Quite rightly, the entire country is being swept up by Bok fever after Saturday’s dismantling of the All Blacks, with another potentially scarring defeat on the cards for the Kiwis this weekend at Ellis Park, the ultimate rugby cauldron!
Before the big kickoff at 17:05 on Saturday, there are a number of exciting schoolboy clashes to enjoy in the morning and early afternoon, with some big derby days taking place.
In the Western Cape, the four Southern Suburbs resume their rivalries for the second round of fixtures between the schools over the next three weekends. Paul Roos prepare for their massive game against Grey College next weekend when they face Boland Landbou, in what should prove to be an entertaining game. Outeniqua pulled off one of the shocks of the season last week by beating Paarl Boys’ High, who were fresh off their brilliant win over Paarl Gim. The men from George face Framesby, the best team in EP this season, and should put them to the sword.
Moving to the Eastern Cape, Grey High host Selborne on the Kolisi Field in Gqeberha, always a massive occasion for both schools and arguably the biggest rivalry in the Eastern Cape. Hudson Park will be in the unfamiliar position of being strong favourites when they face the desperate Dale side. Elsewhere, Muir face Graeme in Uitenhage, a week after nearly pulling off the shock of the season by beating Grey on the occasion of their 200 Jubilee celebrations.
Finally, in the Premier Interschools clash on SuperSport, Maritzburg College welcome Glenwood to Goldstones, in the final match of the season for both schools.
Paul Roos v Boland Landbou
Boland Landbou started the season impressively, but have struggled in the last few outings, suffering a hattrick of defeats. They should be able to rouse themselves for this game against near neighbours Paul Roos, and can also go flat out, knowing that they have a week off before their big Landbou clash against Oakdale in two weeks’ time.
Speaking of Oakdale, Paul Roos beat the men from Riversdale last time out in a tight encounter that ended 13 – 3. Like Boland Landbou, they have had a week off so will be fresh for the weekend. The build up for next weekend’s clash with Grey College has already started, with tickets going on sale already. Paul Roos’s pack should have too much for Landbou on Saturday and this should translate to a victory for the Maroon Machine.
Winner: Paul Roos
Wynberg v Bishops
Wynberg were victorious on the Piley Rees in the reverse fixture this season, in a match that saw the beginning of a run of defeats for Bishops that few would have seen coming based on their early season form. Wynberg have had a great season, even if they haven’t been able to knock over either Paarl side or Paul Roos. The cherry on top was the selection of tighthead Zac Porthen as SA Schools captain in July. The match against Bishops earlier in the season will be remembered for some sensationalist reporting of the tossing of coins by Bishops, and time will tell if this will fire up the Wynberg boys more than already would have been the case. Wynberg are the only side to have won all three of the first round Southern Suburbs fixtures and begin their quest for the Grand Slam.
Bishops have registered two narrow victories this term, ending a run of five consecutive defeats that would have rattled the side, especially as four of these were on the Piley Rees. Bishops will be up against it in the forward pack, where Wynberg’s size will need to be neutralised at set piece and the collisions. Bishops put together some decent play against St Andrew’s last week and will need to be at it for the full 70 on Saturday to return the favour on Hawthornden.
Winner: Bishops
SACS v Rondebosch
SACS have had a desperate season, only beating so-called second tier schools in the Western Cape, and even losing to Durbanville at home. They have some exciting players in the backs, but whether they get any quality ball is another story. They were resilient in the game against ‘Bosch earlier this season, putting on a spirited second half display. If they can play with the tempo shown in that 35 minutes, who knows.
Rondebosch start the second round of fixtures against their Southern Suburbs rivals on the back of four consecutive, and impressive, wins. They are overwhelming favourites, despite being the away team and few would back anything other than a ‘Bosch win. They should guard against complacency however, as SACS showed in April the threat they pose when the game gets loose.
Winner: Rondebosch
Outeniqua v Framesby
I have been underwhelmed by Outeniqua this season and was dumbstruck that they got three boys into the national sides selected after Craven Week. They made me eat my words last week with a dramatic win over Paarl Boys’ High, who had just vanquished Paarl Gim the previous weekend. That being said, if they are to considered a serious side, they really ought to hammer a very limited Framesby side this weekend, whose pack wilts under even the most marginal application of pressure.
Framesby’s season will be considered a huge success regardless of the scoreline on Saturday as they ended an 11 year hoodoo by beating Grey High a few weeks back. This is always the be all and end all of their season, but they will be anxious about this game, especially considering last weekend’s result in George. Apart from festivals, this is the only fixture that Framesby play outside of EP and their lack of regular quality opposition could be exposed on Saturday.
Winner: Outeniqua
Grey High v Selborne
Grey High host Selborne on Saturday in the biggest game of the Eastern Cape rugby season. Grey have had a disappointing season this year, and after an amazing performance against all odds against Grey College the weekend before, they nearly suffered what would have been one of the most embarrassing defeats in the school’s history when they scraped past Muir last weekend. There was mitigation in that a number of First XV regulars were injured or rested but they will need to improve markedly in every facet of the game if they are to prevent ending the season with a whimper in front of their home crowd. Grey often save their best for Selborne!
Selborne have not had a vintage season, suffering some surprise results along the way. In their 150 Jubilee year they would have hoped for a more impressive set of results. Their only real star player is Tiaan Jacobs and without him they would have struggled far more. He is an enigma in that he is a penalty conceding machine, whilst doing almost all of the good things that this Selborne side do each Saturday. This game will be ferocious, with both sides looking to end their seasons with bragging rights after a tough 2022.
Winner: Grey High
Hudson Park v Dale
Hudson Park have had an impressive season and been one of the surprise packages in the country this year, even bagging a SA Schools cap in the form of inspirational No. 8 and captain Siba Mahashe. They came devastatingly close to beating Selborne a few weeks ago and will go into the game with Dale as overwhelming favourites. They are an exciting team to watch and should prove too much for a Dale team out on its feet.
Dale were feisty last weekend against arch-enemies Selborne in a fractious encounter in EL. They were ultimately well beaten by a superior side but were not disgraced. They have a battle on their hands this weekend, before their season finale next week against Queen’s. Can they produce an upset to bring some light to a very tragic and dark 2022?
Winner: Hudson Park
Muir v Graeme
The performance by Muir against Grey last weekend for their 200 Jubilee celebrations was worthy of the occasion. They were the better team for long periods and only their inability to stop the Grey maul prevented a famous and dramatic win over their Gqeberha neighbours. They have had very little coverage this season but have some very exciting backs and some abrasive forwards who will be relishing locking horns with an equally tough Graeme pack this weekend.
Graeme have produced two famous wins this season, the first for a few decades against St Andrew’s on Lower and last weekend’s victory over Queen’s at Muir’s 200 Jubilee. Graeme rely on a strong pack to get dominance and produced a number of EP representatives this year. Their victory last weekend will have boosted the side enormously and they will be confident of a statement win to underline a memorable 2022 season, before their last game next weekend against Nico Malan.
Winner: Graeme
Maritzburg College v Glenwood
Maritzburg College have performed well this term and it comes just in time for their second Premier Interschools clash of the season when they face Glenwood in their second clash of the season. College went down 22 – 23 earlier this year to an average Glenwood side and will be eager to exact revenge against the men from Durban, and send the Matrics off with their heads held high in front of their adoring home support.
Glenwood have not been at their usual KZN-dominating best this season, illustrated by their shock defeat to Westville in May. They did beat College earlier in the season and will be desperate to end the season on a high by beating the old foe on Goldstones. The presence of SuperSport’s cameras will surely motivate the boys even more to put on a good display. This one should be a humdinger and will be the perfect appetiser for the Boks clash at Ellis Park.
Winner: Maritzburg College