Big shoot-out in Stellenbosch
Two of the big guns in Western Province schools rugby will take each other on when Paul Roos host Paarl Gim at the Markotter Fields in Stellenbosch on Saturday.
Paarl Gim is currently rated as the top schoolboy team in South Africa after their convincing wins over Outeniqua and Waterkloof in the last couple of weekends.
Paul Roos on the other hand are only now starting to hit their straps after a somewhat shaky start to their season. A good win over Maritzburg College and a tough game against highly-rated Affies should be the catalyst that provides the spark for the rest of their season.
With centre Daniel Du Plessis back in action for the boys in maroon, their midfield looks more settled and together with Tristan Cramer they form a very effective pair. This will be needed as Paarl Gim’s Ryan Oosthuizen is currently the best looking centre at this level and is playing with huge confidence and ability. The matchup in midfield will thus be one of the key factors in determining the outcome of this game.
Paarl Gim have the definite edge over their rivals when it comes to the forwards. Man mountain JD Schickerling together with Jacques Vermeulen and Rikus Bothma are three WP Craven Week players that are currently causing havoc in opponents defensive structures.
Paul Roos captain Christo vd Merwe and the rest of his forwards will have their work cut out to contain the huge Paarl Gim pack. If they can do this, the battle is half won.
The Paarl Gim backs are getting excellent front foot ball from their forwards and can thus run hard at the oppositions creating more opportunities than most teams can dream of. If Paul Roos can stem this flow of good ball, they might just be in with a small chance.
The rivalry runs deep between the two schools but so do the friendships. Over the years so many boys from the two schools represented WP in various age group teams that when they get to their matric year they have played just as often with each other than against each other.
An interesting fact is that two of the Paul Roos backline player’s fathers also represented Western Province in their heydays of the 80's. Centre Daniel Du Plessis's father is legendary Michael who is part of the famous Du Plessis clan and played flyhalf and centre for Western Province and South Africa. Flyhalf Aidyn Cupidos's father is Wilfred, who also played centre for Western Province and SA Invitational teams.
The first recorded time old boys of the two schools played together for South Africa was as long ago as in 1906 when the Springboks played Ireland in Belfast. That day Steve Joubert was the first of many Gimmies to represent his country and his Bok captain was Paul Roos himself.
Paarl Gimnasium: 15 Grant Hermanus, 14 Leaviel Gouws, 13 Wayno Visagie, 12 Ryan Oosthuizen, 11 Dylon Fairbridge, 10 Wyatt Murphy, 9 Brendon Nell, 8 Rikus Bothma (captain), 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Gareth Cilliers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Johan Momsen, 3 DJ van Niekerk, 2 Wilner Conradie, 1 Gavin van den Berg.
Replacements: 16 Jasper Wiese, 17 Jacques De Klerk, 18 Jaco Willemse, 19 Edrich-John Pretorius, 20 Luhandré Luus, 21 Zandré de Koker, 22 Walter Smit, 23 Ruan Stander.
Paul Roos Gymnasium: 15 Chris Smith, 14 Joel Heugh, 13 Tristan Cramer, 12 Daniel du Plessis, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Aidynn Cupido, 9 Calvin Nel, 8 Michael Meyer, 7 Christo van der Merwe (Captain), 6 Mitchel Carstens, 5 Lohann Louw, 4 Daniel Buitendag, 3 Jerome Korf, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 HW Barnard.
Replacements: 16 Gerrie le Roux, 17 JP Botha, 18 Vernon Petersen, 19 Andrew Yoko, 20 Jan-Louis Eigelaar, 21 Reinhard Fortuin, 22 Matthew Gallow.
Date: Saturday, May 11
Kick-off: 12.00
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Expected weather: Partly cloudy but dry with mild wind, 23°
