Team of the day:
EG Jansen
EG Jansen proved their class with what turned out to be a comprehensive 29-12 victory over Paul Roos. Paul Roos started the match with a lot of vigour. They were initially up for the challenge, gave as good as they got and even scored the opening try. EG then slowly but surely started to gain the ascendency. They attacked via different channels and this variation coupled with a tighthead won in the Paul Roos redzone, helped swing the game in their favour with a lead of 12-5 at the break. In the second half EG upped the tempo. Amongst the standout features was their ability get off flat passes to runners who’d picked the right lines. These runners started breaking the defence line and EG’ support play ensured that they had continuity from there on. They added two tries and a penalty to their half time score, winning it 29-12 in the end. The strength of the EG players in contact was also telling. Numerous players had good matches and centre Sampie Hearn was the pick of the lot.
Match of the Day
EG Jansen vs Paul Roos, so worth noting
Glenwood fans had reason to celebrate. Their team finally clicked in a match against Selborne that started like a house on fire with both teams playing at hectic pace. However Glenwood found the spaces mainly out wide with some slick interchanges. Left wing Sparks Ngcobo had a match to remember. His ability to get up to his top straight-line speed within a short distance proved to be too difficult for Selborne to counter, with him scoring a hat trick in what turned out to be a surprising one-sided result of 41-5. The beauty of the tries and the good quality of the opposition made for great spectator viewing.
Outeniqua put on another flashy display against Westville. Things work out so well for the Kwaggas attack on the field that there are times when the outcomes look as showy and pre-determined as American wrestling bouts seen on TV shows. Centre Warrick Gelant was once again the star of the show. The more unstructured a game becomes, the more dangerous he becomes. Gelant also impressed with two solid hits that he made when Westville players chose to run hard at him. Not too far behind Gelant in the licence to thrill department is flyhalf Dewald Eksteen and wing Leighton Eksteen. Westville played better than they did against Gimmies. There was more purpose to what they did with the ball in hand. Outeniqua is one of the hardest teams to defend against and Westville did well to keep the score down to 33 points against them. It ended at 33-7.
The Gimmies 33-6 win suggests Kearsney got a hiding but in actual fact the game was not like that at all. Kearsney seemed to go with their recipe that had brought them success in every game they had played in so far this season before this one. As a result they were competitive in set-pieces and rucks. Their let down was attack. What worked before did not cut it against Gimmies’ defence who had shut down Westville is similar fashion a couple of days early. Kearsney had much better ball to work with than Westville did compliments of a pack that was able to hold it’s own, however they needed to operate their offence in a higher gear and with more variation to catch Gimmies out. The scoreline is what it is but perhaps the disappointment for Kearsney is that they do have players capable of unhinging powerhouse school defensive structures. The likes of potentially explosive players Lines and Reece-Edwards, who showed what he was capable of with a double around and race down the touch line early in the game as well as Schramm who is arguably the best forward in KZN at the moment, were underutilised in an attack that needed more creativity. Paarl Gim got two tries via turnovers that resulted from the good defensive pressure they brought and on attack they did little things that mattered a lot like quickball coupled with generating overlaps which also contributed to two tries. Their fullback Grant Hermanus played very well and his touches on the ball were meaningful just about every time. Hermanus’s accuracy with both short kicks and long touch-finders helped his team keep the pressure up. He also made a significant line-breaking contribution that led to centre Oosthuizen’s try. JD Schickerling, Jacques Vermeulen and DJ van Niekerk put in good performances in the pack.
Boland Landbou once again showed how well they response to the half time team talk and their ability to lift their game in the second half. Nico Malan were in it to win it but the red card sending off of one of their players for a tip tackle knocked the wind out of their sails and they conceded late tries to lose 16-38.
Grey College again started at a crazy pace and had a handy lead at halftime. They became surprisingly complacent in the second half. Much of this was to do with a never-say-die approach by Framesby. 36-9 was the final score in Grey’s favour.
Spirit of the day award:
Framesby showed true “gees” during their game against Grey College. They refused to lie down and the strong bonds that exist between their players came to the fore as they constantly encouraged each other to keep their chins up and backed this up with group praises for individuals who performed well. They were extremely please with their second half effort and after the final whistle those who had not watched the match may would have needed the help of the scoreboard to confirm that Grey were in fact the winners, as the Framesby boys maintained a very positive body language.
Backline player of the day: Sampie Hearn (EG Jansen) and Warrick Gelant (Outeniqua)
Sampie Hearn impressed with the strength he has to stay on his feet and the good lines he runs. He performed well against Outeniqua on Thursday as well, making a memorable body check that bust open the Kwaggas D and led to a try. During the Paul Roos game he was a constant threat on attack. It’s this kind of performance that gets scouts very excited about future potential for rugby after school and perhaps if there is one area where Sampie now needs to focus, it’s on keeping his disciple in line as he has many great rugby attributes.
Warrick Gelant is genius on attack. Look out for youtube videos of him this season. There is enough footage from KERF alone to show that he has the codes to unlock any kind of defensive system not matter how complex.
Forward of the day: De Wet Bezuidenhout (Grey College)
Bezuidenhout was called up as a squad replacement for Casper Fourie and hence the earlier confusion. He played the game at 100 khp and one has to wonder what his heart rate must have reached because he just never seemed to slow down. For a forward, he has a good turn of pace and was rewarded for his great support play with a good try.
Team of the day
1. Jerome Korf (Paul Roos) (tighthead prop)
2. Pieter Jansen (EG Jansen)
3. DJ van Niekerk (Paarl Gim)
4. Estian Enslin (EG Jansen)
5. JD Schickerling (Paarl Gim)
6. De Wet Bezuidenhout (Grey College)
7. Marco Holmes (EG Jansen)
8. Morne Swart (EG Jansen)
9. Johan Labuschagne (EG Jansen)
10. Dewald Human (Outeniqua)
11. Sparks Ngcobo (Glenwood)
12. Warrick Gelant (Outeniqua)
13. Sampie Hearn (EG Jansen)
14. Leighton Eksteen (Outeniqua)
15. Grant Hermanus (Paarl Gim)
Picture perfect morning here at Kearsney.
@beet: as my kids would say,what ever,no slip ups beet,big games tomorrow
@BOG: @GreenBlooded:
@beet: What network are you on? I had no problem with Vodacom on Saturday – inside or outside of the beer tent
@beet: The lure of and lust for the golden nectar has driven many to very strange excuses. Im sure that you will find at least a tent full of people willing to provide those affidavits
@BOG: I’m going collect affidavits tomz supporting my claim about the poor cellphone network coverage coz I have a complex now.
Beet I really believe that a great team is one that can adapt and change on field.kearsney I firmly believe will go unbeaten in the kzn arena but these types of games against great opposition is where you need to learn so that you can be even better.
@beet: My daughter and her ex Kearsney boyfriend, will be attending tomorrow. She will be looking over a few shoulders and ensure that the twitting is not done from inside the beer tent. I expect the team in dark blue to raise their level tomorrow and I just hope that it does not rain to ensure good old fashioned running rugby. If they play to their full potential, I have no doubt which team will be victorious, come 13:30!
@sharkie: Very well said. I think Kearsney also lost a bit of composure out there as well coz Gim was constantly frustrating their attempts to get something working and as a result we saw some poor passes and handling which had been uncharacteristic of the team before.
I think Kearsney has 2 technically very good thinkers in Tedder and Smith but these skills are not being maximised. They need to be used more as playmakers, working with designs that challenge them to use their talents to put shoulder runners and runners picking different lines into spaces.
@beet: I hope that Westville have saved the best for last….
The way that EG Jansen played yesterday was amazing. There are very few teams that could have beaten them on the day. If they manage to play like that for the rest of the season, I predict a top 10 finish for them. Yes, Sampie did have a good game. They seem to have a great team spirit in their camp. You always see them together, all dressed the same.
Amalekite: You are absolutely right about Framesby’s spirit. I finished this post in a hurry this morning before I rushed as a favour to someone who wanted to see the team of the day.
So I have added Framesby who were overlooked. I actually bumped into Ernst S today and he was in high spirits still about the character his team had shown.
Also added a bit about “Sampie my seun!” as his EG Jansen supporters called him and made an important correction to the Grey no.18 player’s name which was not Casper as per the brochure.
@Griffon: I agree about Anderson.
The reason that I think that Boland Landbou will have the edge is because they have been improving all the time. Kearsney, I believe, will still be feeling the after effects of the Paarl game. They looked shattered after the final whistle. Once again, time will tell. Should be a cracker.
@Ludz: Time will tell
I have been very impressed with Grey Bloem. They are clinical.
@ Amalekite : I think they should’ve put Anderson on, and Larkins off. Anderson put in a strong defense in the first game. I think Kearsney should beat Boland Landbou. I also agree with Ludz. Tomorrow will be the testing game for the Outeniqua 12.
@Amalekite: points difference is too big for Grey game me thinks
My predictions for tomorrow:
09h30 EG Jansen Nico Malan – EG Jansen by 20
10h45 Framesby Westville – Westville by 3
12h00 Grey College Outeniqua – Grey by 15
13h15 Paul Roos Selborne – Paul Roos by 20
14h30 Paarl Gim Glenwood – Paarl Gym by 12
15h45 Kearsney Boland Landbou – Boland Landbou by 5
@Griffon: Agreed. However, it is sad to have to put your scrumhalf at centre because your centres are not up to the task.
@ Amalekite : To be fair I that Braithwaite and Buthelezi tryed to step up. You could see that Buthelezi got a bit frustrated from players not shifting on defense after he kept calling them. Braithwaite stepped up on defense, while McHardy was put at centre to defend Gallant from set pieces. Buthelezi gained metres at the few chances he had. The forwards stepped up yesterday
Westville’s backline defence needs a lot of work:
1. They are not coming up in a straight line.
2. Still missing some tackles.
3. Not shifting.
4. Communication seems non existent.
The amount of times that Mc Hardy saves the day with his cover tackles is unacceptable. At this early stage, he is my first choice for CW.
Generally, they are slowly improving as a team. I just feel that they are not coming out firing as they would on Bowdens. They are playing quite well in the second half, but by then the game is out of reach.
Westville’s backline defence needs a lot of work:
1. They are not coming up in a straight line.
2. Still missing some tackles.
3. Not shifting.
4. Communication seems non existent.
The amount of times that Mc Hardy saves the day with his cover tackles is unacceptable. At this early stage, he is my first choice for
Generally, they are slowly improving as a team. I just feel that they are not coming out firing as they would on Bowdens. They are playing quite well in the second half, but by then the game is out of reach
@sharkie: The way it appeared to me, is that Kearsney started off really well. However, Paarl Gym are clearly in another class. They absorbed all the pressure and then overpowered Kearsney in the second half. Kearsney tried their best but were just not good enough. They never seemed like scoring a try.
It will be interesting to see how Glenwood shape tomorrow. Their backline seems to be finally clicking, and this could make for an entertaining contest.
I see that there is no award for the side displaying the most spirit for the day. IMHO that award should go to Framesby. To be fair to Grey, they were playing most of their subs, but the Framesby team threw everything at them in the second half, including the kitchen sink. I think that they may have even shaded Grey in the second half,and were unlucky not to score more. Hats off to them. Westville better take heed….
Seems like Duhan van der Merwe is having a bit of a quiet week
Kearsney I believe had the better of the forward packs and it was evident quite early that the back line was going to come under pressure from a good gimmies back line. What I would have liked to see is kearsney jumping at 2 ball and then the likes of Schramm and du Preez running off in the fly half channel. Also why not the inside pass from Tedder to his forwards running down that channel. Game plans some times need to be adapted and changed according to the opposition if one becomes to stereotyped cracks will appear. Gimmies the better side on the day but perhapsthe margin would have been closer had kearsney changed there attack format.