Josh Carstens – KES Captain
Born leader for Jeppe match
As a born and bred Johannesburg boy who has attended KES from Grade 1 to 11, Josh Carstens is well aware of the magnitude of the task facing his team on Saturday when Jeppe host KES in an FNB Classic Clash.
Jeppe are KES's biggest rivals and playing them away from home is often a daunting prospect. Jeppe are well known for their abrasive brand of rugby, and their spectators (often made up largely of vociferous young old boys) sit close to the playing surface and give their local rivals a lot to think about.
Josh Carstens plays flank or No.8. He is captaining the side from the back of the scrum in the absence of KES's first-choice No.8 and captain Dane Jacobs. Josh recently turned 18 and is in Grade 11. He is obviously a born leader as he captain the schools 1st cricket XI in the fist term. Josh cites rugby as his first love though and he hopes to take his rugby career as far as possible after finishing school.
KES have a well-balanced side this year with no real starts and only three players back from 2005. Josh is part of the loose-trio who are arguably the team's greatest strength. Josh is an openside flank and not surprisingly his hero is the incumbent Springbok No.8 and KES old boy, Joe van Niekerk.
KES have dominated the local derby over the last decade but have only played one game so far this year (a loss to Pretoria Boys' High). He has no doubt his men will be physically very committed but worries that the lack of match practice may affect their decision-making. Josh is extremely excited though about the prospects for his team this season once they eventually click.
He and the whole of King Edward (all 25 rugby teams) will be hoping that the pieces all fall into place come this Saturday.
