An Ancient Match in Stellenbosch

Even in winter Stellenbosch is one of the most beautiful places on earth and here we have a meeting between two old schools, both with strong traditions, including their rugby traditions.

Last year Paul Roos Gymnasium celebrated its 150th birthday. That makes Paul Roos 151 this year, SACS 187. The oldest recorded SACS match we have is in 1873, though it is likely that they played before that. The first recorded match involving Stellenbosch was on 25 August 1875, the year the Hamiltons club was formed, the first such club in South Africa, and year before Villagers was founded.  It is hard to distinguish between Stellenbosch and its educational institutions when rugby is involved, then and for years to come.

The game then played at the Cape was its own form of football, based on the Winchester Game. In 1878 the Cape shifted gradually to rugby football. There is a story that a SACS man, De Vos, first taught the Stellenboschers to play.

The Paul Roos colours are the same as those of the Maties while SACS gave Western Province its blue and white hoops.

Early on there were age-group matches, as well as senior matches, between Stellenbosch Boys' High School (name changed to Paul Roos Gymnasium in 1940) and SACS.

Part of Paul Roos's celebration was the publication of an excellent history of the school with a great contribution by their archivist Mariena Kotze. It is a beautiful book with wonderful illustrations and anecdotes. It tells much oif the school's great rugby history.

The matches will be played at the Markötter Stadium, named for perhaps the greatest coach and selector in South Africa for nearly half a century, not an Old Boy of Paul Roos but a fervent Stellenboscher.

It is accepted that this will be a tough match for SACS, as it has become in recent years when the Southern Suburbs Four have struggled against the more ambitious Country Four.

Season so Far

Both have really good sides this year and neither shirks a match against top schools. Six of Paul Roos's 12 matches have been against teams ranked in the Top 20, two of which they have won – against Monument and Grey PE.  SACS have played four of their 12 matches against Top 20 sides, their best result a draw with Selborne.

At present Paul Roos are ranked 8th on the FNB Top 20 while SACS are included in the small pressure group just below the Top 20.

Paul Roos lost their last two matches – against Oakdale and Paarl Boys' High – and may well be all the more determined because of that or all the more nervous about making it three in a row.

Common Opponents

They have two teams both have played.

Paarl Gim: Paul Roos lost 28-24; SACS lost 17-13

Rondebosch: Paul Roos won 43-26; SACS drew 28-28

Noteworthy Players

The players of both schools are eligible to play for the Western Province Craven Week and Academy sides. But they have bot yet been finalised.

Paul Roos: In 2015 fullback Joshua Vermeulen and flyhalf Damian Willemse, who is playing outside centre against SACS, both played for SA Schools. In addition tall centre Lyle Hendricks, tough flank Hanré du Toit and action hooker Daneel Steinman are sure to catch the eye.

SACS have four players who are certainly playing good rugby – scrumhalf Lucky Dlepu, flank Liam Larkan, eighthman Alex Halvorsen and centre Jordy Hoply who kicks their goals.

Recent Results

The last time SACS beat Paul Roos was in 2007. Paul Roos have won the last eight in a row.

Look at the players, the season, the history and you know that SACS are the underdogs, possibly a good place to be, as SACS certainly do not lack determination and pride.

Teams

Paul Roos: 15 Joshua Vermeulen, 14 Aydon Topley, 13 Damian Willemse (captain), 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Colia Louis, 10 Marais Cloete, 9 Tiaan Coetzee, 8 Bruce Coetzee, 7 Hanré du Toit, 6 Hans Koetsier, 5 Johan Joubert, 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Tristan Leitch, 2 Daneel Steinman, 1 Cameron Dawson

SACS: 15 Michael Abrahams, 14 Michael Sutton, 13 Jordy Hop, 12 Chad van der Loo, 11 Zolani Masembathe, 10 David Hayes, 9 Lucky Dlepu, 8 Alex Halvorsen, 7 Liam Larkan, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 James Brewer (captain), 4 Cameron Laurenson, 3 Duncan Ferguson, 2 Lance Steytler, 1 Connor O'Reilly

Date: 4 June 2016

1st XV kick-off: 13.30

Venue: Markötter Stadium, Stellenbosch

Expected weather conditions: Clear with a high of 18°C, dropping to 8°C, a beautiful Cape winter's day, a beautiful day for rugby.

Rugby Programme

Hoofveld

09.10: 4th XV

10.20: 3rd XV

12.10: 2nd XV

13.20: Skoollied

13.30: 1st XV

Meulsloot

08.00: Under-15E

09.00: 7th XV

10.10: 9th XV

11.10: 6th XV

12.20: 5th XV

Rivierveld

08.00: Under-14E

10.10: Under-14D

11.10: Under-16B

12.20: Under-16 A

Volkskombuis

08.00: 8th XV

09.00: Under-15C

10.10: Under-15B

11.10: Under-15 A

12.20: Under-16D

Doornbosch

08.00: Under-16C

09.00: Under-14B

10.10: Under-14A

11.10: Under-15D

12.20: Under-14C

Previous Results

What we have here is thanks to Barry van Selm of SACS. But, if these matches go back to the 1870s, there are lots missing. It would be good to fill in the holes.

1981: SACS won 9-3

1984: Paul Roos won 10-0

1985: Paul Roos won

1986: Paul Roos won

1988: Paul Roos won

1989: Paul Roos won 13-3

1990: Paul Roos won 23-0

1991: Paul Roos won 14-0

1992: Paul Roos won 13-9

1993: Paul Roos won 30-3

1994: Paul Roos won 26-11

1995: Paul Roos won 26-13

1996: Paul Roos won 18-8

1997: Paul Roos won 40-19

1998: Paul Roos won 39-3

1999: Paul Roos won 53-5

2000: Draw 15-15

2002: Paul Roos won 26-7

2003: Paul Roos won 73-3

2004: Paul Roos won 32-18

2005: Paul Roos won 32-0

2006: Paul Roos won 52-10

2007: SACS won 20-12

2008: Paul Roos won 31-10

2009: Paul Roos won 12-8

2010: Paul Roos won 71-3

2011: Paul Roos won 22-10

2012: Paul Roos won 12-3

2013: Paul Roos won 32-0

2014: Paul Roos won 78-7

2015: Paul Roos won 39-8