SACS size up Rondebosch test

Rondebosch Boys' High, coming off a 50-point demolition of Tygerberg, host a SACS side coming off a morale boosting win over fierce rivals Bishops.

The weather is predicted to be great and everything is set up perfectly for a spirited contest on the Rugby A-Field at noon on Saturday.

Rondebosch have started the season really well and have a well-balanced team that has the ability to ask a variety of questions of opposition defences.

They have a number of big, powerful ball-carriers in the pack, most notably their skipper and No.8 Ronnie Melck and powerhouse prop Kyle White. The rest of their pack have a sound work ethic and provide a good platform for their backs who have produced some magic in recent weeks.

Rondebosch are not scared to give the ball air and have scored an impressive total of 132-points in their last three games. Tyren Lee has been a revelation since moving one-out to inside centre and has been the catalyst for most of Rondebosch's attacking play.

Never to be outdone is fullback Khanyo Ngcukana who has the size, speed and ability to attack from anywhere on the park.

Rondebosch lost to Monument at the Maritzburg College 150th Festival but bounced back to convincingly beat a good Jeppe side on the final day. On their return they drew with Wynberg Boys High first up but have since gone unbeaten for three games.

Rondebosch have been steadily building up a head of steam and look ready, after a week off for a bye, to really kickstart their season with the business end of the term approaching.

SACS started the season dismally but have bounced back with two impressive performances. Having watched their first two outings only their most ardent supporters would have bet anything on them upsetting both Boland Landbou and Bishops.

Their team worked hard in defence last week against Bishops and made a huge number of tackles (131 in total). It was enough to see them win the game relatively comfortably on the scoreboard but it may have taken its toll physically. SACS will be looking to get their hands on the ball more on Saturday in order to impose themselves on their more fancied opponents.

SACS have lost to Pretoria Boys High and Paul Roos but having beaten Rondebosch twice last year won't want to let their close rivals get back on top of them without a fight. SACS skipper Keagan Wheeler is in fine form and his battle with Tyren Lee should be well worth watching.

His centre partner Richard Rodgers scored the winning try last week but will have his hands full trying to mark his opposite number, Clyde Martch, while keeping an eye on the dangerous Ngcukana.

It is going to take another monumental team effort from SACS to sneak a win against this Rondebosch team that was always going to be formidable given that they have thirteen players back from 2012.

Teams:

Rondebosch: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Devon van Rensburg, 13 Clyde Martch, 12 Ronnie Melck (captain), 11 Nic le Roux, 10 Tyren Lee, 9 Stef de Gouveia (vice-captain), 8 Graham Geldenhuys, 7 Robert Jankielsohn, 6 Jay Stevens, 5 Christoph Blake, 4 Luke Stringer, 3 Kyle Whyte, 2 Philip Jankielsohn, 1 Alan Eaby

SACS: 15 Seb Roodt, 14 Aidan Deary, 13 Richard Rodgers, 12 Keagan Wheeler (captain), 11 Matthew Wadling, 10 Shane Fourie, 9 Michael Henning, 8 Devon Barnard, 7 Justin Williams, 6 Yandisa Maqenukana, 5 Justin Joubert, 4 Dean Basson, 3 Alexander Duckitt,  2 Travis Raa, 1 Joel MacQuene.

Venue: Rugby A-Field (Rondebosch)

Kick-off: 12.00

Referee: Marc van Zyl (WP Referees  Society)

Weather: 13/20 °C, Wind: 20km/h SE, 0% Chance of Rain

Results Down the Years:

1921: SACS won 16-9

1923: Rondebosch won 19-8

1925: Rondebosch won 44-7 and SACS won 3-0

1926: Rondebosch won 15-6

1927: SACS won 10-0 and :a draw 0-0

1928: Rondebosch won 11-0

1930: Draw 0-0 and Rondebosch won 6-0 and 18-0

1931: SACS won 29-6 and 6-0

1932: SACS won 11-9 and won 13-0

1933: SACS won and 9-5 and Rondebosch won 18-17

1934: Rondebosch won 6-3 and won 27-0

1935: SACS won 15-0 and 8-0

1936: Rondebosch won 16-7 and SACS won 9-0

1937: SACS won and 13-7 Rondebosch won 14-3

1939: Rondebosch won 14-8 and 16-3

1940: Rondebosch won 28-0 and SACS won 9-8

1941: Rondebosch won 9-6 and 11-6

1942: Rondebosch won 10-5 and 10-0

1943: SACS won 12-9 and Rondebosch won 6-3

1944: Rondebosch won 6-3

1945: Rondebosch won 6-3

1946: Rondebosch won 6-3 and 6-0

1947: Rondebosch won 3-0

1948: Rondebosch won 3-0 and 10-8

1949: Rondebosch won 16-3

1950: Draw 3-3

1952: Rondebosch won 8-0 and 11-3

1953: SACS won 22-6

1954: Rondebosch won 6-5

1955: SACS won 8-6 and Rondebosch won 8-3

1956: Rondebosch won 8-3 and 6-0

1957: Rondebosch won 3-0 and 6-3

1958: Rondebosch won 16-0 and 19-11

1959: Rondebosch won 8-6 and 6-0

1960: Rondebosch won 4-0 and 23-0

1961: SACS won 12-8

1962: SACS won 8-5 and Rondebosch on 14-3

1963: Rondebosch won 6-3 and 25-0

1964: Rondebosch won 28-0 and 25-0

1965: Rondebosch won 6-3

1966: Rondebosch won 6-0 and 9-3

1966: Rondebosch won 17-3 and 14-8

1967: Rondebosch won and

1968: Rondebosch won 11-3 and 6-3

1969: Rondebosch won 9-3 and a draw 6-6

1970: SACS won 21-16 and Rondebosch won 16-9

1971: Rondebosch won 33-6 and 11-6

1972: Draw 7-7 and Rondebosch won 26-0

1973: Rondebosch won 19-9 and SACS won 7-4

1974: SACS won 14-9

1975: Rondebosch won 20-0 and 10-0

1976: Rondebosch won 29-3 and 12-9

1977: Rondebosch won 26-19 and 23-6

1978: Rondebosch won 4-0 and 23-7

1979: Rondebosch won 9-0 and a draw 9-9

1980: Both results missing

1981: Rondebosch won 16-9 and 15-12

1982: SACS won 29-19 and Rondebosch won 10-6

1983: Rondebosch won 23-3 and 19-12

1984: Rondebosch won 14-7 but the results at Rondebosch is missing.

1985: Rondebosch won 16-6 and 15-3

1986: Draw 3-3 and Rondebosch won 15-6

1987: Rondebosch won 26-3 and 23-0

1988: Rondebosch won 8-6 and 33-3

1989: SACS won 7-6 and Rondebosch won 13-6

1990: Rondebosch won 10-0 and 19-10

1991: Rondebosch won 27-10 and 20-6

1992: SACS won 6-5 and Rondebosch won 12-0

1993: SACS won 11-6 and Rondebosch won 15-6

1994: Rondebosch won 19-5 and 3-0

1995: Rondebosch won 13-9 and 33-13

1996: Rondebosch won 14-11 and 24-14

1997: Rondebosch won 31-5 and 10-9

1998: Rondebosch won 17-0 and 10-5

1999: Rondebosch won 10-0 and 6-3

2000: SACS won 14-11 and Rondebosch won 16-3

2001: SACS won 21-19

2002: SACS won 22-16 and Rondebosch won 23-12

2003: Rondebosch won 11-5 and SACS won 12-11

2004: SACS won 14-12 and Rondebosch won 5-0

2005: Rondebosch won 37-14 and 17-3

2006: SACS won 22-14 and 16-9

2007: SACS won 14-7 and 48-19

2008: Rondebosch won 12-7 and 16-10

2009: Rondebosch won 52-11

2010: Rondebosch won 44-14 and 20-12

2011: Rondebosch won 19-15 and 10-5

2012: SACS won 36-19 and 26-6