Schoolboy Rugby - 12 April preview

Gim v Affies highlights a busy weekend of derby day action

Thomas Saunders of Paarl Gim runs in a try against a pathetic KES side at Noord-Suid.

Photo credit: Netwerk24

The top schools return to action this weekend after a week off, following the Noord-Suid and Grey High festivals, where results gave a glimpse into who would be dominant this year.

The focus will be on the Western Cape, with massive clashes in WP and SWD. KZN has a limited programme owing to their three top private schools being on a break. In Gauteng, Jeppe will be hoping to pour more misery on the new Monnas coaching staff.

The standout game of the weekend takes place in Paarl as Gim host Affies in a match that will go a long way in defining both schools' seasons.

WP

Gim v Affies - 13:00 LIVE on Channel 216

Gim were the biggest story at Noord-Suid, following their humiliating and unprecedented 102-0 win over KES. As usual the Gim side doesn’t have a lot of stars - but is does help when one of them is Markus Muller, whose tryscoring feats this season are off the charts with 11 in just 4 games including THREE hat-tricks. They are such a well-drilled side and when they get momentum they are almost impossible to stop, playing a brand of rugby that is the envy of the country.

Affies were touted as a potential #1 side for 2025 but after thrashing Drostdy they were brought back down to earth by HJS as they were dominated from start to finish. Their game is very limited, when their lineout is put under pressure like it was by HJS, there isn’t much else. This will be a classic clash of styles and I expect Gim to continue their impressive form in front of what is sure to be a massive crowd at JA Kriel.

PRG v Grey High - 14:15 (Delayed on Channel 216 at 18:00)

I will be in Stellenbosch on Saturday to watch my alma mater take on the Maroon Machine. I am still in shock that it costs R120 to sit on the grandstand!! I am hoping one of the Grey junior A sides can sneak a win and that the Miracle of Markotter in 2014 can somehow be repeated.

Paul Roos have a massive pack, but they got scrummed by Noordheuwel, who in turn conceded several penalties against Grey College at the set piece so there is hope here. As long as we can keep Jordan Steenkamp and Tiaan Basson quiet there is hope. Travis Pheiffer faces a mental test if nothing else when he faces his ex-schoolmates who are sure to target him.

Grey have relied on a strong maul for a few years now, and while it is not pretty, it has proved effective against the top sides in the past. If they can get purchase here and give the Paul Roos backs poor quality ball it could be closer than many expect.

SACS v Boland Landbou - 12:45

SACS won both their games in their debut appearance at Noord-Suid, beating Welkom Gim and a demoralised KES side, which was a good return after I saw them limp to victory over Parel Vallei!! As usual the SACS pack is on the small side, but they remain competitive. Quewinn Lackay is their primary weapon on attack and he could prove a handful, especially before the fields get muddy in winter.

Boland suffered a surprise opening defeat to Outeniqua at home and have been involved in some Super Rugby-style results this season (34-49; 40-31; 46-37) as they look to play an open (loose) game, with offloads being the order of the day. They are still without talismen Heinrich Bezuidenhout and Kody Nell, but welcome back Dante Christians at 12 who should finally consign the Blake de Kock experiment to the bin.

An excellent Boland side struggled at SACS in 2023 and they will be hoping their pack can dominate up front to unleash a dangerous backline.

Milnerton v Rondebosch - 12:30

In one of the shocks of 2024, Milnerton overturned a 3-33 deficit at Rondebosch to snatch the unlikeliest of wins and now present a banana peel for Bosch to avoid before they head to Gauteng for the KES Easter Fest.

That being said, this Bosch side is proper! They are clearly a well-coached outfit and with stars like Josh Neill and Randall-John Davids, they are going to be tough to stop in the WP league. Having seen them up close against Oakdale and Jeppe, they shouldn’t have too much trouble in getting the win on Saturday.

For Milnerton, it will be instructive to see how 2024 WP XV flank Briint Davids goes, as he looks to impress the WP Craven Week coach Clint van Rensburg, Bosch’s DoR.

Wynberg v Stellenberg - 12:30

Wynberg have flown under the radar this season, and didn’t feature at either the Noord-Suid tournament or the Grey High Festival. They will look to their two Namibian imports in the pack to dominate against a young Stellenberg front 8.

Wynberg are always a tough proposition on their home ground but they shouldn’t hold any demons for a Stellenberg side who ran Garsfontein close at Noord-Suid. Stellenberg’s lock Juvan Burden is pure class, and still only u17.

SWD

Outeniqua v Grey College - 14:15

Outeniqua, surely still scarred by last year's 92-3 mauling at the hands of Saturday’s opponents Grey College, go into the game in George after a mixed start to the season. They shocked many by beating Boland Landbou, but then shocked even more people by losing to Menlopark at Noord-Suid!

Grey’s pack isn’t the biggest this year but they play with cohesion and then rely on Ethan Adams and Lamla Mgedezi to produce magic on the counter attack.

Outeniqua seem to be an inconsistent team and I cannot see them being able to live with Grey’s pace and power - they are lucky this game isn’t on TV.

Oakdale v HJS 14:00 (Delayed on Channel 216 at 16:30)

Oakdale’s pack has been receiving plaudits this season but they run out of puff in the second half. Kai Pratt is good for one huge hit a game, but his scrummaging has not been convincing, nor his workrate. They have a pretty limited gameplan, using big 12 Vorster to crash it up and play off 9 through their big forwards. Jacobus de Villiers is a star in the making as an u17 No. 8. I sat amongst their parents at Noord-Suid and incredibly they thought they were hard done by against Rondebosch - Bosch should have scored 30 points!! Clueless!!

This game sees two prospects for the SA Schools 1 shirt go head to head, with Jordan Jooste taking on Pratt. HJS were brilliant against Affies and if they play with the same intensity and desire they should pull away in the second half. As always, watch out for the SWD refs at Riversdale!!

KZN

Northwood v Westville - 15:00

Outside of DHS, these two sides are shaping up as the top contenders for the KZN crown in 2025. Both sides are unbeaten going into this crunch clash and it is perhaps too tight to call. Last year was the year that Northwood started to believe they could take on the big boys - getting a credible draw vs DHS. They have already had two excellent victories against local opposition as they left it late against both Michaelhouse and Maritzburg College to come out on top.

Westville have a dangerous backline, with fullback Zeke Siyaya almost a shoo-in for the SA Schools side for a second year running, his counter-attacking prowess is something to behold. I think Northwood sneak this one, based only on home ground advantage.

Maritzburg College v Glenwood - 14:30

Goldstones is the venue for a clash between two fallen powerhouses. This used to be a barometer of the top side in the province but since COVID these sides have been reduced to also-rans. College have a new man at the helm in the form of Nico Breedt and he is yet to taste victory this season. If not this weekend, then at least they have two easy games at St John’s as they continue their almost annual clashes now with the Golden Lions Invitational side (toilet!) and Nelspruit.

Glenwood have a side that learnt a lot of lessons last year with a young group and will now hope to kick on. They have only played once this season, with a comfortable 38-0 defeat of St Charles to gain some revenge for defeat in 2024.

This may be tight, but not a classic.

Lions

Jeppe v Monnas - 13:25

After pumping them in Krugersdorp last year, when Monnas actually had a couple serviceable players in the pack, this should be a comfortable win for Jeppe in Kensington. Having defeated arch-rivals KES in a thriller, they were humbled at Noord-Suid, being on the end of heavy defeats to Rondebosch and Grey College, admittedly very strong opposition. Jeppe play tempo and should be too strong for a Monnas side that seems not to be coached and who have little other than a 10 who can kick the ball far.

KES v Pretoria Boys' High

KES produced a masterclass in how not to play rugby on that infamous night at Noord-Suid when they were embarrassed by Paarl Gim. To concede 102 points is unforgivable. Their sparrows in the backline were exposed badly as were hyped players Sam Bruwer and Chinedu Amadi in the pack. They now prepare to host their Easter Festival and play the excellent Rondebosch next week in the main game. But first they need to beat a Boys’ High side who must be relishing the chance to add to their woes..

Helpmekaar v Garsfontein - 14:30 - LIVE on Channel 216

Ah, the Noordvaal Cup, Gauteng’s annual touch-rugby trophy between the top Afrikaans schools (excluding Affies who have more sense than to play in this!) This competition gets plenty of airtime and I am not sure why.

Garsfontein are the holders and go into the game as favourites, having nearly beaten PRG on Markotter at Noord-Suid.

Eastern Cape

Selborne v Pearson - 14:45

There is only game worth mentioning in the EC this weekend. Selborne v Pearson - a derby unthinkable just 5 years ago - now seems to be an even contest, with the away side claiming bragging rights in the first two editions. Selborne needed a late flurry last year to win in Summerstrand and after being taught two rugby lessons in PE at the Grey Festival against Westville and DHS, they will be desperate for a return to winning ways before they make the trip to Gauteng over Easter where they face Affies and Jeppe at the KES Easter Festival. Jeepers that could get messy in Houghton!!

Pearson beat Queen's for the second year in a row at the Graeme Rugby Festival earlier this season so will fancy their chances to get another win in EL.