Sharks take on Donkeys
Drostdy are nicknamed the Donkeys. It is not a nickname that angers them. It is always the best way to react with nicknames meant to mock. Stellenbosch did that with Maties and UCT did that with Ikeys to such an extent that those are names they now call themselves.
It is a match that Paarl Boys' High would expect to win but it is also a match that will draw out the best in Drostdy. They are hard and determined.
And this year's match has a bit of extra needle,, for the winner of the match will play against Outeniqua in the Final of the Maties Rugby Top Schools Competition at Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday, 29 August 2015.
Paarl Boy's High are unbeaten and ranked top of the FNB Top 20. Drostdy, who have won and lost half of their matches this season, are not ranked at all, though they had a good win over Waterkloof who are ranked.
They have just three opponents in common – Tygerberg, Outeniqua and Bishops. They both had big wins over Tygerberg. Drostdy lost heavily to both Outeniqua and Bishops while Boishaai beat both.
Boys High had three players in the SA Schools side, two in SA Schools A, seven in the Western Province Craven Week side, which was the outstanding side at Craven Week and two in the Academy Week team. And some SA Schools players are back in the side this week – Ruben de Villiers and in the A side Tyreeq February and Khanya Ncusane. (Salmaan Moerat is not playing because of a leg injury and Manuel Rass hurt his mouth at practice on Thursday and is also out..)
Drostdy had four players in the Boland Craven Week side (Earll Douwrie, Evan Booysen, Eric Groenewald, Jan Pieter Stassen and two in the Academy Week side (André Swanepoel and Zander Fernhout).
Teams
Paarl Boys' High: 15 Jeanluc Cillie, 14 Tyreeq February, 13 Jan Louis la Grange, 12 Hanri van Heerden, 11 Urgene Johannes, 10 Rayhaan Lombaard, 9 Bradley Thain, 8 Khanya Ncusane, 7 Ruan van der Merwe, 6 Andreas van Wyk (captain), 5 Ruben de Villiers, 4 David Meihuizen, 3 Leo Kruger, 2 MC de Jongh, 1 Wikus Groenewald
Drostdy: not available
Date: 22 August 2015
1st XV kick-off: 12.20
Venue: Trappespark, Worcester
Expected weather conditions: Sunny with a high of 25°C, dropping to 14°C – perfect weather for rugby.
Rugby Programme
Bloekombos
09.45: Under-15B
11.00: 5th XV
Knersvlakte
09.45: Under-16C
08.30: Under-15C
Middelveld
08.30: 4th XV
09.45: 3rd XV
11.00: Under-16B
Steelkant
08.30: Under-14C
09.30: Under-14B
10.30: Under-14A
Trappespark
08.30: Under-15A
09.35: Under-16A
10.50: 2nd XV
12.20: 1st XV
