KZN gearing up for an exciting start to 2019

Saturday 09 March 2019 marks the official start to the KZN season.

The one theme that’s done the rounds and gained acceptance is that this 2019 season is going to be a much tighter one, which means less separating top from bottom.

By implication that creates higher competitiveness expectations of the likes of Maritzburg College, Michaelhouse and Westville, who for various reasons all struggled to find form or results in 2018. On the other end the Glenwood and Hilton who both experienced splendid seasons last year, might not be the same immoveable objects this time around.

It means it is also a good year for the coaches to showcase their talents. Anyone who might have felt like a Hamilton or Vettel behind the wheel of a Toro Rosso or Williams in the past shouldn’t have to worry about being lapped this year.

GOING BY THE LAST TWO YEARS OF U16 RESULTS

Obviously things do change over time due to many factors like kids development rate, confidence, coaching, luck, (reffing) etc but this table above has will definitely convoluted by a once again hot topic that’s dominated preseason, namely “poaching”. Obviously those who actively partake in the sourcing of good players from other high schools would prefer to term it something less sensational like “opportunity providing”. Whatever your views or whatever you call it, the bottom-line doesn’t change: these new arrivals during and after the under-16 year are going to boost first team performances and in some cases reshape overall fortunes for the season.

TRANSFORMATION

It’s a history in the making day for KZN’s top tier.  Of the 90 starting players more than 50% are players of colour.
Westville will probably be smashing their previous school record in this respect.

THE COACHES

Today marks the ending of the DHS old boy Scott Mathie’s time in charge. He’s off to the pro rugby ranks with the Griquas as a next step in what looks likely to be a career heading for household name status one day. DHS has advertised the post. For the time being assistant Ronnie Uys (former provincial prop who went to FH Odendaal in Pretoria) will take charge and has a chance to never look back from here.

College start the campaign with their umpteenth new head coach in Goudveld old boy and teacher Cameron Frazer. His youthful enthusiasm won’t be denied but the question surrounding experience and managing of the huge pressure that comes with 1st XV rugby are the vital ones. He has a good team at his disposal this year. It’s hard to say if that makes the job easier or more difficult as supporter expectations have a habit of adjusting accordingly. Hopefully he gets all the support he needs to make a success of it.

Northwood have upped the ante. They have specialist set piece coaches in the form of Torsten Sorensen (scrums) and new on the scene Old Dalian Keegan Daniel (lineouts). Northwood honoured old boy Simon Vickers (Strength and Conditioning coach) for 10 years of loyal service by giving him the privilege of handing out the 1st XV jerseys this week. A nice and fitting touch. Northlands old boy Grant Bashford is the head coach.

The head coaches are :
Glenwood : Derek Heiberg
Hilton: Brad Macleod-Henderson (Hilton old boy)
Westville : Jeremy McLaren

THE FIELDS

Glenwood’s Dixon’s
Takes its name from former headmaster Jack Dixon who led the school from 1964 to 1981.

DHS’s Van Heerden’s Field
Izak Van Heerden. School, Natal, Springbok and Argentina rugby coach. POW in Germany with another DHS teacher, Bill Payne. Taught at DHS for 39 years. Izak died at the school in 1973.
Interestingly DHS also has a school gate on Stephen Dlamini (Essenwood) Road named after Dr EG Jansen, a former governor general of the Union of South Africa.

Maritzburg College’s Goldstones
Robert Goldstone (staff 1909-1939, Games Master): A New Zealander by birth, Goldstone served in the Second Boer War. An amiable, kindly man, somewhat given in his later years to dozing off in class, Goldstone’s first love was the military band. The school’s primary sports field was named in his honour.

THE TEAMS