The big KZN derby is on at Kings Park and will be televised. It’s hard to determine what will happen in this one. College’s selection of Chikwezvero helps to even up the pack weights a bit more but Glenwood still have the overall size advantage here which could come into play should weather conditions be poor. The battle at the breakdown should be mouthwatering. Lineouts might prove to be a key area. College seem to be sorted while Glenwood have been erratic on a few occasions. In the backs College enjoy high tempo let the ball do the talking team approach. Glenwood seem keen on allowing individual players to express themselves based on the situations unfolding in front of them. Both schools have a few strike players and its not inconceivable that one of them end up securing a win for his team. One of the best head to heads will be at no.8 as two of the provinces best loosies in the province are in action.
| GLENWOOD | MARITZBURG COLLEGE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Klopper | 1 | Tanaka Chikwezvero |
| 2 | Connor Botha | 2 | Samuel Swanepoel |
| 3 | Khuthazani Mchunu | 3 | Andrew Reintges |
| 4 | Dylan Weideman | 4 | Bjorn Olivier |
| 5 | Lencho Brynard | 5 | D’Niel Immelman |
| 6 | Austin Brummer | 6 | Kelton Thunder (C) |
| 7 | Nama Xaba (C) | 7 | Durang Atembe |
| 8 | Marco Palvie | 8 | Craig Glover |
| 9 | Sibonakaliso Dubazane | 9 | Kyle Bowman |
| 10 | Jerome Bossr | 10 | Jean De Wet |
| 11 | Ilunga Mukendi | 11 | Xolisa Guma |
| 12 | Maarten Holtzhauzen | 12 | Charl Frackers |
| 13 | Donovan du Randt | 13 | Matthew Kriel |
| 14 | Ruan van Rensburg | 14 | Kudzaishe Munangi |
| 15 | Jaydon Morgan | 15 | Ruben Van Blerk |
Clifton goes into this game home game at the Riverside as the underdogs. DHS is expected to come out on top in the forwards and be more fluent amongst the backs, as well as have a better kicking game. The visitors should record a comfortable victory. There are a number of players of interest participating. Clifton lock Andrew Evans stands 2.04m and looks like quite a useful player. He could single-handedly wreck DHS’s lineout but it’s his performance in broken play and the collision points which are where the answers to how well he copes with the physical challenges lie. School’s versatile Luyanda Ndabandaba who has played flank this year will play in the more familiar role of centre. If in form he is expected to be a strong challenger for a KZN under-18 youth week place this season.
| CLIFTON | DHS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Munz | 1 | Hero Mpanza |
| 2 | Jordan O’Connor | 2 | Aza Tshuthsa |
| 3 | Calvin Zandamela | 3 | Tiaan de Jager |
| 4 | Oliver Milne | 4 | Liam Whitfield |
| 5 | Andrew Evans | 5 | Ndumiso Ngcobo |
| 6 | Cameron Maingard | 6 | Sibusiso Mkhalipi |
| 7 | Ruben Vosloo | 7 | Matthew Hamilton |
| 8 | Cae Erskine | 8 | Mthokozisi Ntuli (c) |
| 9 | Karl-Heinz Goedeke | 9 | Gareth Simpson |
| 10 | Finn Cleaver | 10 | Gert Coetzee |
| 11 | Ilias Sourlis | 11 | Joel Kidgell |
| 12 | Massimo Conversano | 12 | Luyanda Ndabandaba |
| 13 | Guy Arbuthnot | 13 | Mvumeleni Mathenjwa |
| 14 | Bradley Herdon | 14 | Phuzukuvela Sithole |
| 15 | Cayden Porter | 15 | Dillon Bryan |
The information on www.AffiesRugby.co.za points to this being the first time that the two schools will meet at 1st XV level. The norm is for a KZN team to go up to Pretoria, get complete dominated up front and end up losing by a considerable margin. Although this is a big Affies pack by KZN standards, Westville is bigger, which should change the ballgame, meaning even if Ville lose it shouldn’t be by too big a margin. To be in with a shot to win it Ville has be good at the breakdown where Affies loosies Krause and Lubbe are bound to play significant roles. Ville also has to be precise at the lineout. Tall lock van Heerden really looked sharp as a defensive lineout player. Feeding their back three of Wheeler, Mahlangu and Ball with quality possession has the potential to pay handsome dividends to the visitors.
| AFFIES | WESTVILLE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jano Espag | 1 | Jordan Els |
| 2 | Schalk Erasmus | 2 | Hendrik Prinsloo |
| 3 | Niell Bezuidenhout | 3 | Shawn Stolz |
| 4 | Ruben van Heerden | 4 | Sibabalo Qoma |
| 5 | Henk Pretorius | 5 | Marcelle Barnard |
| 6 | Phillip Krause | 6 | Zane Heyneke |
| 7 | Regardt du Plessis | 7 | Devon Muller |
| 8 | Eduan Lubbe (C) | 8 | Keegan Nicholson |
| 9 | Divan Henning | 9 | Bryce Kitching |
| 10 | Eddie Fouche | 10 | Niel van Rooyen |
| 11 | Christian Strydom | 11 | James Wheeler |
| 12 | Louritz van der Schyff | 12 | Brogan Boulle |
| 13 | Jacobus van Staden | 13 | Hanro Naude |
| 14 | Carel Koch | 14 | Tonny Mahlangu |
| 15 | Pieter Coetzer | 15 | Shane Ball (C) |
| 16 | Damon Lee | ||
| 17 | Melusi Mtabela | ||
| 18 | Sakhile Xaba | ||
| 19 | Donovan Grant | ||
| 20 | Garryth Jackson | ||
| 21 | Craig Schlemmer | ||
| 22 | |||
| 23 |
This will no doubt be a very emotional day for the Campbell players. During the holidays the school lost their head coach and long serving teacher Robert Erasmus who passed away after suffering a heart-attack. So it will be a final farewell prior to the match and the players will be desperate to honour him with a win. The motivation could very well propel Campbell to a home win. Under different circumstances and on neutral ground the Saints are possibly 15 or more points better than Campbell.
| GEORGE CAMPBELL | ST CHARLES | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daine Venter | 1 | Mthokozisi Sokhela |
| 2 | Quinten Jordan | 2 | Sibusiso Mkhize |
| 3 | Ndabenhle Zulu | 3 | Duncan Du Buisson |
| 4 | Rian Du Preez | 4 | Keagan Jones |
| 5 | Bongumusa Sibisi | 5 | Charl van Lingen |
| 6 | Jesse Rutter | 6 | George Oosthuizen |
| 7 | Siyabonga Thwala | 7 | Dominic Robert |
| 8 | Sisa Sibiya (VC) | 8 | William Squires (VC) |
| 9 | Wayne Ngubane (C) | 9 | Craig van der Merwe |
| 10 | Thobani Ngwenya | 10 | Jeremy Davidson |
| 11 | Anele Nxumalo | 11 | Dillon Bennett |
| 12 | Ntokozo Khumalo | 12 | Mthobisi Mchunu (C) |
| 13 | Innocent Nkomo | 13 | Sindile Sibisi |
| 14 | Devon Palmer | 14 | Simphiwe Dubazana |
| 15 | Alanas Alasauskis | 15 | Declan Cox |
| 16 | Kyle Ernest | 16 | Joshua Niel |
| 17 | Douglas Phillips | 17 | Mbhuti Ncgobo |
| 18 | Dylan Barnard | 18 | Hendrik Pretorius |
| 19 | Adam Mather | 19 | Thomas Moschides |
| 20 | Wesley Gumede | 20 | Joseph Walugembe |
| 21 | Andile Mazibuko | 21 | Tyler Sharpley |
| 22 | Dwanye Schutte | 22 | Cale-Reece Lombard |
| 23 | Zolile Mtshatsha |
It’s been said on the blog already – the Jeppe boys are out to avenge last year’s surprise defeat against Northwood. The Knights will probably need their defensive A-game to keep the scoreboard respectable. Jeppe had quite a good team last year. This year they look more competitive and have given the impression thus far that they haven’t quite reached their peak yet. The pick of the matchups should be at 13 where highly rated Jeppe boy Wandisile Similane takes on flashy PK Sobahle.
| JEPPE | NORTHWOOD (from Easter Fest) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rickey Ngwabara | 1 | Gugu Nelani |
| 2 | Nolo Naka | 2 | Nthuthuko Mthembu |
| 3 | Henry Wickens | 3 | Ngoni Moyo |
| 4 | Andile Ngobe | 4 | Craig Trollip |
| 5 | Travis Cameron | 5 | Daniels Humphreys |
| 6 | Patrick Wait | 6 | Victor Huurman |
| 7 | Martin Mangwiro | 7 | Keegan Sparks (C) |
| 8 | Hachivah Dayimani | 8 | Zandre Griffin |
| 9 | Dylan Wadeley | 9 | Jason Furhi |
| 10 | Tyron Green | 10 | Jasey van Kampen |
| 11 | Nathan Grove | 11 | Jason Daniel |
| 12 | Damian Paysley | 12 | Lars van der Meijden |
| 13 | Wandisile Similane | 13 | Phiko Sobahle |
| 14 | Cameron Burke | 14 | Luyanda Mngadi |
| 15 | Bradley Robbins | 15 | Jadon Stevens |
| 16 | Sibusiso Mbanjwa | 16 | Nathan Fincham |
| 17 | Marc Harmison | 17 | Eugene van Wyk |
| 18 | Duncan Tverdon | 18 | Phillip Jansen |
| 19 | Kyle Webster | 19 | Keane Both |
| 20 | Kyle Grundling | 20 | Ryan Stymington |
| 21 | Moemisi Musheledi | 21 | Martjin Korterik |
| 22 | Moahloli Mbobo | 22 | Viwe Makaula |
| 23 | 23 | Neo Mohapi |
@CyndiAtRugby: What teams do they play for Cyndi.
Quick note – the BokSmart age forms debacle is not sorted yet. There were 2 boys that I know of who couldn’t play yesterday because of forms. Both had played against Kearsney, Michaelhouse and at BizSport.
Well done Campbell – sad day for the school – I’m sure a LOT of emotion!
Well done to Glenwood too -totally outgunned College on the big day.
Well done Campbell! What a win for the Campbell community on an emotional day.
On an emotional day for George Campbell they managed to overpower a determined St Charles team. Before the game there was a moment of silence held for the late Campbell head coach Robert Erasmus who passed away during the Easter holidays. The final score was 15-12 in favour of Campbell.
Looks like my predictions were spot on – Kes shading Boys High 16-11, Bosch too good for Wynberg, Affies teaching the Souties a lesson and the farmers catching a snot klap from the Green Machine!
Aha – but I see Bishops won – doh!
Did Jeppe sort Northwood out?
Awesome by the boys in green, absolutely smashed College up front! Not sure how that College side beat Westville. Glenwood finally showing their true potential!
Affies 33-10 Ville. Ft.
The Green machine on fire today , just too good for College today. Some lovely interplay between GM forwards and backs. A super little chip and try by Durant . Bosser on fire with the boot . Full time 57 12
How many games does a red carded player get sanctioned. Is there a general rule or is it up to the school concerned?
Affies 12-3 Ville. Ht. Affies dominating with maybe 80% territorial and possesion advantage. Affies backline very poor thus far.
Seccies Affies 35-3 Ville. Ft
Seccies. Affies 13-3 Ville. Ht
3Rd teams Affies 41-7 Ville. Game was played in a drizzle.
@Buffel: The boy has the dreaded flu bug and so had to cancel flights/hotel ect. This seems to a common theme and has happened 4 times now. Might drift down to the tank to watch GW beat College
Come Woltrui – don’t abandon us now. scores please
@star: not there Star- I was about to ask you what was happening in the Jacaranda city.
@Woltrui: Keep the scores coming. It seems that the Westville teams seem to fade after halftime. Not blaming the altitude or anything.
U16 Affies 18-7 Ville FT.
U16 Affies 5-7 Ville. Halftime. Very good game
U15 Affies 41-0 Ville. FT
U15 Affies 10-0 Ville. Halftime
U14. Affies 26-18 Ville. FT
U/14 Affies 19-13 Ville. Halftime. Cold Pretoria with low thick cloud cover.
I know many might not agree with this , but the whole idea about the school 1st xv playing at Kings park is wrong , I think they aren’t getting the crowds and know school boy rugby is at best better than what’s happening at KP, and hence bring the schools in. What about the revenue and vide lost at the school, KP and Sharks rugby is an alternative motive, OI think they should be doing it for the club rugby and stay out of the schools rugby
Don’t want to be negative, but, this is going to be a tough afternoon for Westville even though they’ve showed some better form in recent times. Affies by 20 unfortunately.
@Vleis: Yep, agreed. Also the boys are usually playing against men so are exposed to bigger & harder players. I lived in the UK for 10 years and coached an Under21 side in Surrey, we had 17 year olds in the side playing vs 20 year olds. Also, the English pack always seems to be massive!
@Grasshopper: I don’t think that it is Dawie’s fault (albeit he may be partly to blame). The poms have had an advantage by being in a professional club environment for 5 years – i.e. since u15. Also, it’s quite easy to identify who are the star performers, etc. This is evidenced by the huge conversion rate that they have from u20 to national team compared to us. I posted that on this site last year.
In SA, the kids have been in a semi-professional environmental at many different schools and then they’re spread-eagled all over the country to new provinces, Varsity Cup teams, etc. It’s naturally going to take us longer to catch up re professionalism and identify who the star performers are.
@Vleis: Yep, but get to Under 21 level and the poms have caught up and passed us…….something goes wrong when Oom Dawie gets hold of them…..
@Rugger fan: Agreed that the schoolboy rugby in the UK is far behind that in SA; however, what must be added is that the England u18 team is at a similar level to the SA schools team. The reasons are as follows:
– In SA, our school boy rugby at the top schools is semi-professional, while in the UK it is closer to what we had 15 years ago.
– However, the top junior rugby players in the UK focus on club rugby (much like our soccer here), so they are playing for Bath/Saracens/etc academies, which are fully professional.
In short, it could be argued that the top u18 players in the UK have even better training than their counterparts in SA as they are part of fully professional set-ups. However, there are much fewer top players there than there are here, as there are much fewer rugby academies there than there are top rugby schools here. As such, the top SA u18 team is at a similar level to the top England u18 team, but if we had to put out a SA ‘E’ team v an England ‘E’ team, the SA team would win by 70.
@Rugger fan: I wonder what happened to Staples?
@Henkies: My eldest nephew attended Tonbridge, but then moved to Monmouth in Wales, which is a big rival of Millfield. The middle nephew played for Monmouth’s 1st team this year, which beat Millfield…not a regular experience for them.
Tonbridge and Millfield toured SA about four years ago and did OK. Millfield beat St John’s but lost to Paarl Boys and Daniel Pienaar, while Tonbridge beat a few co-ed schools, then narrowly beat a St Andrews (GHT) team missing 7 Craven Week players and then got thumped by 40 v Grey PE.
Small world.
@Henkies: Yes – I was involved with a club rugby team in the Middle East with a lot of UK juniors. I picked up that the level in the UK is nowhere near what we have in SA. Very special – especially with thiose long standing games like College / Michaelhouse / Hilton / Glenwood and School in the mix. KZN in particular is very blessed.
I also noticed that the England U16 team has recently been announced. What was interesting that from a squad of 23 boys – they represented 22 different schools! The two you mentioned were included.
@Ruggerfan Hi Ruggerfan. That’s good news. I am still bogged down here in London so it’s harder to keep track of the small details. I came over here in 2000 to experience a bit of the UK party life and then 15 years later I’m still here married and with a little child – crazy – where did all the years go? So I rely on friends and of course this board for all the details. It’s tough not been able to watch any games but I do try and co-ordinate trips back. The last taste of any good action I had was the 2012 Kearsney Easter Festival so I miss my schoolboyrugby big time. I’ve been to watch Tonbridge and Millfield over here which are strong schools but the vibe is not quite the same as a 1990 ‘s College vs DHS game.
@Henkies: Glad to see DHS have their #1 Scrummie starting again after injury.
@Henkies: a strong ‘School’ is good for KZN rugby and makes the Durban derby way more interesting. No typo, heard they all over 110kg each!
Thanks Grassy. It’s been a tough decade for DHS rugby and must have been hard on the boys and coaches of those teams over the years to keep playing through those painful losses. It will be great if we can be more competitive this year but whatever happens, they’ll try their best. U15 and U16’s look strong at A team level. Was that a typo error when you said the Glenwood U14 front row weighted 330kgs?? I think you might have meant 230kgs.
@Henkies: Good points, I just think the extra travel impacts on parents pockets and learning time, but hey ho. Maybe just festival games vs outside KZN opponents. Hopefully the KES vs DHS fixture resumes next year for the 150th! I do see the light at the end of the tunnel for DHS….
@ Grassy I think the Natal schools would grow more from an additional trip to the Vaal rather than a second local derby. I can’t see second local derbies being beneficial for KZN school rugby from a growth point of view. As long as we don’t get pasted, a good performance by either Glenwood, College or Westville against your Affies and Monuments can only help with confidence and also when it comes to Craven week later in the year. Those Glenwood wins aginst Affies in the past are massive boosts and we need a few more Natal teams to do the same. With the gym and conditioning programmes in place now, I don’t think we’ll see the KZN schools being massively outweighed as we have been in the past. Very strange to see a Westville pack outweighing an Affies pack now but it’s great to see for a change.
@Pedantic:
@Vleis: I saw team lists on another site – they messed it up so badly, they have the Glenwood 2nd XV listed as the College team
@Rugger fan: Yep, Glenwood need a double header vs College and Westville annually…..cut one of the trips to the Vaal
Looking forward to the MC / GW match. Heart says MC ….. but ….
Also looking forward to some great rugger on the Kings Park out fields starting at 08h30. Lots of great rugby from 25 teams on the go,. Added to the excellent hockey starting tonight at GW Astro.
Pity this is a one off and we dont have the normal home and away….. perhaps next year again.
Nice write up’s once again. I am really rooting for the Ville to put in a good performance. College vs Glenwood is 50/50…..Botha & Brynard to me are better than the two recruits, so good to see them there. Holtzhausen could be a good match in the midfield….
@ Beet: on another website it says that both Thunder (captain) and Kriel are not playing for College tomorrow. If that’s correct then College will struggle.