All Western Cape systems go
Another out-weekend having been consigned to history, there is a wide variety of intriguing contests scheduled for the Western Cape on Saturday, 26 May.
Paarl Boys' High host Grey College of Bloemfontein, Oakdale welcome Outeniqua to Riversdale, Drostdy hit Wellington for the Big Boland Bash against Hugenote, unbeaten Wynberg have visitors Paarl Gim to contend with, Boland Landbou take on Bishops on the Piley Rees field and Tygerberg visit SACS in Newlands. Where else in the world would one find such a selection of top quality schools rugby matches on one day?
Boishaai have been looking forward with relish to the game against a Grey (Bloem) side that has at last shown itself as vulnerable as the rest.
Two defeats already in the season is most uncharacteristic of the Free State’s finest, but they went some way towards redeeming themselves with a sizable 60-12 thrashing of neighbours Sentraal last Saturday.
Regrettably the Brug Street Boytjies are looking decidedly understrength ahead of the big day. Normally one would just tell them to man up and stop making excuses like some arrogant losers have been doing – on TV nogal – but, if you don't have all your ducks in a row against Grey, you're flirting with disaster.
Losing flank Ryno van der Merwe in addition to centres Andreas Nel and Niel Maritz is going to make winning this one just that little bit harder. Up front Craig Corbett's leadership faces the acid test and lock Seb Ferreira will be required to make his presence felt early in proceedings.
The decision-making of halfbacks Pieter Schoonraad and Jean-Luc du Plessis is going to be crucial. Wings Danté van der Merwe and Tiaan Mouton would not look out of place in any company; it's just that some of the gaps in the line-up are hardly what the optimists in the Winelands might have been hoping for.
The game is set to be televised live, but the atmosphere created by the impeccably mannered learners of these two institutions makes being there very special.
Lush Riversdale is the setting for the battle over bragging rights in the Eagles' nest.
The Bulle of Oakdale came from behind to dump Paul Roos 22-20 last Saturday and would normally regard that as adequate preparation for a meeting with the Quaggas of Outeniqua.
Tight head Kabous van Schalkwyk ploughs on unhindered up front, skipper Jandré Rudolph never puts in less than 120% at No.8 and Arno Moolman seems to have filled their problem position of flyhalf, so vital in providing midfield playmaker Lex Botha with good ball. Looks pretty good, right?
Not against this Outeniqua side, it doesn't. Let's leave the loose trio, which includes brilliant skipper Tinus Vermeulen and tireless Dean van Vuuren aside and look at the backline. This boasts elusive scrumhalf Remu Malan, flyhalf Dewald Human, centre Ricky Gelant, clinical finisher Duhan van der Merwe on the wing and multi-talented sub Leighton Eksteen. There are a few names destined to become part of George folklore there, for sure. And they're all still in Grade 11.
Last weekend in the 94-7 lambasting of Brackenfell, Malan took a rest from his back-of-the-scrum responsibilities, scoring three tries on the left wing, while Rynhardt van der Nest dotted down five times on the right!
Smart money is on an away win for Piet Cloete and Jacques Wolfaardt's troops.
Having racked up 158 points in their last three games, excluding the 15-15 blip against Worcester Gym, HTS Drostdy have been making waves – make that earthquakes – wherever they go with a truly mammoth pack that would be the envy of some Currie Cup B section unions.
Human wrecking-balls Wilco Louw (loosehead), Izak Burger (flank) and François Pienaar are used to doing the work of a food blender on opposing packs, always being sure to leave a few tasty scraps for 16 year-old dynamo Hanro Liebenberg.
The backs might not be that big, but, with the elegant Kelly Olivier, son of former SWD pivot Marius, slotting in smoothly at flyhalf outside Chriswill September, all they need to be is workmanlike.
The Blackies boast a side full of character which is playing extremely attractive running rugby. While they would shrink from being named as stand-out players, one cannot ignore the exceptional contribution of lock and captain Gideon Koegelenberg, the creative flair of No.8 Larnelle Maralack and the very efficient half back pairing of Wicus Swiegers and points machine Nelius Hauptfleisch.
However, this one may well be decided up front where burly Bernardt Steyn and hooker Jaco du Plessis will be subjected to massive pressure. Could the home crowd help down the Donkeys?
The last time Paarl Gim pitched up on Hawthornden Field, they blitzed Wynberg by over 100 points. This will definitely not be the case this Saturday.
Gim are basking in the well-earned glory of the top ranking amongst SA schools. What makes this all the more impressive is that, in true WP style, it's the backs who are running in the tries. This is not surprising, given the outstanding pack with which Christoff Lötter and Hendrik Weber's team is blessed.
Up front Evan McDonald, Ollie Regue, Hennie Botha and JD Schickerling provide the fodder for tearaway sidesmen like Rikus Bothma and Jacques Vermeulen, after whose efforts it's up to Lotter Pretorius and Handré Pollard to ensure quick distribution down a backline dotted with finishers like Altus Momsen and Loek van der Merwe. Sounds simple, hey? Watch them for yourself, they make it look easy.
This Wynberg team has not lost as a group in around 40 matches. It is safe to say that they represent the pick of the southern suburbs teams this campaign with a group mentality that normally gives them a few points' head start. They have sailed a carefully-plotted course through the 2012 season, having played only one game against fellow-WP Super A League opposition (Rondebosch), so reality kicks in on Saturday. Big time.
Physically, they don't match up well against the Northern Paarl side, but in terms of character and cohesion they are right up there with the very best. The defensive capabilities of flank Luthando Manasa, No.8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe and centres Justin Scott and Jarred Sage are going to go a long way to determining the outcome of what could well be the local match of the day.
Boland Landbou come to Bishops on the crest of a wave that started far out at sea at Wildeklawer and has built relentlessly with strong last-quarter performances against SACS and Rondebosch.
Still missing Johan de Villiers, they nevertheless possess a daunting scrum populated by brilliant fireball hooker Arno van Wyk, tighthead Matthys Basson and locks Nicolas Loubser and Justin Basson. Sheldon Castle provides Heinrich Bühr (or Tian Nel) with good clean ball for danger men Danïel Minnaar, Keagon Gordon, Polla Theunissen and JC van Reenen. The cherry on the top is resourceful No.15 Faffa Botha.
That Bishops have been struggling to find cohesion shows in their results against top tier opposition, none of which have favoured them. The odds look pretty heavily stacked against their experiencing some sort of on-the-field epiphany this Saturday. Ironically they will be up against a team that many have complimented as the current purveyors of "Bishops rugby"!
If you still can't decide where to get your thrills, you might want to take a lucky dip and head up to SACS. The home team has put together a string of highly creditable performances, losing with honour against Landbou and Boishaai before downing Bishops fairly comfortably, 21-8, at home on 19 May.
The Herculean efforts up front of lock Adam de Carvalho and flank Luke van der Smit have enabled immensely-talented captain Cam Calder at the base of the scrum, coupled with very intelligent flyhalf Chris Smith, to set in motion the attacking skills of centre Leighton van Wyk and full back Tando Rudah.
However, it's their defence that has occasionally wavered and that can spell serious danger when you're up against roller-coaster Tygerberg.
Every pundit around has long since given up trying to predict the Tygers' scores. The Parow lads possess the wherewithal to beat any team, but right now their goalkicking seems to be a major concern. This is hardly surprising, given the luxury they have had in recent times of the Claassen brothers, but the sheer number of points going to waste seems to be taking its inevitable toll on the side's psyche.
And these aren't the only attractive offerings this Saturday. There's still Paul Roos – three of whose players: full back Jason Worral, flank Ramone Samuels and scrumhalf SP Ferreira were in sublime form at Wednesday's trial games against Boland – at home to Rondebosch, Hermanus heading over to Worcester Gym, a Helderberg derby between hosts Parel Vallei and form-team Strand and a tasty clash between two plucky sides when Dirkie Uys travel to Stellenbosch High!
Fixtures for Saturday, 26 May, 2012:
(Home sides first)
Augsburg Gym vs Vredendal
Bishops vs Boland Landbou
Brackenfell vs Bellville
DF Malan vs Durbanville
Emil Weder vs Swartberg
Hopefield vs Charlie Hofmeyr
Hottentots Holland vs De Kuilen
HTS Bellville vs Monument Park
Hugenote vs HTS Drostdy
Labori vs Montana
Langenhoven High vs Bredasdorp
Oakdale vs Outeniqua
Paarl Boys' High vs Grey College
Parel Vallei vs Strand
Paul Roos vs Rondebosch
SACS vs Tygerberg
Schoonspruit vs New Orleans
Stellenberg vs Primrose RFC
Stellenbosch vs Dirkie Uys
Vredenburg vs Swartland
Worcester Gym vs Hermanus
Wynberg vs Paarl Gym
Groenberg vs Albert Myburgh
Hawston vs Gansbaai Academy
Villiersdorp vs De Rust Futura (all at Hermanus)
By Tony Stoops
