Pierre Schoeman - Captain of Affies
Prop Pierre Schoeman will captain Afrikaanse Hoer Seunskool (Affies) in Saturday’s home FNB Classic Clashes encounter against Grey College from Bloemfontein.
Just last week, Schoeman – at 110 kilograms and 1,84 metres – captained Affies to a convincing 34-11 win over near-neighbours, Pretoria Boys High.
Affies scored five tries to one, with the captain grabbing a crucial try from close-range in the opening thirty minutes.
According to Schoeman, the strength of this Affies side is their ability to play total rugby – a 15-man version of this game we all love so much. They boast a powerful, yet mobile pack, whilst their backs are speedy, says Pierre.
Having played for SA Schools last year, and having captained his school at U16 level in 2010, Schoeman was a natural choice as Affies captain in 2012, but he is quick to praise those around him for his success.
“If it wasn’t for my teammates I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he says, “rugby is a team game and we all help each other.
“As the captain, youngsters at the school tend to look up to me, but it’s not just about the current scholars – it’s also about those great players that came before us; like Pierre Edwards, Frik du Preez, Wynand Olivier, Pierre Spies – Affies has a massive history that stretches across the world.
“You work for five years to become a ‘White Bull’ [play for the Affies First XV], but you basically have just one year to play first team rugby, so you need to take all the chances that come your way – as has happened over the last 90 years or so before us.”
Schoeman is able to play on both sides of the scrum. He played in the No.1 shirt for the SA Schools team – and his school’s First XV – last year, but, in 2012, has found himself occupying the all-important tighthead spot.
However, this Saturday he will line up at loosehead prop as the home side looks to set the platform up front against their opponents from Bloemfontein who have won 26 of the 34 encounters between these two schools. (Affies have won just three times, with five matches having ended in draws.)
Pierre is hopeful – “God-willing” – of furthering his career at the Blue Bulls in 2013; Loftus Versfeld, after all, is not too far from Affies!
“I would also like to study next year,” he says, “at Affies there is a big emphasis on academics and sport, but, at the same time, it’s also a nice distraction away from sport and it keeps you disciplined.”
* Saturday’s match will be broadcast (live) on SuperSport One from 2.45pm onwards. (Kick-off is at 3pm.)
The match will also be re-broadcast on four other occasions over the next few days: Sunday, May 13 (6.40am); Monday, May 14 (5.30pm); Tuesday, May 15 (7.15pm); Wednesday, May 16 (4.15am) – all on SS1.
