The u16A team is looking to make a big impact this year, both in their style of play and results. They had a good u15 year, improving their results by 35%, but, off a low base, is still not good enough for this team. This group are intensely focused on making sure they are taken seriously this year and are determined to back up this sentiment with results that avenge the close losses of last year. These boys have come a long way in a year and just by seeing the determination in their eyes at practices, I foresee them going even further this year . The squad have been doing pre-season for 4 weeks now, preparing for a mammoth 17 game season! We have picked up 4 new additions to an already talented squad, and as such we are looking far stronger in the depth department than ever before. The players have taken to pre season well, however, while initially being a bit on the slow side, the momentum and intensity have picked up as the weeks go by.
On the coaching side of things I am very happy with the group we have assembled, adding extremely passionate guys to an already passionate set up! The main coup for the team was securing the services of Lorando Ressou, a fully qualified biokineticist, who is as passionate as they come in the conditioning side of things. He has done wonders thus far with the squad, ensuring the team will at the very least, equal the other schools in the fitness and strength department. He has them twice a week, doing running fitness and strongman training on Sunday afternoons and gym work on Wednesday afternoons. This was an area I highlighted as a major weakness with the u15s last year, but with Len this will become a major strength. Focus on this can never be under emphasised for strength and fitness play a significant role in reducing the potential for injury.
We have, in addition, added two other coaching staff to bolster the team. Kevin Dolley a SACS old boy and a gifted rugby player until injury cut his career short, who will be grooming the forwards, focusing on the lineouts and loose-forwards, as well as being the defensive coach. Digby Webb another SACS old boy and current UCT player, will be the scrumming specialist for both the A and B teams this year ensuring SACS get well trained tight 5 forwards moving up into the senior teams next year. This is an area Digby is very passionate about so we are hoping this rubs off on the boys so that they take far more pride in the dark arts of the scrum!
Finally the old duo of Ross Williams and Chris Jones will again take charge of the team, renewing the partnership that worked rather well last year, ensuring that the players and coaches remain in line and perform to their best capabilities.
The squad will also be attending Alan Zondaghs Rugby Performance Centre (RPC) out in Riebeek West, where we will be honing our tactical awareness as well the game plans finer points. A team-building element will be focussed on as well to ensure the team are as close as possible before the big games where every possible advantage is needed to have the best chance of winning. This should prove to be a highlight for the boys calendar and I’m sure good memories will be made out there.
The focus for us as a team is to carry the momentum we gained at the end of last season forward, turning this team into a formidable unit capable of upsetting anyone on any given day. The playing style, tactical awareness and decision making will be the hallmarks of the game we are trying to play at SACS. This u16 year will be the year we get all the basics skills and structures in place so our 1st XV team for the next 2 years will bare the fruits of this formalised training and playing plan. This is far easier said than done, but with the coaching staff and the boys as focused as they are, there is no doubt in my mind that we can pull this off and turn the tide in SACS’s favour.
As expectations go, the boys put themselves under huge pressure to perform, which is a bonus as the motivation is there, however coaches, parents and spectators must realise,
is that what we teach and how we teach it is far more important than the final results. Yes, it would be nice to beat every team all the time, but realistically this plan should be judged when these boys are in Matric. Knowing these boys and coaches as I do, they will make sure that they are in with a chance every game and that is exactly what we ask for, progress and development is what we need at SACS, while the results will look after themselves.
We as a squad cannot wait to get started with this season, the excitement is there from the boys, it’s only a matter of time before they can showcase their talents against the best the province has to offer.
