FNB Classic Clash in Paarl
Match Preview
It is the Interschools in Paarl on Saturday when Bloedwors and Galpil meet and it is an FNB Classic Clash – the grandest and most intense schools match of the year in South Africa.
Nowhere else will you find a rugby match which affects a community as much as the Interschools in Paarl each August. On that day there are no fences to sit on. You wear either blue or green. You are either a Galpil or a Bloedwors, a Boishaaier or a Gimmie. There are no half-measures.
There will be a crowd of between 16 000 and 22 000 and they will all be backing a side with ardent intensity. And there will be betting.
A betting man would bet on Gim this year, but a betting man would also know that there are no sure things on such a day. The year's record and the list of representative players suggests that Gim are better equipped.
Paarl Boys' High has a coaching change this year. After many years of the unrelated Visagies, Hannes and Richard, the coaching responsibility – and it is a huge one this year as the tribes gather from all over – has fallen to Andries Greyling and Theuns van Schoor, son of the great Ryk van Schoor who was also an old Boishaaier.
Paarl Gim on the other hand have tried and tested Nico Momsen with lively scrumhalf Christoff Lõtter to help him.
Results this season:
Paarl Gim's results:
Paarl Gim vs Kearsney College, won 39-18
Paarl Gim vs Affies, draw 17-17
Paarl Gim vs Glenwood, won 17-14
Paarl Gim vs Wynberg, won 45-5
Paarl Gim vs Boland Landbou, lost 18-13
Paarl Gim vs Paul Roos, lost 19-14
Paarl Gim vs Drostdy, won 26-0
Paarl Gim vs SACS, won 47-12
Paarl Gim vs Brackenfell, won 85-0
Paarl Gim vs Outeniqua, won 13-6
Paarl Gim vs Rondebosch, won 43-22
Paarl Gim vs Bishops, draw 15-15
Paarl Boys' High's results
Paarl Boys' High vs Parktown, won 22-6
Paarl Boys' High vs Daniël Pienaar, lost 15-5
Paarl Boys' High vs Waterkloof, lost 31-16
Paarl Boys' High vs Bishops, lost 13-12
Paarl Boys' High vs Selborne, won 19-6
Paarl Boys' High vs Wynberg, won 29-6
Paarl Boys' High vs Grey Bloem, lost 20-5
Paarl Boys' High vs Strand, won 25-20
Paarl Boys' High vs Boland Landbou, won 16-14
Paarl Boys' High vs Rondebosch, 27-0
Paarl Boys' High vs Paul Roos, lost 10-6
Paarl Boys' High vs SACS, lost 12-10
Paarl Boys' High vs Drostdy, won 13-0
Representative teams in 2006:
Paarl Gim
SA Schools: Jean Rossouw (captain)
Craven Week: Jean Jacques Rossouw (captain), Bertus O'Callaghan, Lourens Adriaanse, Dewaldt Duvenage, Johann Sadie
Academy Week: Eddie Harley, Johann Sadie, Ronald Slamet
Paarl Boys' High
SA Schools: Ya Ya Hartzenburg
Craven Week: Ya Ya Hartzenburg
The sides each have three players back from last year:
Paarl Boys' High have from the side beaten last year wing Jan Louw Heroldt, who is a centre this year, lock Thys–Koch Burden, who is the captain this year, and prop Dario Christolini.
Paarl Gimnasium have back flyhalf André Kemp, scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage, and flank Vermeulen Rossouw.
It is astonishing to think that the Gim captain Jean Rossouw played for Western Province last year and was in the 2nd XV at Interschools!
Boys' High have been hammered by injuries. From their match with Drostdy, they have lost outside centre, Gideon Louw, and left wing, Christiaan Snyders. Lock Christian Wissmann will miss the match because of flu. For this reason captain Thys-Koch Burden has moved into lock. There is also a change at fullback. First-choice flyhalf Marko Kershoff moves to fullback, replaced at flyhalf by Matthew Swart.
Gim have not suffered in the same way. They lost only right wing Ferney Kitshoff, who was injured at practice.
For more information about Paarl Gimnasium, click here.
For more information about Paarl Boys High, click here.
For a profile of the Paarl Gim captain, click here.
For a profile of the Paarl Boys' High captain, click here.
For a profile of the Paarl Gim team, click here.
For results from 1915 to 2005, click here.
Teams:
Paarl Gim: 15 Wessel Lourens, 14 Ralphton Minnaar, 13 Hano Swart, 12 Johann Sadie, 11 Jacques Meyer, 10 André Kemp, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Shaun Rheeder, 7 Tertius Daniller, 6 Vermeulen Rossouw, 5 Daniel Slabber, 4 Jacobus Rossouw, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Bertus O'Callaghan, 1 Jean Rossouw (captain).
Coaches: Nico Momsen. Christoff Lõtter
Paarl Boys' High: 15 Marko Kershoff, 14 Kobus de Kock, 13 Pierre Vlok, 12 Jan-Louw Heroldt, 11 Regardt Boonzaaier, 10 Matthew Swart, 9 Alberto Gava, 8 Marco Kriek, 7 Armand Lacomme, 6 Louis Bekker, 5 Thys-Koch Burden (captain), 4 Ya Ya Hartzenburg, 3 Dario Christolini, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Charles Marais.
Coaches: Theuns van Schoor, Andries Greyling
Date: 5 August 2006
Kick-off: 16.00
Venue: Paarl Sportsground, Faure Street
Expected weather conditions: Clear. with a high of 20°C and a light wind – a Cape winter's day perfect for rugby.
Referee: Gareth Lloyd-Jones (Western Province)
