South Africa A coach Mzwandile Stick says Yaqeen Ahmed will learn from the red card that cut short an otherwise impressive performance in Saturday’s 40-0 victory against Zimbabwe.
The Junior Boks flyhalf was one of SA A’s standout performers in Gqeberha before being sent off in the 52nd minute. Ahmed’s yellow card for colliding with Zimbabwe fullback Tapiwa Mafura was upgraded to red following a bunker review.
The 19-year-old had scored the opening try of the match and kicked three conversions, helping SA A build a 21-0 lead before his dismissal.
“With the red card, listen, we respect the match officials’ calls,” Stick said.
“The young kid got it wrong. We’re trying to keep the game clean and taking a player out in the air is one of the things we don’t want in our systems.
“He was just unfortunate in that situation. But he’s OK as well and, in the time he was on the field, you could see the brilliant touches he had as a youngster.
“Yaqeen is only 19 and was at school last year. He is going to the Junior World Championship, so I wish him all the best.”
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Stick also provided an update on 18-year-old winger Zekhethelo Siyaya, who left the field late in the first half after taking a stray boot to the face.
“It was actually with his own teammate and he lost some memory there,” said Stick. “Even after the game he still wasn’t sure where he was, but he’s alive, he’s moving and he’s in the changing room. He’s just still in Disneyland.
“Hopefully Siyaya can recover quickly and go represent our country as well.”
Despite the red card, SA A finished strongly to score three tries and keep the World Cup-bound Sables scoreless.
“We knew it was going to be a big challenge because the majority of our players had never played together,” said Stick. “It was a new team.
“One thing I enjoyed about Zimbabwe was the way they tried to keep the ball in hand and challenge us.”
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SA A had two tries disallowed in the opening minutes and missed several other opportunities.
“I know it can be frustrating when you’re not getting the points,” said Stick. “There were times in the first half where we were just unlucky.
“We had two tries disallowed. One was a foot in touch and the other was a player being slightly in front of the kick. That didn’t show on the scoreboard.
“But from my side, I was pleased with the way the guys stayed in the fight. Even when Zimbabwe got into our 22 and applied pressure, we managed to keep a clean sheet.
“Three tries in the first half, three in the second half, and a clean sheet – I think they can be proud of that.”
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Stick reserved special praise for several of the younger players, particularly fullback-turned-flyhalf Luan Giliomee and winger Jaco Williams, who scored SA A’s final try.
“There were a couple of youngsters who took their opportunity,” he said.
“If I look at the youngster who played at the back and then moved to flyhalf, Luan, with his sevens background, you can see the confidence he has in what he does. He did very well.
“And then there’s one of the local Eastern Cape boys, Jaco Williams on the wing.
“I felt those youngsters really did very well.”
The post Stokke: SA A flyhalf unfortunate to get red appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
South Africa A coach Mzwandile Stick says Yaqeen Ahmed will learn from the red card that cut short an otherwise impressive performance in Saturday’s 40-0 victory against Zimbabwe.
The post Stokke: SA A flyhalf unfortunate to get red appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
