Preview: SACS vs Rondebosch
The South African College High School (SACS) host near neighbours and rivals Rondebosch Boys’ High School this weekend.
Local derbies between these two very similar schools are always fiercely contested but both teams will be hungrier than ever for a win in what promises to be a titanic battle.
Rondebosch have had a difficult run of games but have been playing well, mixing structured attack with dogged defence and a never say die attitude that tangibly displays the immense spirit within their squad. Despite injuries they have continued to run more fancied opposition close every week. Unfortunately for them their fixture list has not been kind and they have had to face Paarl Boishaai, Boland Landbou and Paul Roos already this season. The Boland schools are all particularly strong this year so just being competitive is no mean feat. That said no Rondebosch side goes into any game hoping for an honourable defeat so they will be hurting and targeting the SACS game to get their season back on track, in terms on results that is. Having not lost to SACS since 2007 they have every reason to feel confident.
SACS are desperately trying to restore a reputation tarnished by two poor seasons in 2009/10. Having broken their duck and scored two premier league wins in 2011 over Bishops and Wynberg, Rondebosch are the one Southern Suburb scalp that still eludes them. SACS pushed a very strong Rondebosch side close twice in 2011 but now need to put that behind them and turn the tables. Having decent form going into the game after a solid win against Tygerberg last week, SACS need to capitalise on the momentum they have and home ground advantage.
Both teams have loose-forwards, Luke van der Smit (SACS) and Graham Geldenhuys (Rondebosch), who have been selected for the (Western Province Academy team and both have captains who are the heartbeat of their backlines. For SACS scrumhalf Cameron Calder will call the shots from scrumhalf, while for Rondebosch Tim Hillock will pull the strings from centre.
The game will be won by a small margin and true to its “test match” billing for the two teams, probably by the team that gains the ascendancy up front and kicks its penalties. Both teams defend well so the battle for the gain-line and at the breakdown will be crucial. It promises to be a wonderful spectacle with a big crowd expected on what promises to be a warm winters morning.
The teams:
SACS: 15 K Wheeler, 14 S Chibale, 13 R Rodgers, 12 L van Wyk, 11 M Dempers, 10 C Smith, 9 C Calder (captain), 8 G Lupini, 7 L van der Smit, 6 M Hoogwerf, 5 A de Carvalho, 4 D Basson, 3 Y Maqenukana, 2 S Murray, 1 J Macquene.
Rondebosch: TBC.
Date: 2 June, 2012
Kick-off: 12.10
Venue: Memorial A Field (SACS)
Expected weather conditions: 12°C/19°C . Wind 19km/h SE No chance of rain
Referee: TBC (Western Province Referees' Society)
