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.
Maritzburg College v Affies
In the Premier Interschools preview show, the College side that were interviewed were all very confident in their ability to claim an Affies scalp. This confidence perhaps comes from the u/15A victory in 2019, but a LOT has changed since then and College’s inferior pack face their toughest test of the season in the form of the mega Affies forwards. College have some star players in the backline, but they are unlikely to receive much front foot ball. Whilst referring to their u/15A win, mention was also made of the Furst XV score that day, a 78 – 16 hiding. This is a worrying omen.
Affies have had a great season, with the main blemish being their defeat to Pretoria rivals Garsfontein. They are taking a massive contingent to Natal this weekend and I would be surprised if they lost a game, such is the strength of their junior sides. This Affies side is captained by SA Schools rep Stehan Heymans, whose massive (and accurate) boot will give Affies control, behind a pack that should be dominant. This could be tough viewing for College fans on SuperSport on Saturday afternoon.
Winner: Affies