The 19-year-old takes on his third loan spell since joining Dortmund in 2018, having already spent time at Utrecht in Holland and Swedish side Helsingborg.

Varbergs head coach Joakim Persson spoke highly of the 19-year-old saying: ‘He has an extremely high maximum level… Tashreeq is young, so we will see how he can keep that level for a whole season. There is a lot to bring in a new team, and not least a new city.

‘The whole team has a low middle age, so we hope that it will be good for him with many players of the same age around him, and that he will quickly get into the gang. But he has a lot of potential, so it will be very exciting and see what we can get out of him.’

Meanwhile, Varberg are also expected to complete the signing of another South African youngster Keanin Ayer.

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Damian de Allende

Damian de Allende is a polarising figure, one of those players who the public loves to hate, unfortunately. De Allende wasn’t in the best of form in the Vodacom Super Rugby campaign, which just incensed the rugby public more when it became evident that Rassie Erasmus was going to persist with him in the Bok midfield. But De Allende duly repaid Erasmus’ faith in him, while simultaneously proving his naysayers wrong. He was one of the cornerstones of South Africa’s Rugby Championship and World Cup success. Defensively, De Allende was like a brick wall that not many could get through or over. Credit where it’s due, De Allende stood up and stepped up when it mattered most for the Springboks and no critic can dispute that fact.

Cheslin KolbeCheslin Kolbe has produced one otherworldly performance after another for both club and country in 2019. And if it hadn’t been for the continued excellence of Bok teammate Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kolbe would have seen off all comers in the World Rugby Player of the Year award category. Be that as it may, Kolbe’s sensational season started out with him leaving defenders in his wake while playing for Toulouse in the French Top 14 and it ended with him leaving Owen Farrell on his backside during the World Cup final between South Africa and England. It would have been criminal to omit him from the list of nominees for this prestigious award.

Makazole Mapimpi 

Based on their performances in 2018, Sbu Nkosi and Aphiwe Dyantyi were odds on favourites to be the Springboks’ first-choice wingers in 2019. But Makazole Mapimpi’s rise to Springbok stardom wasn’t to be denied. He scored five tries in 16 appearances for the Sharks and one for the Boks in the Rugby Championship. But at the World Cup, Mapimpi ran in six touchdowns, a feat only bettered by tournament top-scorer Josh Adams with seven. Mapimpi’s growth in the lead-up to and during the World Cup was magnificent and should be celebrated as such.

Duane Vermeulen

If Pieter-Steph du Toit is the heartbeat of the Springbok pack at the moment, then Duane Vermeulen is the spine. Aptly nicknamed ‘Thor’, Vermeulen has a reputation as one of the toughest players around and there is nothing to suggest that he is about to lose that status. Following his surprise move to the Vodacom Bulls at the beginning of the year, Vermeulen emerged as one of the best performing South African Super Rugby players in 2019 and carried on in the same vein when donning the green and gold jersey. Vermeulen’s importance to the Boks’ cause was best illustrated during their nerve-racking World Cup semi-final clash with Wales and in the runaway victory over England in the final, when he produced two industrious physical displays to lead South Africa to a third title. His absence will be felt in the Bulls’ ranks next year, but fortunately the Boks will still be able to call on his services.

Pieter-Steph du Toit

The lock-turned-flank has been the gold standard on the international stage this past season. No other player has come close to performing at the level Pieter-Steph du Toit has in 2019. He has been a pillar of strength for both Bok rugby and the Stormers over the last couple of seasons and what he achieved this year was only the culmination of his unmatched efforts before. The 27-year-old Du Toit plays with a total disregard for his own body and leaves every last drop of energy on the field when he does it. Du Toit was deservedly named World Rugby Player of the Year, and while it’s only fair that his above-mentioned peers be recognised by nominations in this category, it would be a travesty if PSDT does not walk away with the award.

Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images

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The 23-year-old succeeds Pieter-Steph du Toit, who was named Player of the Year for 2016.

Marx completed a hat-trick of awards by being named SA Young Player of the Year and Super Rugby Player of the Year, becoming the first player to win both Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year since Ashwin Willemse in 2003.

‘This is a magnificent achievement for Malcolm and on behalf of the entire South African rugby fraternity, I would like to congratulate him on a superb season,’ SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said.

‘Malcolm was a rock for both the Springboks and the Lions and at only 23, I’m sure he will still go on to accomplish big things in our game.’

The Blitzboks’ fine 2016-17 season was also recognised as they collected the Team of the Year award, while Neil Powell was named Coach of the Year. Speedster Rosko Specman received the Sevens Player of the Year award.

‘Neil and his band of Blitzbok brothers made us all very proud last year, and these awards are very well deserved,’ said Alexander.

Juarno Augustus scooped the Junior Springbok Player of the Year award after he was named U20 World Rugby Player of the Year for 2017.

The winners in the various competitions were Warrick Gelant (Currie Cup Player of the Year), Jaun Kotze (Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year) and Sanele Nohamba (Craven Week Player of the Tournament).

2017 SA Rugby Award winners:

Player of the Year: Malcolm Marx
Nominees: Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Jaco Kriel, Jan Serfontein
Young Player of the Year: Malcolm Marx
Nominees: Curwin Bosch, Jean-Luc du Preez, Warrick Gelant, Damian Willemse
Team of the Year: Springbok Sevens
Nominees: Lions, Western Province
Coach of the Year: Neil Powell
Nominees: Johan Ackermann, John Dobson
Springbok Sevens Player of the Year: Rosko Specman
Nominees: Chris Dry, Werner Kok
Junior Springbok Player of the Year: Juarno Augustus
Nominees: Curwin Bosch, Damian Willemse
Super Rugby Player of the Tournament: Malcolm Marx (Lions)
Nominees: Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert (both Lions)
Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year: Warrick Gelant (Blue Bulls)
Nominees: Nizaam Carr, Robert du Preez (both Western Province)
Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year: Jaun Kotze (Griffons)
Nominees: Tertius Maarman (Griffons), Jeandré Rudolph (Leopards)
Provincial Rugby Challenge Player of the Year: Craig Barry (Western Province)
Nominees: Enver Brandt (Griquas), Shaun Reynolds (Golden Lions XV)

Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images

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Two-time Olympian Richard Murray ended fifth in the elite men’s race. Rio bronze medallist Henri Schoeman took 10th spot before collapsing, was then whisked off to the medical tent and spent the night under observation.

In the women’s race run a day earlier, Gillian Sanders, also a two-time Olympian, was 20th.

The men’s race was won by Spain’s Javier Gomez in 1hr 52min 31sec as he returned to racing after a long break. Britain’s Thomas Bishop podiumed for the first time in 1:52:45 ahead of another comeback athlete, Vincent Luis of France, who hasn’t raced the WTS circuit for more than a year.

Murray clocked 1:53:25 and Schoeman 1:54:35, while a third South African in the men’s field, former junior world champion Wian Sullwald, failed to finish the race.

Schoeman took time out at the Abu Dhabi airport before flying back to SA and chatted to the SASCOC website after his unexpected night in.

‘I’m feeling quite rough, I have to say. They wanted to keep me in hospital overnight and monitor my levels for 24 hours as there were some heart enzymes that were elevated and they were quite concerned.

‘Otherwise I just wanted to get home early and see my own doctor [Team SA’s doctor at the Olympics, Dr Kevin Subban]. Naturally I’m disappointed with how the race turned out for me. I’m in some awesome shape and I expected a podium result.

‘The swim felt fine, but then on the bike I knew something wasn’t right and I was struggling to hang on. On the run it was just the adrenalin that got me through the first 2km. Surprisingly, I felt really good and was running in first with Javier and actually quite comfortably.

‘But after 2km my body just started shutting down and I went downhill from there. I don’t remember the last lap, it was all just a blur and I was going through some excrutiating pain and the next minute there I was in the medical tent with doctors all around me and then I was in the hospital.

‘So it’s not the way to finish a race, but I’ll get 100% healthy and come back better and contest for that podium again next time,’ were the Olympic bronze medallist’s last words.

The women’s race went to New Zealand’s Andrea Hewitt in 2:03:46, after a sprint finish with Britain’s Jodie Stimpson, credited with the same time. Hewitt dedicate the victory to the memory of her fiancé and fellow triathlete Laurent Vidal, who passed away in late 2015.

Sanders, still based in London, had mixed feelings about her efforts. She told the SASCOC website: ‘I’m not happy with my race, but also not disappointed. There were elements I felt really good in and a few bits I didn’t feel good in.’

Good news is that for this stage of the year, Sanders is super positive. ‘The past few years I’ve been a bit slow out of the blocks in my early-season races, but I felt much stronger overall than the last few years at this time.

‘This was a brutal bike course and very tough for the first race of a season,’ she added.

She spent a week training in Dubai before the race just to get used to the punishing heat… although heat is something she’s always embraced as a friend in her career.

‘I think I’ve had a really solid winter, which is good. So I’m satisfied to start the season with a top 20, but I feel there’s lots more to come which makes me very excited for the rest of the season.’

Next up for the former KwaZulu-Natalian? ‘Definitely the Gold Coast WTS for a last practice on the Commies [Commonwealth Games] course and then maybe a World Cup in New Plymouth the week before. They’re both sprint races so “doable”.’

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At 16 years and 25 days, the Southern Cape teenager surpassed the record set by Thriston Lawrence in 2013 (16 years, two months and 23 days old), when he defeated fellow George golfer Caylum Boon 7 & 6 in the 36-final.

‘This is all a little unreal right now,’ exclaimed the delighted Pinnacle Point golfer. ‘I got knocked out in the first round in my first SA Amateur last year and I just wanted to try and go this week. Now I’m the winner and the youngest champion, too. I didn’t know about the record. I can’t even describe how I feel; it’s like shock and joy and a whole bunch of stuff mixed up. This is huge, really huge.’

Lamprecht showed maturity beyond his years and the composure of a true champion as he plotted his way into the final, never trailing in a single match after he qualified for the match play stage.

He knocked out Loris Schuepbah from Switzerland in round one, Andre Nel in the second round and Garrick Higgo in round three, and in Thursday’s quarter-final grabbed victory against Yashas Chandra from the Indian Golf Union’s Gentlemen Squad and the semi-final win against Dylan Kok.

The final match against Boon was no different, as he executed a proven game plan to take control. ‘My game plan in all my matches was to keep the ball in play and to try to take the lead as early as possible,’ said Lamprecht, who opened with six straight pars on the final day.

‘I wanted to put my opponent on the back foot so they wouldn’t get comfortable. That strategy worked well for me right throughout the match play, so I stuck to my game plan against Caylum. If you can keep the ball in play at Humewood, you give yourself chances to score.’

Aside from the ninth hole in the 18 holes and the seventh during the final loop, Lamprecht hit every fairway and used a red-hot putter to protect his advantage.

He went 1-up when Boon dropped at the second hole and went 3-up with back-to-back birdies at seven and eight. He paid the penalty of a wayward tee shot at nine, but a birdie at 11 and four successive gains from 16 took him to into the final 18 holes with a 4-up lead.

‘Caylum matched my birdies at 16, 17 and 18 and he was playing really well,’ said the GolfRSA National Squad player. ‘I knew I would have to keep up the pressure when we started the last 18 holes. I went 5-up with a birdie at three (21st hole) and I was 6-up when Caylum bogeyed the next hole. Then I hit my tee shot into the bushes on the right at seven and that cost me a shot.’

Boon found trouble down the left at eighth (26th hole) and Lamprecht pounced to go 6-up.

He only needed four more holes to wrap up the final after Boon dropped another shot at the 10th (28th hole). Although Boon matched Lamprecht’s birdie at the 11th (29th hole), the writing was on the wall when the Southern Cape golfer hit his tee shot to a foot at the par three 12th and boxed the birdie putt to win.

The young golfer had a hard time containing his smile as he battled to lift the 45kg trophy.

‘I just hoped to gain some good experience this week and if I did well, it would have been a bonus,’ he said.

‘I knew what I had to do to give myself a chance, especially when we played in a four-club wind in the quarter-finals and semi-finals and I’m proud of how I was able to stay calm and keep my head in the game. I never got ahead of myself and I think the first time I thought I could actually win this was when we got though nine on the second trip.

‘It’s incredible to think that my name is going on this trophy. All the Major winners are there. Bobby Locke is there. Ernie Els. Retief Goosen. Trevor Immelman. Gosh, I just realised Louis (Oosthuizen) never won the Sanlam SA Amateur. I hope he is really proud of me.’

Lamprecht won’t have much time to celebrate his remarkable feat, though.

On Tuesday, the country’s top ranked junior will don the green and gold for the first time alongside Higgo, Luca Filippi and Jayden Schaper to represent the South African Junior team in the Team Competition at the international African Amateur Championship at Leopard Creek.

Picture of Lamprecht courtesy of Michael Sheehan

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Local scrumhalf to dominate proceedings

The untimely passing of Joost van der Westhuizen and the recent retirement of Fourie du Preez have served as poignant reminder of past players who have dominated the world game in the Bok No 9 jersey.

However, in recent years, it’s been a struggle to find a locally-based scrumhalf who automatically demands inclusion at a higher level. From Francois Hougaard to Cobus Reinach to Rudy Paige to Faf de Klerk, these are players who have shown glimpses of potential to settle into the No 9 berth, without really kicking on.

At national level, it’s a position that remains unequivocally up for grabs, and this Super Rugby season offers the opportunity for a scrumhalf at one of the franchises to emphatically make his mark.

Check out some of De Klerk’s highlights from 2016:

Lions to avoid second-season syndrome

A common refrain out of the Lions camp in the pre-season has revolved around acknowledging that they expect to be a team with a target on their back in 2016.

It’s understandable when one considers that the Lions defied many expectations by the way in which they powered into the Super Rugby final last year, while playing a brand of irrepressible rugby.

A host of players earned higher honours as a result, but individually, and from a team perspective, the Lions need to have added some new dimensions to their all-round game if they hope to build on their success of last year

VIDEO: Highlights Lions’ 42-30 semi-final win over Highlanders last year

Improved consistency from SA sides

Last year, the Lions emerged as the flag-bearers for the South African franchises as they produced a host of memorable performances. However, there wasn’t very much else to shout about.

In the end, the Stormers and Sharks progressed to the playoffs, but both teams were absolutely annihilated in their respective quarter-finals against Kiwi opposition, while the Bulls failed to reach the knockout stage. Beyond that, the Cheetahs and Kings managed only six wins in total in the competition.

Yet, 2017 offers a clean slate, and there have been some signs in pre-season that the Bulls, Stormers, Lions, Sharks and Cheetahs could all produce a competitive showing this year, while the Kings should be a more settled and improved bunch.

ALSO READ: Four predictions for 2017

Greater skills development and uniformity in playing style

At the SA Rugby coaches indaba held last year, a couple of the primary needs identified were to provide the framework for better collaboration and communication, while fostering a unified brand of rugby that could filter through to the national team.

One of the fundamental factors perceived to be lacking in the SA game revolved around the skills levels of players, and this is something that most teams have spent some time working on during the pre-season.

This year, it would be great to see most teams employing a similar style of play, sharing ideas where possible, and for players to continue enhancing their skills and conditioning to embrace a fast-paced game.

VIDEO: SA Rugby indaba outcomes

Continued strides on the transformation front

As ever, the topic of transformation remains a sensitive issue in South African sport. But lest we forget, SA Rugby and the sports ministry have agreed about certain transformation targets that must be met.

In order for SA Rugby to finalise their bid for the 2023 World Cup, and certainly if they hope to achieve certain targets by 2019 (such as 50-50 representation at national level), then there needs to be a greater drive towards making meaningful strides on the transformation front.

As the Blitzboks and Proteas have proven, there are players of colour who can thrive when they are backed to perform, and there is a need for South Africa’s Super Rugby franchises to continue ensuring they are proactive on this front.

VIDEO: Lions coach Johan Ackermann on transformation plans

Photo: Hannah Peter/Getty Images

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It was a good way for the home side to bounce back after they fell to Zimbabwe on Thursday. They retained their top spot on the log with 14 points, four points ahead of the Sri Lanka.

South Africa posted a competitive 260-8 after electing to bat first.

Their innings got off to a wobbly start with the loss of Matthew Breetzke off the first delivery of the day. Mitchell van Buuren (35) on his birthday, Jesse Christensen (30) and Raynard van Tonder (28) all got starts, but were unable to kick on thanks to the work of Praveen Jayawickrama (2-42), Ashen Bandara (1-20) and Kamindu Menis (1-41).

Mayet’s heroic ton included 14 fours and one six, but it was the manner in which he went about attaining it that was most remarkable.

He went from eight runs off 40 deliveries to reaching his 100 off 92 balls, showing great maturity and patience in his innings.

Mayet then lost his wicket off the delivery following his ton, ending with 102 off 93 balls thanks to Nipun Ransika (3-31). Kenan Smith and Ruan de Swardt added a respective 29 and 22 runs to round off the day’s most notable contributions.

Sri Lanka’s response got off to a solid start with openers Avishka Fernando and Vishva Chathuranga (21) sharing a 59-run stand before Van Buuren made a double strike in the eighth over, getting rid of the latter and Hasitha Boyagoda (0) off consecutive deliveries. Fernando soldiered on, sharing a 98-run, third-wicket partnership with Kamindu Mendis (42), but fell victim to Akhona Mnyaka (3-43) on 96 runs (62 balls).

Credit must be given to the young South African bowlers for their resilience and for grafting hard for their wickets. The other birthday boy, Ruan de Swardt, returned figures of 3-45 with Jade de Klerk adding two crucial wickets for 39 runs. De Klerk was wicket-less for 29 in his first spell, but the young man picked himself up, taking two wickets for 10 in his follow up.

The visitors went from 157-3 in the 21st over to 198-7 in the 31st. The bowlers did not allow any other batsman to get past Jehan Daniel and Rashika Dilshan’s 12 runs. They were bowled out for 221, sealing victory for the hosts with just over eight overs to spare.

South Africa will hope to take their regained confidence into their next clash against Zimbabwe at the same venue on Wednesday.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

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The Danes combined for a 20 under par total after playing the stretch in 31 shots, which put them four shots ahead of a tie for third place between France, China, and the USA.

‘Our mental strength is keeping calm and playing our own game. I wasn’t too worried, I thought the birdies would come on the back nine and they did,’ said Olesen.

It’s been 58 years in the making …#TeamDEN🇩🇰 has won its first #WorldCupofGolf title 🏆 pic.twitter.com/zSUBSA03d3

— World Cup of Golf (@WorldCupGolf) November 27, 2016

South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl & George Coetzee wrapped up their week in Melborne with a betterball round of 66 to finish tied 13^th on nine under par.

It was an impressive showing from the two European Tour campaigners, who both finished within the top-35 at the DP World Tour Championship last week.

The first and third rounds were played in foursomes, with the teams alternating shots. South Africa battled to a 76 in the first round, but were otherwise solid and shot 71 on Saturday.

In the betterball format they impressed, carding rounds of 66 on both Friday and Sunday to wrap up the week in a share of 13^th place with Germany, England, and Belgium.

Great week with these guys👇 #teamSA #WorldCupGolf pic.twitter.com/c2j4tjk87d

— Jaco Van Zyl (@JacoVanZylGolf) November 27, 2016

The week belonged to the Danes, however, whose worst round was a 72 in the Thursday foursomes. They shot 60 on Friday, 70 on Saturday, and capped off the week with a Sunday 66.

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They thought the world was their oyster, but life in the paid ranks is tough.

So, while Walters is inching ever closer to the leaders on day two of the European Tour’s Turkish Airlines Open, Hugo is all the way across the continent in Spain where he will have to do it all over again.

Hugo didn’t finish the season inside the top 110, so it’s back to the drawing board for the 18-time Sunshine Tour champion, who heads up a strong South African cast of 14 players that will start the Second Stage Qualifiers across four golf courses today.

Hugo joins Erik van Rooyen, fellow Sunshine Tour champion Merrick Bremner and Jake Roos – a double winner on the European Challenge Tour – at Campo de Golf El Saler.

Jaco Ahlers – a two-time Sunshine Tour winner this season – leads the Lumenrock Sports Management International crew that includes Louis de Jager, Rhys West and Rourke van der Spuy.

West is teeing it up with Bryce Easton and Thriston Lawrence at Lumine Golf and Beach Club in Spain, while Ahlers, De Jager and Van der Spuy will navigate 72 holes at the Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort.

Sunshine Tour champion Oliver Bekker and former IGT Tour winner Michael Palmer will be in the mix at the Las Colinas Golf and Country Club alongside Darren Lloyd and Matthiam Keyser.

By Lali Stander

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This is how they lined up:
Brazil:
 Arthur Gazze de Souza (GK), Matheus Bungenstab Stocki, Kevin Kesley de Souza, Marcos Antonio Silva Santos, Wesley David de Oliveira Andrade, Vitor Eduardo da Silva Matos, Lucas Halter, Alan de Souza Guimares, Paulo Henrique Sampaio Filho, Jose Paixao de Oliveira Junior, Victor Gabriel Moura de Oliveira (C)
Subs:
 Gabriel Nascimento Resende Brazao (GK), Leonardo Sulzbach (GK), Lucas Oliveira Rosa, Matheus dos Santos Miranda, Caio Lopes da Costa Schoell, Leonardo Alves Chu Franco, Lincoln Correa dos Santos, Marco Antonio de Oliveira Coelho, Brenner Souza da Silva, Weverson Moreira da Costa, Victor Bobsin Pereira, Rodrigo Nestor Bertalia

South Africa:
 Glen Baadjies, Mswati Mavuso, Luke Fleurs (Lethabo Mazibuko), Nkanyiso Shinga (Thabo Mokoena), Mjabulise Mkhize, Sthembiso Kurata, Tyreese Pillay, Luke Le Roux (C), S’miso Bophela, Sechaba Mokoena, Ndamulelo Radzilani (Mpho Mahlangu)
Subs:
 Tshepo Mohui (GK), Rhuwano Wynne (GK), Sabelo Radebe, Jaqueel de Jager, Lethabo Mazibuko, Kabelo Makola, Mpho Mahlangu, Sifundo Nkosi, Thabo Mokoena
Suspended (two yellow cards): Lyle Foster

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