For most KZN schools, this is the start of the last month of 15-man rugby.
Clifton vs George Campbell
This may seem like a low profile game in relation to the other big games on the go in KZN but it is of huge significance to both schools. The winner earns the right to play against Kearsney’s 1st XV while the losers have to settle for the Kearsney 2nd XV match. With the Kearsney fixture coming up on 20 June, the debate is about whether the rights of the of Clifton-Campbell winners should apply in 2015 or 2016. Feelings from Campbell suggest it should apply this year which makes sense because then the current form team will earn the reward from the victory they achieved. However Clifton raise two good points of their own when asking, what then happens in seasons when the Kearsney fixture is before the Clifton-Campbell match and also why change the arrangement now, seeing that the schools have played for the next season’s rights all along. Anyway it should be a good match. Clifton are favourites but not out of reach of being surprised by Campbell.
Hilton vs Maritzburg College
50 years ago Gilfillan Field was opened with a first game against College, so this will be a special occasion at Hilton on Saturday.
It’s the start of a season defining month for both schools.
The season to date records look like this at the moment:
Hilton: P10-W6-L4
Maritzburg College: P14-W10-L4
Maritzburg College’s record proves they are in a healthier position. Apart from the one-sided defeat to Glenwood, they could quite easily have been a remarkable success story of 13 & 1 for 2015 so far, because their other 3 defeats were results that could have gone either way – 1 point (Henties), 1 point (Jeppe) and 3 points (Kearsney). A defeat to Hilton could change the College outlook to something a lot less rosy, especially with some very difficult games still ahead. College had a break last weekend, so it will be interesting to see how that affects their form. Look out for their rolling mauls and pick ‘n drive plays to make inroads this Saturday.
Although this Hilton group were outstanding at under-16 level, they haven’t built on that success, so instead of challenging for KZN top honours this year, they are pretty much part of the chasing pack and are at a crossroads right now. They haven’t beaten anyone significant this season. If they can close out the season with 2 or 3 wins against relatively strong KZN opponents, their 2015 campaign stands a chance of being categorised as good one. Conversely 2 – 3 losses, including a double defeat to House (this after doing a double against their greatest rivals at u16 level) could result in some questions being asked about the Hilton coaching setup and rugby development that has taken place between u16 and 1st XV. Hilton surprisingly play a bit of a flat attack style, which I’m sure former Sharks coach Ian McIntosh would love. So look out for them to try and muscle their way over the advantage line.
For both team, lineout success could prove to be vital, so keep an eye on improving College no.7 Brad Muil who has been good for the Red Black White in recent weeks.
Northwood vs Kearsney (On TV)
With it being Northwood Old Boy’s Day, a big crowd by their standards should pitch up if the weather is good. The extra support, TV cameras and importance of the occasion will hopefully lift the Knight to produce a good performance. Although Kearsney will be the favourites, there is no reason why Northwood can’t push them all the way. Northwood’s defence has the ability to be reliable. Their real issue is their offence which just isn’t threatening enough. Here the coaching staff just haven’t managed to get the best out of their go-to attacking players or come up with point scoring attacking designs. For example a player like Viwe Makaula is able to create astonishing separation between himself and defenders due to his speed off the mark but nothing beneficial appears to have been developed to link play off this x-factor ability to get over the gainline. The feeling for Saturday is that if the Northwood D can keep the Kearsney score below 15 points, they have a chance but for that to happen, Kearsney will have to have an off day.
A player to look out for is the linebreaking Kearsney and Craven Week centre James Tedder.
Glenwood vs Monument (On TV)
Glenwood are in mourning following the death of one of their 2nd teammates, so it is going to a very emotional day for the boys in Green and all who knew and loved Tristan.
The Monnas pack makes up the core of the Golden Lions team to play KZN in their first game of Craven Week. So perhaps for the two Glenwood slash KZN Craven Week coaches, a wet weather game that mimics the sort of underfoot conditions likely to prevail in Stellenbosch in July, might be of huge benefit to KZN’s Craven Week intel collection process, especially if Monnas forwards simulating the way they are bound to play at the youth week. Bad weather may however not be great news for Glenwood though. The Green Machine thrives in games against lighter packs but has really struggled to come to terms with the bigger ones, so imagine a bigger one playing an even more forward orientated game than usual due to the weather conditions. Monnas forwards are not just big either, they are as physical as schoolboy rugby players come and they happen to be one of the best packs in the country this year. What’s also helped Monnas earn the high rating is that they backs are big contributors as well. No doubt a huge challenge awaits underdogs Glenwood, particularly in the lineouts with 2m tall Witbulle locking pair of Nortnagel and Vermaak looking to control the skies over Dixon’s Field.
The match also promises provide to a super showdown at no.8 where Palvie and Massyn, arguably the two best players in that position in the country will battle it out.
DHS vs Westville
After a good start which included a very promising narrow defeat to College on Goldstone, the DHS season has gone South after returning from the Jeppe Festival at the end of April . The potential of the team suggest that they should be producing better results. The big concern is the huge deterioration after half time. Here’s a table to show how they have performed in 4 recent games against KZN Top 6 opponents, with the College result at the bottom.
| Opponents | Fulltime | Halftime | 2nd half score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kearsney | 15-55 | 10-20 | 5-35 |
| 2 | Michaelhouse | 6-54 | 6-21 | 0-33 |
| 3 | Glenwood | 21-45 | 7-18 | 14-27 |
| 4 | Hilton | 10-41 | 10-15 | 0-26 |
| Total | 52-195 | 33-74 | 19-121 | |
| Average | 13-49 | 8-19 | 5-30 | |
| 5 | College | 10-15 | 3-3 | 7-12 |
What the scores don’t tell is that in the Michaelhouse game it was actually 6-16 a minute before halftime and in the Glenwood game it was 14-18 a few minutes after the break. So a seriously competitive team for ±35 minutes, becomes easy pickings after that. Why? There are some big questions to be asked of the DHS conditioning and the defensive co-ordinating. Based on this, expect Westville, the last of DHS’s major opponents this season to dish out more of the same after the teams switch ends.
Westville comes in fresh off a key victory against Glenwood and should be oozing with confidence. Here’s the surprising fact or maybe not so surprising fact about Ville. On this blog they’ve often enough been described as a rollercoaster ride, but it turns out they quite consistent in a respect. Played 14 Won 9, Lost 5, Points for 274, Points against 254, biggest margin of victory 25 points against Pretoria Boys High followed by 22 points versus Northwood. Biggest defeat by 23 points away to Affies. Otherwise the 11 other games were extremely close.
Both Westville wings Tonny Mahlangu and James Wheeler are class acts. They never seem to get enough ball. They should be the guys to keep an eye on this Saturday.
Michaelhouse vs St Charles
This one could get ugly if the field conditions are decent and Michaelhouse plays to their true potential. The SCC tacklers will not be able to react quickly enough to plug holes if the tempo is high.
House’s Milo Sadiki is still out injured, so normal outside centre Luke Tomlinson shifts to blindside flank. His form in that position ahead of next week’s big College game will be worth noting.
there is always a danger that the emotions take over and the boys wont be focused on the game, and that is perfectly understandable. if that happens to the Green Machine on Saturday there is no shame in that.
i hope fans dont get too caught up at the size and strength of the Monnas pack… their backs are no slouches.
Because of the early kickoff i wont be able to get to Glenwood to watch the game, the under 13 team that i coach will have just finished playing. Best of Luck to all the boys on Saturday. a tough loss last week and an emotion few days after that will no doubt be weighing heavily on the boys, hopefully they can put that behind them and play a great game of rugby!!!
@Dixon’s:
I think Glenwood will take this one by a narrow margin.
There will be a lot of emotion going into the game and their motivation will be extremely high. Good luck Glenwood, do KZN Proud!!
@Dixon’s: run the ball, run it and run it a bit more. Move their big pack around the park. Play in memory of Tristan and you never know! Go Green!!!!
My head says Monnas will win comfortably, but the Heart will always say Glenwood!!!
The Rugby coach in me says that the first choice Glenwood front row can hold their own against any int he country, but with a few injuries it is another story. As Beet astutely pointed out, the second row is where Monnas will have the upper hand. Glenwood have battled against teams with tall locks (EGJ and House especially) Against Westville, Glenwood allowed themselves to get sucked into a tight forward based game and paid the price. Glenwoods dangerous 3/4’s got very little front foot ball and they paid the price for it. Mukendi got the ball 2 or 3 times during the whole game, this mindset has to change if they are to beat Monnas.
I think the most competitive game of the weekend will be Hilton vs College match. History suggests College but Hilton are good enough to win that game.
@Grasshopper: @kosie: It might be a good thing for Glenwood that not too many are giving them a chance. The last thing they need is Monnas arriving in Durbs in the frame of mind for a Grey College type challenge. Glenwood has 3 backline players that could reshape the game so if their forwards can withstand the challenge, its not impossible, they might surprise all but it is a massive ask.
@Grasshopper: If GW can make a contest of the game up front and be direct in their approach going forward, tackle like daemons, run into the gaps and when its their ball, keep it in hand and not kick it away, It could be closer than what people might think.
Its going to be tough to do it for 70 minutes. Good luck!
@oldschool: Thanks boet, let’s hope so. Let’s hope they play like they did vs Noord Kaap who also had a big pack and great No8…
@Grasshopper: its going to be tough !! however , I feel that your lads are the only KZN school that can handle teams like Monnas , although you haven’t had the best of seasons , I feel the Glenwood boys don’t get intimidated by the opposition and are rough and tough enough to take the fight to them !! good luck the wood !!
Eish, it’s going to be a very long afternoon on Dixons for the young Green Machine….lambs to slaughter it seems.
A really chilly weekend ahead. Both Midlands teams (MHS and HC) hoping to use those cold winds to disrupt their opposition