Schools rugby is back!
After the winter holidays and the various national youth weeks, the school derby days resume this weekend. The Craven Week at Rondebosch was a real treat, and the national selections were debated long and hard. It was clear that form throughout the season was rewarded, rather than excellence during the week. The team was clearly chosen long in advance as the sides were announced on the Friday before the final fixtures. The selections were justified by the scoreline in the SA Schools v SA Schools A clash at Hamilton’s last weekend, the first side winning 57 – 27.
Whilst the Boks have two weeks off before they begin their Rugby Championship campaign, there is plenty of brilliant schoolboy action to look forward to fill the gap in the next couple of weeks, so onto this weekend.
In the Western Cape, Bishops play Paarl Gim in the headline match. This should be a good test for Gim before the massive Interschools game next weekend. SACS have the unenviable task of facing Paarl Boys’ High this weekend, and after having conceded 66 against Gim, this should be another big score. An intriguing clash takes place in Stellenbosch as Wynberg travel to Paul Roos. This game is my #clashoftheweek, and it should be a humdinger. Boland Landbou are at home to Rondebosch Boys’ High in a fixture that is perhaps under the radar but should be a great game on the farm in Agter-Paarl. Both sides have had mixed fortunes this season and this match should be a close affair. Finally, Stellenberg are at home to Outeniqua in an interesting match. Stellenberg will need to be at their best against the big Outeniqua pack, sprinkled with national players.
Moving to the Eastern Cape, there are 3 regional fixtures that stand out. In the Battle of Gqeberha, Grey go to Framesby in a real grudge match to detemine the best side in the Friendly City. Moving along the coast, Selborne play Hudson Park in order to determine the best side in East London for 2022. Selborne are, as always, clear favourites but haven’t had things all their own way this year and Hudson’s Border representatives were strong at Craven Week. In an EP Country Districts fixture, St Andrew’s play host to Marlow on Lower. St Andrew’s will need to recapture their form from their last match against Kingswood if they are to avoid a miserable defeat.
In KZN, Maritzburg College welcome around 800 boys from Affies in the Premier Interschools fixture on SuperSport on Saturday. The College coach and boys seemed bullish on the preview show but this could be a long day for them against a powerful Affies side.
Finally, in Gauteng there are a number of fixtures, with the best two being Bulls v Lions clashes. Boys’ High are away at KES, with KES heavily favoured to put down a marker on their Reunion weekend, whilst Garsfontein are at home to Helpmekaar in a heavyweight clash in more ways than one.
Framesby v Grey High
There is always very little love lost between these schools, going back to my days playing in this fixture. Framesby were heavily favoured in 2019 to beat their arch-enemies at home but fell short to a heroic defensive display by the men in azure. Framesby are again at home and will be fired up to get one over Grey and be crowned as the Champions of Gqeberha. Their wiry flyhalf Logan Muller will be well marked I’m sure.
Grey had a surprisingly small representation in the EP side at Craven Week, depsite the dominant displays by their forwards this season. The pack will be asked to go to the well again against a determined Framesby side and it should be uncompromising in the engine room come kick-off on Saturday. Grey have a superior backline and this should be the telling factor as they prepare for the massive game against Grey College next week.
Winner: Grey High
Selborne v Hudson Park
Selborne will always be favourites against their East London rivals, but this has not been a vintage year for them. They will be boosted by the impressive showing that Border made at Craven Week, a side filled with Selbornians, and have home ground advantage this weekend. Tiaan Jacobs is surely still reeling from his omission form the SA Schools side and he will be looking to further enhance his reputation.
Hudson have had a decent season by their standards and can even boast an SA Schools cap in the form of Siba Mahashe, their excellent No. 8. He is an inspirational figure, and if the rest of his side can follow his example, then who knows what could happen at 14:30 on Saturday!
Winner: Selborne
St Andrew’s v Marlow
St Andrew’s will hope that they have turned a corner in ending their 6 game losing streak last time out against Kingswood. They put in a dominant defensive display as they got a surprising victory against their fiercest rivals. This dogged determination will need to be present again on Saturday against the Wolramme from Cradock.
Marlow go into this game having last lost a game in Easter! They have put away most Eastern Cape opposition, with the exception of Brandwag, and are on a winning run of 6 matches. They travel to Makhanda with the favourites tag and should come away with the spoils this weekend. They had a number of EP representatives and are the superior side, let’s see if it turns out that way on Saturday.
Winner: Marlow