The big Wellington Derby looms
Match preview
On Saturday Bergrivier and Weltevrede play in the big Wellington derby at Boland Stadium, an FNB Classic Clash, which will be televised.
The build-up for the match intensifies and becomes a fever at the two schools, the one an offspring of the other which serves to intensify the rivalry.
The players in the 1st XVs stop school on Thursday morning and go into preparation.
Bergrivier take their 22 players and their coaches off to Drakenstein Prison, formerly known as Victor Verster whence Nelson Mandela emerged in glory in 1990. There they gather in comfortable accommodation with a rugby field nearby and prepare. With them are two old boys – François Davids, a former SAERU captain of the Seventies and a former convener of the national selection committee, and Serwyn Isaacs, a SARU back of the late Eighties. Davids has been involved with the team the whole year and is a strong motivator.
Weltevrede leave school on Thursday as well and head for a wine farm two kilometres outside Wellington, opposite Schalk Burger's farm. Pastor Eben Maurice, a great motivational speaker, and an Old Boy Morné Pretorius who is trained in psychology.
The match should be a classic between structure and spontaneity. Weltevrede have the stronger, heavier pack and play structured rugby along the Blue Bulls' model with their strong pack, with massive loosehead Maurice September in the van, and flyhalf Christo Fransman to dictate matters. Bergrivier are more fluid and unstructured. But Bergrivier's coach, Mervyn Pietersen, believes that his pack could give the bigger boys from Weltevrede a shock. Then Bergrivier believe that their backs are better. Mind you, inside centre Reidewaan Wellman of Weltevrede is no slouch and combines well with his flyhalf.
On Wednesday afternoon the Bergrivier 2nd XV shocked the Weltevrede side, starting with forward domination and winning a huge 41-5. Pietersen believes that the 1st XV could follow suit. He believes that he has excellent line-out jumpers and a first-class loose trio, the best in the Boland.
Both teams have been watching their opponents' matches and have a clear idea of strengths, weaknesses and patterns of play.
They have had common opponents this season.
Franschhoek lost to both Bergrivier and Weltevrede.
Paulus Joubert beat Bergrivier but lost to Weltevrede.
Klein Nederburg beat both Bergrivier and Weltevrede.
Charlston Hill beat Bergrivier but lost to Weltevrede.
Noorde Paarl lost to Bergrivier but drew with Weltevrede.
Last year Bergrivier had a big 26-3 win though the year before it was an old-fashioned 3-all draw.
It will be a happy afternoon with all the fun of the fair – pompom girls and all.
When the netball teams played on the tennis court there were some 3 000 spectators. When the lower teams played on Wednesday there were some 4 000 spectators. There will be at least 8 000 in Boland Stadium on Saturday, something the provincial team would be happy to emulate!
The two schools get on well though the week before they do not speak to each other. Lots of the pupils travel to school by taxi. During this week the taxis noisily align themselves with one school or the other .
When it is all over, they are the best of friends again and later have a braai together.
The referee for the match is François Veldsman who refereed the main match on the final day of the Craven Week and then the match between South African Schools and the South African Academy, a promising young referee.
The match will be televised live on SS7.
Teams:
Bergrivier: 15 Gradville Samuels, 14 Ettienne Moolman, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Jason Hendricks, 11 Wayne Mitchell, 10 Alzano September, 9 Alfonso Small, 8 Ryan Mouton (captain), 7 Elrich Pietersen, 6 Charlton Solomons, 5 Lyndall Venter, 4 Jeremy April, 3 Jakobus Frans, 2 Danzil Fredericks, 1 Karlton Pienaar.
Replacements: 16 Yonela Tuswa, 17 Silvin Fortuin, 18 Alex bannister, 19 Jameson Jones, 20 Heinrich Ephraim, 21 Adian Fransman, 22 Mervin Gordon
Coach: Mervyn Pietersen
Weltevrede: 15 Michael van Wyk, 14 Christopher Pietersen, 13 Reginald Le Fleur, 12 Reidewaan Welman, 11 Randall Morris, 10 Christo Fransman (captain), 9 Ju-Wayne Isaacs, 8 Weazel Zealand, 7 Dimitri Augulhas, 6 Gilihano Jones, 5 John-James Kruger, 4 Evaan Rogers, 3 Gilbert Absolom, 2 Adrian Williams, 1 Maurice September (vice-captain).
Replacements: 16 John Samuels, 17 Christo-Phil Williams, 18 Lee-Roy Mitchell, 19 Jacquin Thomas, 20 Bronique Strusky, 21 Shaun Beukes, 22 Juan Williams
Coach: Rodney Cornelissen
Date: 13 August 2005
Kick-off: 13.50
Television broadcast: SS7
Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington
Expected weather conditions: Intermittent rain with a high of 15°C
Referee: François Veldsman (Boland)
For a general view of Bergrivier, click here.
For a general view of Weltevrede, click here.
For a profile of the Weltevrede captain, click here.
For a profile of the Bergrivier captain, click here.
