So much has already been made about this year’s Helpmekaar first team’s chances that expectations have been building for a while now. The term “dream-team” has been bandied about perhaps placing unfair emphasis on them. What is known is that they are good. The question that will be answered over the next few months is: how good? The offseason is just about over. Now it’s time to put words in practice. There have been successful private school teams in the recent past but these have been few and far between. If Helpies can get through the very demanding first part of their season starting with a tricky first hurdle in the form of Eldoraigne, nothing should stand in the way of them at the very least being remembered as the most successful private school 1st XV in a decade.
| Helpmekaar | Eldoraigne | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ignis Meyer | 1 | Charl Bester |
| 2 | Demeon Venter | 2 | Reinhardt Heymans |
| 3 | Quintusz Geyser | 3 | Torrie Maritz |
| 4 | JC Kruger | 4 | Anru van Jaarsveld |
| 5 | Michael Amiras | 5 | Gerhard Lotter |
| 6 | Mark Snyman | 6 | Ryno Kotze |
| 7 | Ben Clarke | 7 | Charl Basson |
| 8 | Lehan du Toit | 8 | Rian Vorster |
| 9 | Ruhan Viviers | 9 | Erik Calitz |
| 10 | Tristan Oosthuizen | 10 | Marven Pieterse |
| 11 | Zack Boonzaaier | 11 | Reinhardt van Biljon |
| 12 | Francois Jv Vuuren | 12 | Ruan Kotze |
| 13 | Jeremy Randall | 13 | Riaan Burger |
| 14 | Tommy v Tonder | 14 | Dylan Lawless |
| 15 | David Cary | 15 | Marcel Venter |
| 16 | Jean Engelbrecht | ||
| 17 | Triston Venter | ||
| 18 | Joshua de Kock | ||
| 19 | Andre Stroiz | ||
| 20 | Eugene Maritz | ||
| 21 | Frederik v Deventer | ||
| 22 | Francois Scholtz | ||
| 23 | Brandon Keevy | ||
| Inj | Liam vd Berg |
0/14 het ons teen hulle verloor.
@Riempies: is dit die eerste keer wat die groep van affies helpmekaar wen.
AFFIES 31-19 HELPMEKAAR. Baie goeie rugby. En baie goeie gees.
@Quagga: We must find that person who started the Dreamteam name. I guess it was tongue in cheek but it became like peanut butter and stayed in the cheek. For obvious reasons I followed the players/team from u/12 level. Know most of the players you refer to. I still think their must be a Monnas vs Helpies clash and preferrably on TV. It will only improve Lions rugby. So far the top 5 Noordvaal teams are, in no specific order Monnas, Helpies, Affies, Garsies and EG. Except for Affies all top 5 teams are playing 2-3 other top 5 teams so it will make for good comparison with Helpies the only top 5 team to play Affies so no pressure but u are sort of the only Noordvaal measurement we have for Affies. Good luck for Saterday. I already promised Valkie I will see him at Florida otherwise I would have been at the Helpies game.
@beet: You are correct in the write up and thank you for the thread. It is indeed unfair on team, basically the kids, to place too much emphasis on one team. The teams actually had a talk recently about that exact topic so I for one appreciate the foresight of the team management to identify this label as a potential threat to the team’s perceived success. More about that later. This nickname ‘dream team’ was brought on by outside forces, perhaps tongue in cheek, but nevertheless it stuck with outside forces and that is where it remains, outside.
Let me perhaps shed some light on an important aspect or two on this team. Firstly they were exceptional through the age groups and were unbeaten at u16 level. The team which took the field on Saturday was NOT that team. The current team included no less than ELEVEN grade 11 players in the 23-man squad of which 4 started the match. You will recall that particular group of 16/17 year-old boys not being spectacular through the age groups. A number of the grade 12 players have moved on to other schools since the junior levels, among them two key members of the front row and a very potent fly/fulla. These moves were very talented kids who moved to Melopark and to Kempies. Another player has since stopped playing completely due to a serious injury and yet another two from that group are currently injured of which one injury seems quite serious. If I recall correctly 14 grade 11 boys were in the 2016 Beeld squad, well that is actually the same number as the grade 12 players which took the field on Saturday, but not exaclty the same group of players. Only 9 capped players were in the starting lineup on Saturday. The team that took the field last Saturday had more gr 11 players in the team AND in the squad than their opponent Eldoraigne. Puts things in perspective a bit. I admire the courage of the coaching staff not to stick to the old crew come hell or high water to ensure short term success, but to bleed in some youngsters with the view on sustainability in years to come. At least they will have a better shot next year than would have been the case had they not done this. These kids are very proud of the team they represent and they will do their best to meet expectations, but I think the expectations are a bit too high and before everyone does a sing and dance when they stumble over the first hurdle just see those expectations and that label into context. They will do well to achieve the same level of performance as the team of 2016. The first acid test will come Saturday, the next will be just around the corner when they face traditional rugby schools Affies and then soon after that Paul Roos. I do think they will be one of the better private school teams in the past few years, but how good only time will tell.
@Riempies ..dit gaan goeie game wees.
Ja ek dink die naweek somme so vroeg in seisoen n paar groot kragmetings
@Riempies: well said.
@Skopgraaf243: Dit is n vraag wat die naweek slegs sal kan antwoord. As ek die afgelope naweek se wedstryd as maatstaf moet neem gaan dit die naweek n harde game wees. Die Helpie motor kort nog olie om van die roes ontslae te raak. Een dink is ek dood seker van is is dat die resultaat van n groot pakslae nie herhaal sal word nie.
Seker dit is enige span van enige skool se droom om n goeie jaar te he. Dit span manne is lankal gelukkig met het vertoning van die afgelope paar jaar. So ja hul droom is al lankal verwesenlik. Wat droomspan aanbetref is dit slegs n “figment of imagination” van nie Helpie ondersteuners. Nee wat die manne bly baie “humble”. Wen of verloor vra maar enige van hul teenstaanders.
@Helpies…kan julle die naweek die manne van Affies stuit?
..of sal die droomspan net ‘n droom bly?
@Playa: As always a rugby brain!!!! They were a fine side the 2016 one. Having watched our u15 side of last year I wanna say that in 2019 we will have a similar side.
@Proud OD: I remember that 2006 team.What a pleasure to watch. The centre,Kritzy was my favourite player in that team.
I’ll be cheeky and add Kingswood 2016.Not top 5 material but a quality side nonetheless
How fast in Mark Snyman? Honestly last year at CW he covered the ground with wing-like speed at times.
@BrotherBear: Dankie julle, baie bly julle het ons gasvryheid geniet, ek hoor ons het gisteraand darem die koor gewen in die doodsnikke van die aand, oorstoot noot in beseringstyd
Sien volgende jaar weer.
Mark jy is n yster!!!
Dankie Eldo’s, lekker dag se rugby!
2de helfte het julle mooi teruggekom.
Paar goed waaraan ons moet werk, hopelik word die span net beter. Eerste game v d jaar en as ek reg onthou het ons verlede jaar 7 elk gedraai en ons moes baie hard werk om 21-7 te wen.
The dream (team) is still alive? Teen minste vir nog n week!
Affies gaan taai wees maar nie onmoontlik nie!
@RnR: julle manne het baie goed terug gekom en strategie in 2e helfte verander. Amper vir julle gewerk. Julle voories goed gedoen. Dankie vir baie goeie gees en met al die sport wedstryde. Helpies het altyd welkom gevoel, maak nie saak wat die resultate. Kultuur aand was ook ‘n groot sukses gister-aand. Julle kan trots wees oor julle etos.
@RnR: Dankie vir die mooi woorde. Ek dink van die spelers nog steeds besig om van die roes af te skut.Dinge neuk maar nog in sekere afdelings van die spel. Seker die afrigters sal hard daaraan werk voor die volgende game teen Affies. Eldoraigne kan hulle koppe hoog hou en seker dat ons nog baie van hulle gaan hoor die rea van die seisoen. Dit was lekker daar by julle en sportmanskap was die grootste wenner van die dag.
Wow!! Helpies julle kook, baie geluk met die wen, julle was sowaar ysters gewees
Maar wat het gebeur in die 2de helfte, fiksheid? match fitness? En dan skrums???
Julle het n agterlyn wat kookwater is en wat foute uitbuit, maar dit het gelol met skrumtyd.
Ek is baie bly Eldo het nie gaan le nie en het karakter gewys in die 2de helfte
Helpies weereens baie geluk en sterkte vir volgende week se wedstryd teen Affies.
Helpies 36-17 Eldo
Halftyd Helpmekaar 24-0 Eldo.
@beet: If I remember correctly, BHP’s rankings had St Andrew’s at about 3 at the end of 2010. They only lost one game to a decent Bishops side in very unlucky circumstances. It was their first game of the season and they were away, but were up by six (I think) when Bishops ran the length of the field to score the winning try with no time left on the clock to win by one point. They won every game thereafter.
@Roger: Kearsney 2013 and the unbeaten Michaelhouse 2015 both excellent teams but persuaded very few that they were Top 5 material. Just my opinion.
@beet: Kearsney 2013?
@BrotherBear: Pa se trots!
Julle sal more dit geniet by ons groen wereld.
Sien more
@Proud OD: I think we have to go back to Pat Lambie’s 2008 Michaelhouse team for the last really good private school team although St Andrew’s 2010 wasn’t far off but lost to the last really good Bishops team that year if I’m not mistaken.
Bishops produces reasonable sides year in and year out, but their last top side was in 2006, where they just about matched anybody. winning 17 out of 20 matches including Paarl Boys and a 15 all draw with Paarl Gim.
@RnR: jou klonge is die tweeling?
@Riempies: think this will be a humdinger. Two very capable teams containing standouts and solid players alike. Think Eldo will have the advantage and possibly the upper hand in first half, having one game in hand. Hopefully the Helpie combinations and spirit kicks in soon after kick-off. Team is known to have a lot of tenacity and level heads. Good luck guys.
@Babbelas: As ek is 12h15. Dit is Helpies se eerste wedstryd vir die jaar en baie van ons kan nie wag om te sien hoe hulle daarna uitsien die jaar nie. Ek persoonlik dink dit gaan maar baie roesagtig gaan aangesien die span eers Maandag saam begin oefen het.
Dink wel dit is n goeie span maar nog glad nie gefinaliseer nie. Daar n paar manne wat hard aan die deur klop.
Tyd sal tel. Sterkte aan elke speler van albei spanne.
@RnR: Hoe laat speel die eerstes?
@RnR: I asked for the team yesterday so very grateful to you. Thanks
@beet For your info
Eldoraigne 1st XV:
1. Charl Bester
2. Reinhardt Heymans (c)
3. Torrie Maritz
4. Anru van Jaarsveld
5. Gerhard Lotter
6. Ryno Kotze
7. Charl Basson
8. Rian Vorster
9. Erik Calitz
10. Marven Pieterse
11. Reinhardt van Biljon
12. Ruan Kotze
13. Riaan Burger
14. Dylan Lawless
15. Marcel Venter
Die droomspan inderdaaad