Glenwood head for Monnas

It's not a long journey by South African standards but it's from balmy Durban up over the Drakensberg to Highveld winter, and opponents who hard to beat anywhere, let alone at home.

There will be over 300 Glenwood boys going – hockey, tennis, cycling, chess, golf, cross country and 16 rugby teams. It is a big picnic and the best of the picnic will be winning the 1st XV match.

Season So Far

Both are ranked on the FNB Top 20 – Glenwood fifth and Monnas seventh, which is not much of a difference at all.

Glenwood have had the more glamorous season, winning the Sanix Youth Rugby Tournament in Japan for the second time. They are so far unbeaten in the nine matches they have played, two currently ranked on the FNB Top 20 – Dr EG Jansen (14-13) and Dale (32-5).

Monnas have played 14, winning 10, drawing with Selborne and losing to Paul Roos, Helpmekaar and Outeniqua, four Top 20 sides. They have beaten two Top 20 sides – Garsfontein (29-11) and Nelspruit (25-17).

Both won last week's matches. Glenwood just beat a gallant DHS side 24-23 while Monnas thumped Kempton Park 36-3.

Players to Watch

Monnas are eligible for the Golden Lions provincial sides, Glenwood for KwaZulu Natal.

The Golden Lions have not yet finalised their sides  but have four teams play the Leopards on Tuesday, after which the teams will be announced. Monnas have 23 players in those four teams, which suggests that they are a good side.

KwaZulu Natal have chosen their sides and there are eight in the Craven Week side and six in the Academy Week wide, But they will be without four really good players – Marco Palvie, who played SA Schools A last year but was helped off the field against DHS, JJ van der Mescht, the lock who is in this year's Craven Week side, and two who have been chosen for the Academy Week side – scrumhalf Craig Hunt and centre JC Conradie.

Glenwood's Craven Week players: Seun Maduna, GJ Lubbe, Martin Holtzhausen, a flyhalf who has moved to outside centre against Monnas in the place of JC Conradie, Austin Brummer, Jonothan O'Neill, JJ van Der Mescht, Renier van Rooyen, Durandt Weiderman and Quintin Voster.

Glenwood's Academy Week players: Dylan Kruger, JC Conradie, Craig Hunt, Matthew Bauer, Brendon Schwulst and Lindelwe Cele.

Monnas have three players back in their 1st XV who were at Craven Week last year – strong centre MJ Pelser, lock Ruan Vermaak and prop Nathan McBeth. In 2015 they had 11 players at Craven Week. In addition they had three at last year's Grant Khomo Week – halfbacks Luke Rossouw and Tinus Combrink and PJ Jacobs who was a lock last year and is an eighthman this year.

Recent Results

This interschools fixture is in only its seventh year. It is not one-sided affair.

2010: Glenwood won 26-5

2011: Monument won 16-8

2012: Glenwood won 25-18

2013: Monument won 26-20

2014: Monument won 30-19

2015: Monument won 21-8

The match is a Premier Interschools Fixture and so will be broadcast live.

1st XVs

Monument: 15 Dandré Prinsloo, 14 Karel Vahrmeijer, 13 Louwtjie Dyson, 12 MJ Pelser, 11 Arno van der Westhuizen, 10 Luke Rossouw, 9 Tinus Combrinck, 8 PJ Jacobs, 7 Cristen van Niekerk, 6 Kevin le Roux, 5 Ruan Vermaak, 4 Christopher Havenga, 3 Dewald Schoeman, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Nathan McBeth

Replacements: 16 Jano Lourens, 17 Coenrad Vrey, 18 Jandré Botha, 19 Larko Lindes, 20 Jonty Algera, 21 Brendan Buitendag, 22 Cameron Schutzler, 23 Dylan Wood

Glenwood: 15 Dylan Kruger, 14 Devon Brough,  13 Martin Holtzhausen, 12 Seun Maduna, 11 GJ Lubbe, 10 Francke Botha, 9 Jayden Jooste, 8 Austin Brummer (captain), 7 Kevin Smit, 6 Jonothan O'Neill, 5 Dylan Weideman, 4 Edward Laubscher, 3 Renier van Rooyen, 2 Brendon Schwulst, 1 Quintin Voster

Replacements: 16 Connor Botha, 17 Shane Westman, 18 Lindelwe Cele, 19 Matthew Bauer, 20 Brad Roodt, 21 Sibonakaliso Dubazane, 22 Morné van Rensburg, 23 Conan le Fleur

Date: 4 June 2016

1st XV kick-off: 13.00

Television broadcast: Channel 210

Venue: Ras van Rooyen Field, Hoërskool Monument.

Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 21°C, dropping to 7°C

The main rugby field is named after the sixth principal of Monnas, EJ van Rooyen.

Rugby Programme

Ras van Rooyen Field

08.00: Under-14A

08.55: Under-15 A

09.50: 3rd XV

10.45: Under-16 A

11.40: 2nd XV

13.00: 1st XV

Lange Field

08.00: Under-15B

08.55: Under-16B

09.50: Under-16C

10.45: 5th XV

11.40: 4th XV

Coetzee Field

08.00: Under-14C

08.55: Under-14D

09.50: Under-14B

10.45: Under-15D

11.40: Under-15C