WJ Herbst - Captain of Potch Volkies
Potch Volkies captain WJ Herbst will concentrate on two rugby matches this weekend; his team's FNB Classic Clash against Potch Gimmies and the Sharks-Stormers Super Rugby match-up in Durban.
There is no doubt which is the more important match for Herbst, who is nicknamed 'Vleis', but he has an interesting connection when it comes to the Sharks side.
Replacement prop Wiehahn Herbst is his first cousin – on his father's side of the family – but WJ also happens to be a mad Stormers fan.
He chuckles: "I told my cousin that I would scream for him when he gets on – after all, he is family… but I will be backing the Stormers, although the Sharks are my second favourite side!"
But back to the huge match in Potchefstroom this weekend between near neighbours, Volkies and Gimmies.
The record of matches between the two schools since 1990 is close, 22 matches, 11 wins for the Volkies, nine for Gimmies and two draws, but, of late, things have changed a bit. Last year the Volkies won 38-17, having won 30-3 in 2010 after the teams drew 18-18 in 2009 – in fact, the Volkies have not lost against Gimmies in the last six years.
"I've got no doubt they'll be looking to avenge last year's loss," said Herbst, who is also the deputy headboy at Volkies.
"But there is more than just a one-off win at stake," he added, "we need to win on Saturday in order to progress further in our local league."
There is also the small matter of Saturday being WJ's final game for Volkies against Gimmies, after years of facing the same opponents at high school level.
"I'd love to go out with a bang," he admits. "I'd say there's about seven of us matrics in the current team, which makes for a great mix between youth and experience."
Despite his cousin Wiehahn packing down in the front row at Super Rugby level, WJ is his team's scrumhalf and he looks up to two of the world's form halfbacks – the Bulls' Francois Hougaard and Australian Will Genia, both top international rugby platers… both capable of changing the match in a matter of seconds.
WJ would love nothing more than making the Leopards Craven Week squad this season and he has already featured in the early selection process in terms of trials and enlarged squads.
"Players tend to get noticed at Craven Week," he says, "and I'd love to take my rugby further… perhaps down to one of the coastal teams after school."
