Glenwood Host Grey Bloem
Grey College of Bloemfontein take 27 rugby teams down over the Drakensberg to warm Durban, to be hosted by Glenwood High School in a weekend of sport.
The last time this was attempted, in 2012, snow blocked the way and the weekend had to be called off. It will be cold this weekend as well as the Free Staters move through to cold in the hope of dropping down to warmer climes.
Apart from the rugby, there is hockey. crosscountry, cycling, squash, tennis, table tennis and golf. It is a big exercise as the two top boys' schools meet.
The competition will all climax with the 1st XV match on Saturday afternoon, after which the long trek back to Bloemfontein starts.
Of those first teams, Grey are unbeaten this season and ranked top of the FNB Top 20. Glenwood have lost three times and are ranked ninth.
Both are teams happy to play the best in the Country. Glenwood have played 16 matches, Grey 15.
The two schools have been playing since 2006 when Glenwood won in Durban. Since then, except for 2012, Grey Bloem have won – by over 60 points in 2009 and 2013. In the best of times it is a tough assignment for Glenwood.
Results against Common Opponents
They have only four opponents in common – Westville of Durban, Monnas of Krugersdorp, Dr EG Jansen of Boksburg and Outeniqua of George. Monnas are ranked second.
Results
Westville: Grey won 32-20; Glenwood won 32-15
Monument: Grey drew 10-10; Glenwood lost 30-9
Dr EG Jansen: Grey won 26-8; Glenwood won 31-18
Outeniqua: Grey won 25-7; Glenwood lost 20-15.
Those results would make a Grey victory more anticipated.
Representative Teams
But when it comes to representative teams. Glenwood would seem to have the better players, but that is a two edged sword.
Before Craven Week there was the Academy Week. Grey had three players in the Free State side, Glenwood had five in the KwaZulu-Natal side.
At Craven Week Grey had 14 players in the Free State side, Glenwood 12 in the KwaZulu-Natal side,
Academy Week
Grey: Henry Slabbert, Kassel Rothman, Raynard Esterhuizen
Glenwood: Jaydon Morgan, Donovan du Randt, Sam Matiwane Marco Palvie Nama Xaba,
At the Academy Week KwaZulu-Natal beat South Western Districts and Eastern Province, losing 38-7 to Western Province.
Free State beat Namibia, losing to Limpopo and Western Province (43-5).
Craven Week
Grey: Louwtjie Steenkamp, Niell Stannard, Mike Andrade, Wayne Wessels, Alex Jonker, De Wet Bezuidenhout, Ruben Schoeman, Jurie Burger, Janu Botha, JC Janse van Vuuren, Ruben Terblanche, IG Prinsloo, Dian Badenhorst, Julian Jordaan.
KwaZulu Natal: Morné Joubert, Ilunga Mukendi, Jaco Coetzee, McMillan Muller, James Venter, Kevin du Randt, Koos Tredoux, Kenny van Niekerk, Percy Mngadi, Kwazi Khanyile, Curtis Jonas, Spamandla Ngcobo
At Craven Week, Eastern Province and Western Province beat Free State who beat the Golden Lions.
South Western Districts and Blue Bulls beat KwaZulu-Natal who beat the Pumas.
SA Schools Trials
The big difference came at the trials which are being played in Kempton Park while Glenwood and Grey are playing in Durban, which means that four Glenwood players will not be playing in Durban and one Grey College player.
Glenwood Trialists: Morné Joubert, Jaco Coetzee, Koos Tredoux, Kenny van Niekerk
Grey Trialist: Naas Prinsloo
Glenwood are much harder hit which may well negate their homeground advantage.
Glenwood's replacements for Morné Joubert and Jaco Coetzee are both Academy Week players, Jaydon Morgan and Marco Palvie. But then Morné Joubert and Jaco Coetzee and both star players. Grey's prop triallist is not a first-choice first team player at Greyy while he Glenwood duo are exceptional.
While Glenwood are without Morné Joubert, Grey have got Henry Immelman back, a star player dogged by injuries this year.
Teams
Glenwood: 15 Jayden Morgan, 14 Chris Bredell, 13 Sphamandla Ngcobo, 12 Donovan du Randt, 11 Lunga Mukendi, 10 Curtis Jonas, 9 Kwazi Khanyile, 8 Marco Palvie, 7 MacMillan Muller, 6 James Venter, 5 Nama Xaba, 4 Kevin du Randt, 3 Christopher Klopper, 2 PJ Kobi, 1 Percy Mngadi
Coaches: Rudi Dames, M Vowles
Grey College: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Charl Pretorius, 13 Julian Jordaan, 12 Mike Andrade, 11 Glenn Erickson, 10 Tokkie Kasselman, 9 Dian Badenhorst, 8 Werner Roberts, 7 Henry Slabbert, 6 Marius Kruger, 5 Kassel Rothman, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Janu Botha, 2 JC van Vuuren, 1 Callie van Vuuren
Coach: Wessel du Plessis
Date: Saturday, 26 July 2014
Venue: Dixons Field at Glenwood High School
Expected weather conditions: Mostly cloudy with a high of 19°C, dropping to 13°C. A lot warmer than Bloemfontein where the minimum is expected to be -2°C. Minus 2. Minus
Rugby Programme
Dixons
08.00: 4th XV
09.00: 3rd XV
10.00: Under-16A
11.10: 2nd XV
12.20: 1st XV
Bassons
08.00: Under-14A
09.00: Under-15A
10.00: 6th XV
11.10: 5th XV
Madsens
08.00: Under-16B
09.00: 9th XV
10.00: 8th XV
11.10: 7th XV
Varsity 1
08.00: Under-16E
09.00: Under-16D
10.00: Under-16C
11.10: Under-15B
Varsity 2
08.00: Under-15E
09.00: Under-15D
10.00: Under-15C
11.10: Under-15F
Glenwood Prep
08.00: Under-14D
09.00: Under-1C
10.00: Under-14B
Glenwood Prep 2
08.00: Under-14G
09.00: Under-14F
10.00: Under-14E
