Theron impressed with depth

Theron used the camp as a first step to assembling the best U20 team possible for next year’s Junior World Championships, which will be hosted in South Africa in June.

“The physicality, speed and individual skills of the players really impressed me,” said Theron at the conclusion of the camp.

“We realise the importance of next year’s Junior World Championships and that is why we already got the ball rolling in our quest to select the best squad possible in 2012. I think this trials camp was a massive success – we certainly have a lot of talented young rugby players in South Africa.”

Theron roped in the help of four provincial coaches during the camp. Nazeem Adams (WP), Paul Anthony (Blue Bulls), Hans Coetzee (Golden Lions) and Sean Everett (Sharks) all attended the camp and shared the coaching duties with the trials team with Theron.

“It was great having the provincial coaches there to help. They know the players very well and also added valuable input with the training of the various trials teams,” said Theron.

“With this camp, we cast our net very wide. A number of players from the B-division teams really caught the eye and at the same time, we were probably without 10 to 15 players who could not attend the camp due to injury, their involvement with Vodacom Super Rugby training squads or because they are writing their matric exams.”

The next step, according to Theron, is to narrow the squad down to 45 players, who will be invited to a camp in the Western Cape, which starts later this month.

“Ideally we’d like to invite three players in each position, so I’m currently sitting with the national selectors to ensure we get the best players to the Cape at the end of the month. There we will work more specifically on playing patterns and individual skills,” he said.

The SA U20 High Performance camp will take place between 27 November and 7 December.