KZN and Noordvaal get into the swing of things with weekend with all the top schools in action.
The big Eastern Cape games see a strong Grey PE travel to Grahamstown to meet Kingwood on Friday, followed by what should be a good match in Uitenhage the following day when Dan Pienaar hosts St Andrews.
In KZN, no doubt the Kearsney – Glenwood clash will be the focal point with both schools having realistic chances of finishing the season as the top team in the province. Another very interesting match-up will be that of Westville and Hilton, with the latter being a bit of an unknown quality at this stage. In Balgowan, supporters must brace themselves for a battle of the front rows, although it might ultimately come down to the respective sets of backs to decide who the better team is on the day when Michaelhouse takes on Northwood. For 15 George Campbell players, playing on Goldstones against College will be a brand new experience. Interestingly in terms of milestones College is 150 years old this year and George Campbell celebrates it’s 50th birthday in 2013. DHS moved the ball through the hands efficiently and looked competent up front in recent warm-up games. If “School” is able to lay a good platform, one fancies them to win at home against Port Natal. The Porties have some outstanding attacking backs of their own but securing quality front foot ball may pose the biggest challenge for their small pack of forwards.
Grey College should be too strong for Duineveld of Upington and fellow Northern Cape school Diamantveld can expect an equally tough time against a strong looking Affies team. Kroonstad Rooiskool has their work cut out containing another Pretoria powerhouse in the form of Klofies.
In the NuPower-Tuks Super 16 round 2, the favourites in each group are still kept apart. Of the eight games being played expect Monnas, Centurion, Garsfontein, Kempton Park, HTS Middelburg and EG Jansen to emerge as winners from six of them. This possibly makes the Ermelo vs Rustenburg and Marais Viljoen vs Transvalia matches the two choice games of the round, with winners in each being difficult to predict. Although Garsfontein are expected to win their game, the trip to Nelspuit is not going to be an easy one.
St Stithians takes on KES, which might be a chance to see two of the best Golden Lions flyhalves, Innocent Radebe and Marco Engelbrecht face each other. The season also starts for Pretoria Boys High against John Vorster.
| 15-Mar-13: Kingswood vs Grey High |
| 16-Mar-13: Daniel Pienaar vs St Andrews |
| 16-Mar-13: Oudtshoorn vs Marlow |
| 16-Mar-13: Punt vs Nico Malan |
| 16-Mar-13: M. College vs George Campbell |
| 16-Mar-13: Michaelhouse vs Northwood |
| 16-Mar-13: Kearsney vs Glenwood |
| 16-Mar-13: Westville vs Hilton |
| 16-Mar-13: DHS vs Port Natal |
| 16-Mar-13: Hugenote vs Tygerberg |
| 16-Mar-13: Duineveld vs Grey College |
| 16-Mar-13: Landboudal vs Noord-Kaap |
| 16-Mar-13: Diamantveld vs Affies |
| 16-Mar-13: AHS Kroonstad vs Waterkloof |
| 16-Mar-13: Monnas vs Pietersburg (NuPower) |
| 16-Mar-13: Centurion vs Vereeniging Gim (NuPower) |
| 16-Mar-13: Marais Viljoen vs Transvalia (NuPower) |
| 16-Mar-13: Nelspruit vs Garsfontein (NuPower) |
| 16-Mar-13: Eldoraigne vs Kempton Park (NuPower) |
| 16-Mar-13: Ermelo vs Rustenburg (NuPower) |
| 16-Mar-13: Klerskdorp vs HTS Middelburg (NuPower) |
| 16-Mar-13: Florida vs EG Jansen (NuPower) |
| 16-Mar-13: St Johns vs Jeppe |
| 16-Mar-13: St Stithians vs KES |
| 16-Mar-13: Pretoria BH vs John Vorster |
Yeah look I think School was very smart to not buy new players this year. This may turn out tobe the best decision ever made by them. Boys want to play for each other and have been together since the beginning beside Le Roux whom arrived a year later in grade 9.
The boys also smaak Christo Wilkinson as he’s already coached them before making a great impression on them.
Hoping for the best hey!!!
@Greenhopper, I admire your passion but give the boys chosen a chance first before changing the team around yet. They beat Framesby, not easy and won a trial game against College, so why change it now. Only if and when things go wrong do you give others a chance. The 2nd team looks very strong again this year..
@Greenblooded, bottom up is the DHS method too which is showing glimpses of improvement already. For DHS it’s now about not just a good A side and getting the depth, something Glenwood has now got. This can take a while to get. College have always had it and Westville now too…
@Green Hopper: Make no mistake – Donald Ngwenya is a very astute coach. I think Northwood’s undoing will come from lack of cohesion due to imports – something they didn’t seem to learn from Glenwood last season. If they want long term success they need to start at the bottom and work it up from grass roots – something Glenwood are getting right in a big way where even the skills in the C’s, D’s etc are good. You cannot just buy in 1st team players and a top coach and expect instant success.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: i think and back DHS more this year , i seriously think the new coach will bring an element of surprise to the KZN teams , I seriously Doubt will feature this year regardless of what NW Knight might think at this stage ,
I don’t think there is enough in the management set up at Northwood and as good as people talk about the new coach, I have my reservations here I don’t think he will do better than Barry Wilson , this is my opinion , but let’s see how the season goes
@Grasshopper: positional chnages i would make between the two teams
5 Harmsworth Matthew change to Teichmann Michael
6 Kay Rupert (c) change to Hippolite Waelon
10 Dumas Jaques change Mcuma Nkululeko or Jonas Curtis
Will then give space to bring in 15 Stopforth Derwent (c) into 13
@NW_Knight: @greenblooded , i think some one is in serious need of going to a mental hospital with thsi type of remark , lol
@Grasshopper: Yes his brother was also at Glenwood I believe. Koos Tredoux played prop for Kloof u/16s last year and also represented the Bulls u/16. Not sure if Grant Khomo or not.
@Klofie Pa: Ja graad in vier jaar gedoen maar nie gekontrakteer. Al fout was om hom by TUKS in te skryf. Kon nooit Varsity Beker speel maar Carltonbeker baie beter gevaar. Maar moet se dalk nie jou seuns se talent gehad maar hard gewerk. Die jaar genader deur twee Currie Beker B liga spanne maar lyk of hy eerder wil werk en sy Honneurs doen. Maar moelike besluite veral as almal maanskyn en rose belowe as seuns jonk is.
Yeah I think NW Knight thinks way too lowly of DHS for 2013. Boys will do all the talking on the field for me anyway
@Tjoppa: He went to Elarduspark Primary in Pretoria
@Tjoppa, probably. I think he has been at Glenwood for about 2 years now. Also the prop Koos Tredoux is from up that way, Waterkloof I believe….Klofiepa?
@Tjoppa: Ek sal graag wil he my seuns moet in kontak kom met joune. Het hy eers geswot en toe begin rugby speel of dit saam gedoen. Is dit moontlik om dit te kombineer in die tye.
@Grasshopper: Is this Morne Joubert the boy from Pretoria. Still u/17 if I am correct.
@Klofie Pa: Nee ons manne in Pretoria kan mos maar se as iets reg gedoen word. Sterkte vir ‘n besering vrye seisoen vir die seuns. Akademie belangrik my oudste speel steeds kompeterend en het graad, goeie werk. Sy vriende skarrel rond vir kontrakte want 24jariges met geen kwalifikasies sukkel maar om “gewone” werk te kry. Baie hartseer as ouers nie wil luister en nou betaal die kinders. Maar ja.
@Tjoppa: Amen en dankie vir die ondersteuning vir Waterkloof. Dink Daan kon nie gou genoeg aantree nie.
Dankie ook vir die seuns, sover lyk die dinge goed en daars n ietsie in die pyplyn wat ons graag met akademie wil kombineer.
Glenwood sides for this weekend, looking pretty solid.
1st
1 Mngadi Percy
2 Van Vuuren Kerron
3 Tredoux Koos
4 VD Heever Seth
5 Harmsworth Matthew
6 Kay Rupert (c)
7 Mazibuko Muziwandile
8 Coetzee Jaco
9 Gerhard Kyle
10 Dumas Jaques
11 Ngcobo Sphamandla
12 Nela Akhona
13 Mcuma Nkululeko
14 Vermaak Corné
15 Joubert Morné
2nd team
1 Van Niekerk Kenny
2 Peacock Robert
3 Van Tonder Dewaldt
4 Du Randt Kevin
5 Teichmann Michael
6 Hippolite Waelon
7 Coetzee Gerhard
8 Vidima Nkozi
9 Khanyile Kwazikwenkozi
10 Jonas Curtis
11 Bredell Christopher
12 Fouché Ruben
13 Du Toit Kayd
14 Nkosi Cebolakhe
15 Stopforth Derwent (c)
@Kes Dutchie: @JeppeRugbyFan: 2nd biggest school boy derby in SA (i.t.o crowds after the Paarl derby apparently! Not sure about KES this year – lets wait and see.
@Greenblooded: College will never beat Northwood this weekend
@Gungets Tuft: Separate regional pools cound work. A pool for KZN featuring the Tier 1 Schools shouldn’t be that hard to organise. Maybe they can also come up with a decent ranking system.
@Gungets Tuft: I think the regional one would be more plausible. Great idea!!!
@Green Hopper: College – Northwood game???
@Klofie Pa: Ek dink nie so nie. Julle nuwe hoof bring waardes na julle skool en as een van die top skole is dit nodig om teen die bestes mee te ding. Respek word verdien en nie gekoop nie. My persoonlike opinie julle pad vir die toekoms lyk baie mooi. Sterkte met daardie twee mooi seuns van jou wat doen hulle volgende jaar.
@beet: Thanks for adding my avatar
@Roger: @Kes Dutchie: The Jeppe teams will be very competitive this year with our A sides through the age groups having remained more or less unchanged. I haven’t seen our U14’s yet but I believe it is a good group of boys so we’ll see tomorrow at St Johns.
As for the 1st team, I think they may cause a few suprises this year. As far as I know, 8 of the players from last years side are back with a few guys having come up from last years 2nd’s and 4 players from last years U16A side. So it seems to be a nice mix of youth and experience.
The KES squad also looks pretty useful this year from what I’ve seen and I’m sure the 20th April is going to be epic as always. Good luck against Saints tomorrow.
Green Hopper
I ‘ll go with you on all your predictions
Was very impressed with KC at Kings Park – looking forward to a good SBR showpiece at KC tomorrow
@CyndiAtRugby: I have actually been in contact with the guys at Superbru about exactly that. The problem is the sheer volume of games nationally – I would hate to have to make picks for every 1st Fifteen game in SA every week.
I will mail them again – superb bucnh of okes by the way, very relaxed and keen to help out – and suggest a regional setup for …. yuo okes tell me .. KZN, EC, WC, Free State, Gaut?
Difficult because you actually want the “cross border” games as well. I am happy to try and facilitate, throw some ideas in here.
Based on all these comments I am mentally picturing a SBR SuperBru – could be very interesting
@kcob: I totally agree about preferring to have this game later in the season and that these boys are just kids. I do believe it will be a great day of rugby across the board.
It should be an awesome day of rugby – I will be shooting 6 games
@Roger: Seems Jeppe is doing well on the sportsfield in general. I dig that. As always the derby will be well attended but I have a feeling the numbers will be epic at KES this year.
@Rugbyman: Thanks…duly noted!!
@Klofie Pa: dagse klofiepa! Net so tussen my en jou… Ek vermoed Kloof het nie een van hulle beste besluite geneem toe hulle uit die NuPower onttrek het nie…. Gaan hulle kos oppie lang termyn…. O ja, en daai rumor dat Kloof nie teen Garsies gaan speel nie…? Dit was wat dit was…. n rumor….
@Westers: They have tendonitis. From what I understand, shouldn’t be out for more than another week or so.
@green nah, not insinuating they not impartial at all. I now it’s tough. My brother reffeed for a while and played for the Duikers so understood the game. It just calms everyone down hen there’s a strong hand and the ref, a sportsman in his own right is having a cracker (that goes both sides).
WESTVILLE V HILTON – I was @ the 2010 game at Bowdens watching Westville v Hilton and we pumped them… great crowd – always……… good few thousand………. Waxys rocking.. and i hope its the same again although I wont be there as back in UK………….. but schoolboy rugby is ace and love it. I love the rivalry and all too with us KZN teams and now its becoming national too which is great. Was there when we lost to KES and we shouldnt have actually……… missed opps and many missed kicks lost the game we “shoulda won” – thats life though and rugby. Anyhow all good.
I see M college winning handsomely. but hope its respectable for GC sake as respect to them
Michaelhouse will beat Northwood………….. dunno by how much but they will win. I reckon give NW a few more years going as they are…
Kearsney to beat Glenwood- purely cause they seem powerful even without the doops and all and but i think it be tightly fought. GW seem to on the game as well…
Westville to win at my home ground…………. but close.. Westville had seemingly indifferent warmup matches and lost to KC but i wouldnt take that too much to heart.. but at home and against Hilton.. we win…………… ( i hope )
DHS will beat Porties, comfortable. i think,,,
16-Mar-13: M. College vs George Campbell COLLEGE – going to be hard for Campbell i am afraid, College might use this as a bit of a trial game in some respects , but a nice way for them to warm up into the season, i have always advocated this type of approach to the season
16-Mar-13: Michaelhouse vs Northwood – even though I haven’t heard much of MHS this season and background noise , I still think that even as being middle tier they will have a comfortable win over Northwood
16-Mar-13: Kearsney vs Glenwood split over this- as much as my hear is Green , and now hearing that the twins might not be playing , it might close the gap , BUT for GW it’s a bad way to start the season , they are traditionally slow starts , barring last year which was a mess from the start, GW will loose narrowly here ,
16-Mar-13: Westville vs Hilton ; Westville unlike GW start with a Bang and expect no less here , they will be rampant over Hilton
16-Mar-13: DHS vs Port Natal PORTIES – DHS I have a feeling about the new coach new attitude here this year , and a good way to start the season and build up , DHS by 15 points
@kcob: whats the reason these boys arent playing ? @ beet and news as to why they are out ?
@NW_Knight:
disagree with the Hilton match , Wesville will take this one, DHS are the dark horse this year , they will win by a good margin here , as for the season it will depend on injuries
@GreenBlooded: and you going to keep us updated on the College – Northwood game
@Grasshopper: agree , like i said , we will need to work at 6 and 7 as well as 9 and 10 , these will be the areas targeted
DHS will prove to strong and I think Westville will walk thsi one, College will run up a cricket score against Northwood
@Westers: High Definition TV and surround sound takes the week off from the blame game then
The big losers this weekend – The Sharks. With a few big schools fixtures on in the afternoon and Sharks kick-off at 5 there are going to be good few thousand Sharks supporters who are not going to make the game. Pity.
What is wrong with the Doop boys and how did they get injured?
@star: Why would there be Westvillians at Kearsney when their own span are playing Hilton at home? Can’t they bear to watch?
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Not sure about the 1st team – I think it will be a humdinger and go down to the wire. I think KC might just have the edge due to home advantage. As others have noted – they are stil performing without the Doops.
In the other teams, GW should take the U16A match but the contest between the No 8’s Dixon and Staples will be epic. They are great mates but there will be no love lost on the field. U15A – up for grabs. Maybe KC for the home advantage. U14A – GW will need to contain Richardson and Taylor – if they run amok it could turn into a big score. I think Glenwood will dominate in the lower teams despite the staggers.
@NW_Knight: NW to beat House? It didn’t happen on home turf last year – a 44-duck p-klap if memory serves. Not going to happen in Balgowan methinks. I predict another whitewash – I’ll know who the NW bankrollers are when I see a guy running of screaming WTF at the top of his lungs……..
See you on Sunday!!
@kcob: I’ll find out tomorrow who the ref is for Glenwood Kearsney – too late to phone the oom now. He get’s grumpy.
Be careful about suggesting that referees are something other than impartial. To suggest that they run onto the field with a pre-conceived idea of who they think should win is no different from calling them cheats. Referees at that level have worked very hard to reach the top of their game and all they want to do is perform well – like any sportsman.
@sharkie:
No rugby
@star: Those meteorites that you mistook for stars have since crashed somewhere in Russia.
Horsefly are these your hockey predictions
Glen wood kearsney this weekend is to close to call. Should be a cracker.
MY KC VS GWD Predictions
U14A- KC by 3
U15A KC by 1
U16A GWD by 11
2nd GWD by 9
1st GWD by 2
Beet; do you know who is reffing this GW vs KC this weekend. A good impartial ref who stamps out the rubbish and promotes a clean running game is always a winner!
Kearsney will be doing duty without the Du Preez twins, 1 regular lock from 2012. They haven’t played this season so far. The boys seem to be gelling none-the-less, and a lot of stepping up in the last 5 preseason games and one official game. Pity thus fixture was not later. Play hard, play fair….and remember its game and they’re just kids!!!!
@NW_Knight:
Think your DHS one is way off mate. But no worries, the boys will prove just that on Saturday
@beet: will c+p the program for the weekend.
My predictions:
16-Mar-13: M. College vs George Campbell COLLEGE by a country mile
16-Mar-13: Michaelhouse vs Northwood NW of course
16-Mar-13: Kearsney vs Glenwood split over this, but possibly Kearsney
16-Mar-13: Westville vs Hilton HILTON by a bit
16-Mar-13: DHS vs Port Natal PORTIES narrowly or draw
@ Grassy- Westville will beat Kearsney on Bowdens because that is just what we do. It is written in the stars
@Roger, Durban Tech (aka Scumbilo High) will definitely be in the game against Kearsney but home advantage is a huge factor at this level. If Glenwood can get enough boys up Botha’s Hill to cheer the team then they have a chance. Kearsney are still the team to beat in KZN this year….two SA Schools forwards, most schools can’t claim that….
@ Greenblooded- : And one or two Westvillians as well
@beet: Jeppe will be strong across the board this year – they have got their rugby back on track. They play KES at KES this year and I think it may be two losses in a row for KES. First time since 1991/92 I think – when Jake was coaching at Jeppe.
@Roger: I’d be curious to see what the Jeppe u14 & u15 results are like if they have a rugby improvement programme in place.
@beet: dicky knee apparently – was a season ending injury picked up last year – not looking promising but lets hope he plays
My predictions on the few that I am interested in:
Kingswood – Grey – Grey
Oudtshooren – Marlow – Marlow
College – G Campbell – College
House – NWood – House
Kearsney – Durban Tech – Kearsney
Westville – Hilton – Hilton
DHS – Port Natal – DHS
Duineveld – Grey – Duineveld (wouldn’t that be great)
Diamantveld – Affies – Affies
Monnas – Pieterberg – Monnas
St Johns – Jeppe – Jeppe
St Stithians – Kes – Kes
PBHS – John Vorster – Boys High
@Roger: Ja I wasn’t sure either. He has been struggling for fitness. That’s why I had to go with “might”. Pity! I know the scouts rate Marco very highly as well.
@beet: not sure Marco Engelbrecht is fit – if not it will be a great pity. Radebe is seriously good.
Glenwood are barely underdogs. Before the season started they were but after their early performances they’ve reminded everyone of who they are and have definitely gotten rid of this underdog status
@Klofie Pa: Where did you read about HTS Bloem. Would like to know who Louis Botha is playing this weekend
@Woltrui: neeee Wollie kom ons wys hierdie jonggatte dat techno ons ook bygekom het!!
@Beet: most probably LB, but the games is played at the Rooiskool Kroonstad.
@Woltrui: Hopper is in Cape Town. I will try and send regular updates here from the game. Beet and Pedantic will no doubt be there too. Looking forward to it. GO GREEN!!
@Klofie Pa: HTS Louis Botha ?
@Klofie Pa: Twitter?
Waterkloof speel teen HTS Bloem. nie geweet so skool bestaan in daai dorp onder die magtige Grey nie!!
@Wollie.. klim op twitter en volg Rugby15 of school rugby. daai ouens het n magdom van volgelinge wat alle of meeste van die games opdateer soos hy gespeel word.
@Grasshopper: Hi Hopper. Can you keep us posted on the Glenwood Kearsney game, if possible? Will be mutch appreciated.
Big Big games in KZN this weekend which will give us all a better picture of how KZN schools will pan out this year. For me obviously the match of the weekend is Kearsney vs Glenwood. Glenwood will be the underdogs for a change which suits me fine. Glenwood will be wanting to avenge the loss on Dixons in 2012. If the Glenwood forwards can get parity or close to it with the monster Kearsney pack then our backs could cause havoc. Go green!
Think Engelbrecht will play 10 at Craven Week for Lions and Radebe will play 12, both are immensely talented boys
Ye go Kingswood
Hope St Andrew pull one on Danial Pienaar and go Kingswood