'Best of the rest' brace for battle in Bloem

PREVIEW: Grey College will face Paul Roos in Bloemfontein this Saturday, while Garsfontein will attempt to finish the Noordvaal Cup league phase at the top of the standings.

Boland Landbou claimed one of the upsets of the season when they beat Oakdale 34-27 in Riversdale last weekend.

While Oakdale still managed to finish their 2025 campaign with an impressive 10 from 13 record, they may come to regret the recent defeat, and its impact on the national rankings.

Paarl Boys High and Paarl Gym contested the unofficial schools final a couple of weeks ago, with Boishaai emerging as 35-33 winners.

With the No 1 and 2 rankings already decided, it remains to be seen which of the top teams will assume the title of ‘best of the rest’.

With Oakdale falling short against Boland Landbou, Grey College or Paul Roos could edge ahead in the national pecking order.

It’s worth noting that some of the leading schools are without their best players, who are currently on duty with the respective South Africa U18 teams.

The depth of these teams will be put to the test over the next week or so.

@rugby365com takes a closer look at some of the biggest match-ups scheduled for this weekend.

GREY COLLEGE V PAUL ROOS

Grey College may lament their results against Gimmies and Boishaai earlier this season – and the fact that the defeat to Gimmies marked their first loss at home since 2017.

That said, their overall 2025 record of 13 from 15 includes wins against Oakdale, Noordheuwel and Affies. More recently, they beat Grey High 48-17 in Gqeberha.

Paul Roos were the leading team in South Africa last year, finishing the season unbeaten.

Despite losing a number of senior players to graduation in 2024, they’ve been among the country’s top teams in 2025.

Paul Roos’ record currently reads won 13, lost three – with those losses coming against the Paarl heavyweights and Oakdale.

They will head to Grey College as underdogs, but may feel that a win in Bloemfontein is possible, after what Gimmies achieved earlier this season.

Grey, of course, won’t have forgotten about the last meeting in Stellenbosch, which ended in a 36-3 victory for the hosts – and will be desperate to set the record straight.

EG JANSEN V GARSFONTEIN

The Noordvaal Cup continues to serve up some surprising results.

Noordheuwel stunned Garsfontein two weeks ago, only to lose 20-34 to Menlopark in the penultimate round of the league phase.

The final four will be decided after this weekend’s matches, and Garsfontein will be aiming to nail down top spot ahead of the semi-finals.

Helpmekaar – who have completed their league fixtures – currently lead the table with 37 points, while Garsies are in second place with 36.

While Garsies have recorded some mixed results nationally, they’ve impressed in the regional competition, winning seven out of eight matches.

The recent 22-28 loss to Noordeheuwel should motivate Garsies ahead of the clash with EG Jansen this Saturday.

Jansies have struggled for consistency this season, and are coming off a 21-27 loss to Nelspruit, who have also blown hot and cold in 2025.

BISHOPS V WYNBERG

The four-way Cape Town southern suburbs battle will come to a head over the next few weeks.

At this stage, it’s a two-horse race between Wynberg and Rondebosch.

Wynberg are yet to lose to one of their southern suburbs rivals – beating Bishops 34-5 at home, Rondebosch 38-33 away, and SACS 21-10 away.

They come into this game on the back of a 59-13 win over Parel Vallei two weeks ago, while Bishops recently beat Milnerton 42-26.

Bishops are enduring another challenging season, and are yet to win a southern suburbs derby in 2025 – having drawn 14-14 with SACS this past May and lost heavily to Wynberg and Rondebosch.

While the next derby will be staged at Bishops, the hosts will start as underdogs.

SELECTED FIXTURES (16 AUGUST)

EG Jansen v Garsfontein
Menlopark v Rustenburg
Waterkloof v Monument
Transvalia v Noordheuwel
Grey College v Paul Roos
Muir v Graeme College
Selborne v Grey High
Queen’s College v Cambridge
Dale v Hudson Park
Rondebosch v SACS
Bishops v Wynberg

RESULTS (9 AUGUST)

Affies 41 Pretoria Boys 12
Nelspruit 27 EG Jansen 21
Noordheuwel 20 Menlopark 34
Rustenburg 14 Monument 24
Waterkloof 23 Transvalia 12
DHS 52 KES 19
Glenwood 10 Maritzburg College14
Graeme 20 Queen’s College 17
Dale 19 Selborne 15
Oakdale 27 Boland Landbou 34
Durbanville 5 Outeniqua 8
Milnerton 14 Stellenberg 12