Paul Roos host Grey PE
Two of South Africa's great schools, Grey founded in 1856 and Paul Roos founded in 1866, enjoy a massive get-together in Stellenbosch this weekend. The rugby will be the climax of the weekend but it is about much more than one rugby match – much, much more.
East comes to West, travelling some 660 km to do so. They will come in numbers – 22 rugby teams, 15 hockey teams, three tennis teams and two squash teams, three golf teams to play at Devonvale and surfers off to Koelbaai and fishermen to Struisbaai. There will be biathlon, chess and Senior and Junior Debating. Logistically it is a great undertaking.
The distance between the two schools – not quite twice the distance between London and Paris – makes for an exciting day's rivalry but hardly qualifies it to be a derby. It has also not been going on all that long – only since 2005. But it does not lack enthusiasm for that. After a boy's high school life is only five years. For a Grade 12 pupil in 2014 he will be happy to believe that Grey have always played Paul Roos.
It will be a great day and now that the Cape has won back autumn from winter's threatening grasp, the day will be blest with excellent weather – excellent weather in beautiful Stellenbosch with vineyards creeping up mountains and enthusiastic inter-school rivalry. A man cannot ask for much more than that.
Picking a winner is a silly exercise, as the final six minutes of the Varsity Cup Final told us loud and clear. If you look at the scores of 1st XV matches between the two schools, there is not much to base a prediction on. Look at the experience of the two sides and Grey look better off. Look at this year's results and Grey look better off. But then Paul Roos are at home in Matieland.
2014 Results
Paul Roos vs San Isidro (Argentina), 42-17
Paul Roos vs Brandwag (Benoni), 30-10
Paul Roos vs Swartland, 53-5
Grey vs Marlow, 26-7
Grey vs Kearsney, 23-7
Grey vs Nico Malan, 71-8
Grey vs Michaelhouse, 10-7
Grey have played against stiffer opposition.
Experience
Grey have players who were at the 2013 Craven Week – Johann van Niekerk, Keanu Vers, Jeremy Ward and Dylan Vermaak. In addition Curwin Bosch, who is a multitalented flyhalf who turns 17 in June, Josh Mudrovic, who was a hooker last year and is an eighthman this year, Matthew Howes were 1st XV players last year.
Paul Roos have only one player who was at Craven Week in 2013 – scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies but there were players who represented Western Province Under-18 against touring teams late in the season -Edwill van der Merwe, Aidyn Cupido, whose father Wilfred was a star Western Province centre in the 1980s, and Jacques van Zyl. Matt Gallow, Christiaan Hamman Rynhardt Fortuin and Jerome Korf also played in the 2013 1st XV.
On the surface Grey look stronger but the Paul Roos Under-16s were a particularly powerful group last year and more is expected of this year's 1st XV after last year's erratic season. But will they be able to cope with Grey's speed?
Results Down the Years
2005: Grey vs Paul Roos, 14-14 in PE
2006: Paul Roos vs Grey, 28-14 in Stellenbosch
2007: Paul Roos vs Grey, 31-17 in PE
2008: Grey vs Paul Roos, 23-19 in Stellenbosch
2009: Paul Roos vs Grey, 20-13 in PE
2010: Paul Roos vs Grey, 43-37 in Stellenbosch
2011: Paul Roos vs Grey, 22-19 in PE
2012: Grey vs Paul Roos, 23-19 in Stellenbosch
2013: Grey vs Paul Roos, 23-18 in PE
Paul Roos have been better off but not recently.
Teams
Paul Roos: 15 Morné Taljaard, 14 Nico Leonard, 13 Matthew Gallow, 12 Edrich Venter, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Aidyn Cupido, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Joa Swart, 7 Mitchell Carstens, 6 Jacques Oosthuizen, 5 Emile Cloete, 4 Louis Conradie, 3 Christiaan Hamman, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 Muammir Salie.
Replacements:, 16 Carl Prinsloo, 17 Robert Matthee, 18 Jerome Korf, 19 Dean van Tonder, 20 Calvin Nell, 21 Reinhardt Fortuin, 22 Joshua Vermeulen.
Grey: 15 Keanu Vers, 14 Athi Mayinje, 13 Richie Bryant, 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Nathan Brown, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Brody van Goeverden, 8 Josh Mudrovcic, 7 Matthew Lawson, 6 Johann van Niekerk (captain), 5 Kavan Trzebiatowsky, 4 Michael de Marco, 3 Dylan Barendse, 2 Robin Stevens, 1 Matthew Howes.
Date: Saturday, 12 April 2014
1st XV kick-off: 14.30
Venue: Markötter Field, Stellenbosch
Expected weather conditions: Clear, hot with a high of 36°C, dropping to 19°C, a lovely autumn day at the Cape.
Referee: Daniel Fortuin (Western Province Referees' Society) – one of the National Panel of South African referees.
Television broadcasts: Live on SuperSport 1 and Supersport 1 HD at 14.15.
Rugby Programme
Rivierveld
08.10: Under-14D
09.20: Under-16B
10.30: Under-14C
11.40: Under-16C
Meuelsloot
08.10: Under-19F
09.20: Under-19E
10.30: Under-19D
11.40: Under-19G
Doornbosch
08.10: Under-19I
09.20: Under-14A
10.30: Under-19H
11.40: Under-14B
Volkskombuis
08.10: Under-15D
09.20: Under-15C
10.30: Under-15B
11.40: Under-15A
Oval
10.30: Under-14E
11.40: Under-15E
Hoofveld
12.50: Under-19B
14.15: Under-19A
