with Nela’s conversion from the sideline showcasing his kicking prowess as SA Schools stretched their lead to 21-0 after 28 minutes.
Just before the halftime hooter, SA Schools delivered another moment of magic. From a 5-metre scrum, the backline executed a smooth move that saw Siyaya run onto a perfectly timed drift pass, beating his defender on the outside to dot down under the posts.
Second half substitutions provide fresh legs
The second half saw both coaching teams ring the changes with substitutions of “Bomb Squad” dimensions, giving every player a chance to showcase their talents on the big stage.
Siyaya continued his try-scoring spree four minutes into the second half, although his third try carried an element of fortune. When his grubber kick was charged down, the ball bounced perfectly back into his hands with a clear path to the tryline. Replacement flyhalf Ruben Groenewald converted to push the lead to 35-0.
SA Schools ‘A’ Fight Back with Character
Credit must go to SA Schools ‘A’, who refused to throw in the towel despite the mounting scoreline. After being held up over the line twice in quick succession, their persistence finally paid off when hooker Thomas Muller crashed over at the back of a powerful pack drive. Replacement scrumhalf Ethan van Biljon added the conversion to get his team on the board after 58 minutes.
SA Schools responded immediately with their own forward power, as replacement hooker Clinton Agu scored from a well-executed maul. Groenewald’s conversion stretched the lead to 42-7.
The try-scoring wasn’t finished yet. Flanker Gert Kemp powered over following a series of pick-and-go drives, before SA Schools ‘A’ replacement flanker Pieter Cilliers barged over from close range to complete the scoring and add some respectability to the final scoreline.
SA Schools: Tries: Zekhethelo Siyaya (3), Altus Rabe, Jadrian Afrikaner, Clinton Agu, Gert Kemp. Conversions: Liyema Nela (4), Ruben Groenewald (2)
SA Schools ‘A’: Tries: Thomas Muller, Pieter Cilliers. Conversions: Ethan van Biljon (2)
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