Grey College will head into 2014 with the relatively young coach Wessel du Plessis official in control of 1st XV coaching matters.
Du Plessis joined the first team coaching staff in 2012 having achieved good success with the under-16’s before that. He had been described as having a good rugby brain and his positive impact at under-19 level was immediately felt, as Grey lifted their game and produced very good results in the third term of 2012. His “apprenticeship” ended when the 2013 concluded. From here on out as Director of Rugby, he will be making the big calls for South Africa’s leading rugby school.
Du Plessis succeeds Ingo Machts who was head coach from 2009 – 2013 and spent 3 seasons before that as an assistant coach.
Machts’ who said he always regarded himself as part of the management team rather than the head coach, had a very impressive record during his time with the 1st XV. Between 2006 and 2013, Grey played 152 games, winning 143, drawing 2 and losing just 7. 6 of those defeats came in the last 2 seasons, meaning that between 2006 and 2011, Grey Bloem lost only 1 game, an away fixture at Paul Roos in 2009. Grey College also produced no fewer than 26 SA Schools players in those 8 seasons when Machts was coaching, a truly remarkable record.
Machts’ services will not be lost to Grey. He continues on as a teacher with decades of experience and will now be active in a new rugby role of mentor to the younger coaches at the school.
Grey College will start the 2014 season as one of the firm favourites to be ranked the number 1 schoolboy rugby team in South Africa.
(Thank you to the Volksblad for their article which was used as the foundation for this blog and can be found here: http://www.volksblad.com/sport/2013-10-19-machts-groet-grey-rugby-met-wenpersentasie-van-94)
@Woltrui: Hahahaha! Don’t worry Woltrui…we all have our weaknesses.
@Woltrui: Smoke Texans ? ……….I kissed Californians.
@Speartackle: Off course Sir. You remember why we used to smoke Texans at school? Because a million mine workers can’t be wrong.
@Ploegskaar:
@Woltrui: With screwed up I assume you mean balanced. Not quite synonyms to be honest, but at least I can decipher your Northern Fanagalo, mostly, by now.
@Woltrui: Do you have any references to back up your claim?
@Ploegskaar: And I do have a high regard for your opinion dear Sir.
(Even though it is a screwed up opinion in most cases)
@Speartackle: No Sir. Luckily not. The language of love is enough at F. Not to shabby in that specific language, I must confess. 8)
@Woltrui: Kyk, klaarblyklik sukkel ek maar om my boodskap oor te dra op die oomblik. GCB is sonder twyfel die top (rugby)skool in die land en ek het net die grootste respek vir die skool se geskiedenis, tradisies, reputasie en welslae oor die jare, MAAR, die poel van skole wat kompeteer vir die top-posisie raak jaarliks groter, in my opinie, en sal net verder groei oor die volgende 20 jaar. In my opinie is ‘n GCB-wen of Affie-wen nie meer ‘n gegewe nie, want die speelveld het so ietwat verander (is meer gelyk?). Ek stry dus nie oor die verlede nie, lig wel net ‘n opinie oor die toekoms.
@Woltrui: Fortunately English is not required at Flamingo’s.
@Speartackle: Mr Speartackle Dr Edwards is very very fine.
I read Mr Playa got a C for Afrikaans. I would rather not difulge what my English grade was in Matric. It is definetaly not in Mr Playa’s league
@Woltrui: Jou ingels klink soos die Bethlehem Brigade s’n…………….lol
Klink of jy op Grey was………….hoe gaan dit met Ou Sak Bene?
@Ploegskaar: The games they lost in 2013 was all hardfought matches which were in the balance till no 99. A bounce off the ball or a different referee desicion and they could have won all there matches in 2013. And they call it a “bad” year for GB. Against all the best schools in the country. Go and take a look at their overall rugby report. Againts Affies (whom have incredible depht) they won 18 of the 28 games. I think they only have a negative win ratio against Paul Roos where they had to travel 800km and play in mudpools. If they had to play Paul Roos on a neutral venue PR would have been lucky to win 1 match. There was always schools who competed with GB. Their consistancy is the differance. IMHO they are miles ahead of any competotar. Excusa moi english. No spellchecker available.
@Woltrui: I disagree. Although GCB continues to be the SBR benchmark, the past few seasons have shown that there are now more sustainable contenders for the top spot, and a GCB win is not a given anymore. My prediction for 2014 is therefore not based on reputation, but on what the other contenders for the top spot will have available.
@Queenian: I did, but my association with Queens, even just through marriage, disqualified me. Otherwise, I was miles ahead of the others
@Ploegskaar: That is an easy way out Mr Ploegskaar. Any betting man would tell you to go with Grey Bloem. They are ALWAYS there ore there abouts. Best rugby school in SA by miles. We all just try to match them. What these guys have forget about rugby we still got to learn. Love them or hate them, you’ve got to respect them!
@BOG: Why don’t you apply for the job you have along pedigree going all the way back to playing for JJS 3rd Team.
@Speartackle: Smeertackle, Paarl dorp skole asseblief, die Slot was maar Vrot hierdie jaar….
@Grey Brak: I tipped GCB to finish 2014 as the top SBR dog in SA on an earlier post, and recent info from a reliable source certainly backs this up. Likewise I punted Oakdale as the underdog to watch in 2014, so their match-up at WK may well be a big one, especially if Oakdale manages to turn Paarl Gym over on the 12th of April in Riversdale.
@Speartackle: I fully agree. Watch out for 2014. Should be an amazing season.
@beet: I sincerely hope that this match up will happen. As far as I know the junior teams will also be taking part at WK next year again. Maybe all the age groups can match up on that day (Grey vs Paarl Gim). Should be a great spectacle for all supporters.
Apparently Grey have also lined up a match against Waterkloof before their visit to the Kearsney Festival.
@Grey Brak: This year many of us expected this game to take place at WK and even Wessel du Plessis said he wished that a game had been organised coz Grey’s annual fixture list speaks for itself, it’s always one of the toughest in the country and they don’t shy away from playing anyone. I can’t see Gim ever being an exception to this. Obviously an interschools is not feasible based on Gim being a co-ed, so festival rugby is the ideal opportunity for this game. It would be great if the schools could agree to make it an annual festival game. I was fortune enough to watch the 2012 game live. Very good match. All that one expects when 2 powerhouse schools meet.
@Grey Brak: Thats fantastic, its about time Grey stamp their authority again, a few Paarl and Pta schools have become way to vocal the last 2 seasons. The Grey Choir must bounce back at full speed
@beet: Definitely!! 2014 will be the year that Grey would want to bury some recent demons and reclaim the number 1 spot in the country.
Grey must have a decent team then for not avoiding Gim in 2014
@Grey Brak: That is great news. Winners all the way round if it comes off.
@BoishaaiPa: Blykbaar is Grey ernstig aan die werk om hul 2de wedstryd by Wildeklawer te reel teen Paarl Gim. Dus sal hulle teen Monnas te staan kom by Kearsney.
@Woltrui: Well, being the unbeaten legend of the Pniel Festival, my butchery is very much in demand and most clients want a taste of it
@Speartackle: Dear Sir. You know very well there is only one kinda steak available at F. The succulent type. Regarding your comment that the steak comes from your butchery…. “Ook maar lekker grootbek ne”
@Woltrui: O ja, moenie worry……….ek sal vir ons gratis ‘steak’ daar kan reel…………..baie van hul spyskaart items kom van my ‘slaghuis’
@Woltrui: Watse soort steak?…………een wat grond toe kyk?
@Speartackle:
You just made my day Mr Spear. If it weren’t for the tough economical times I would have liked to stick you a steak at Flamingo’s. 8)
@BoishaaiPa: Dankie vir die inligting. Ek dink egter hy is besig met die reelings vir die netbaltoernooi wat bots met KERF.
@BOG: Jy moet bietjie vir ou Paarlbok vra hoekom wil Gim nie hulle juniorspanne teen Grey laat speel nie..Die sportorganiseerder van Grey het uitnodiging aan Gim gerig, maar is van die hand gewys!
@BOG: Al die fotos hang daar ja………….Jurie Els s’n ook
@Speartackle: N/A = Not available, NOT Not applicable. Im sure that Vrede will have the result framed in their entrance hall- if it exists of course.
Jip………………..ek het teen een van hulle by die 0/3 SA Tennis champs gespeel wat ek mos gewen het en toe in San Diego aan die world champs deelgeneem
@Speartackle: Die uitslag ontbreek. Is/was Rellings (in laaste reel) n sportwinkel ? Daar was van hulle op Grey.
According to Grey the results for the 1948 season is N/A…………..very interesting and obviously…………………..convenient
@Speartackle: In this case, “Old Age Home”
� IN 1947 het die Hoërskool Kroonstad reeds ‘n volwaardige koerant uitgegee. Van tyd tot tyd wy ek ‘n naweek om geskrifte van plaaslike aard na te gaan. So het ek op Die Kroonstadter van 19 September 1947 afgekom. Dit was Vol. 11 No.3, geregistreer as ‘n nuusblad, en die prys was drie pennies. Die koerantjie van 12 bladsye was ‘n bietjie groter as ‘n gewone oefeningboek. Die voorblad se hoofberig handel oor ‘n konsert ten bate van die seunskoshuis, met Derek van der Merwe as pianis en Jean Gluckman, ‘n talentvolle sangeres, as die kunstenaars.
��� Ander bydraes was onder meer: As jy bang word vir die ouderdom, dink maar aan Shaw, Smuts en Hertzog; die debatsvereniging se onderwerp was: Gemengde skole is verkieslik bo enkel skole (bedoelende seuns en meisies); ‘n gedig van ABC, skuilnaam van A.B. Cilliers, ‘n oudonderwyser van die skool, verskyn ook in die koerant. Die gedig het in 1921 in Die Huisgenoot, onder die titel Een daad van eenvoudige rechtvaardigheid, verskyn; mnr. B.W. de W. Erlank benoem tot hoof van Volkskool; eerste rugbyspan uitgeskakel uit kompetisie om Fichardt-skild – Vrede en Grey in eindronde; en ander sportberigte, onder meer ook ‘n foto van die wenners van die Noordelike Vrystaat se junior tennistoernooie waarop R Lotzof, W. Crous (albei Heilbron) en Kroonstadters R Fitzhenry, A Edwrds en A Kok (seker Aubrey) verskyn. Daar is ook ‘n foto van ‘n vis wat ‘n mnr. Dreyer gevang het. Die vis is byna net so groot as Dreyer, maar ongelukkig het die redaksie van Die Kroonstadter blykbaar vergeet om die berig in te sit en is geen besonderhede bekend oor waar die vis gevang is en wat die gewig was nie – maar dit was ‘n bielie. Op dieselfde bladsy (5) as die foto is ‘n verwysing wat waarskynlik op bladsy een moes gewees het: “Mnr. Dreyer het ‘n visgevang – of het die vis hom gevang? Oordeel self na die foto op bl.5.” Maar geen berig elders nie.
��� Min van die adverteerders van daardie jare is nog met ons. Op die voorblad het Adami’s Radio- en Klankingenieurs, asook die Kroonstadse Verbruikers hul ware adverteer, ook Die Volksblad-Boekhandel in Crossstraat 72, Die Noordelike Stem Boekhandel waar ‘n Swan-vulpen 18/6 gekos en die duurder Waterman 23/6 tot 27/6 (nogal duur vir daardie jare!), die bekende Waterloo Kafee, Levy Bros, Rautenbachs, Harding en Parker, F.J. Furstenburg, Donegan’s Mills, A.Fairweather en Seuns, Bradshaw en Botha (“our boerwors and pork sausages cannot be excelled”) en die Standard Garage is daarmee heen. Adverteeders van daardie tyd wat nog met ons is, is: Cyril Smiedt Apteek, Bradlows, Rellings, W.M. Cuthbert & Kie (waarskynlik Cuthberts) en Nel en Unwin.
@BOG: WTF……………OAH?……………..Officially Andre’s Habitat?
@Speartackle: This 1948 encounter, seems to have disappeared from the records, and Im assuming that you are referring to the so-called “Fichardt Shield” (For rugby of course) Can you direct me to the historic archives where this encounter was reported on? I know about the ancient archive, stored in your mind, but I really need a little more than that, because over the last few years that has not always been too reliable. And the reminder was for you in particular. Given the level of refereeing internationally, im not sure if there are any “of significance”, but if you think of refs who officiated at CC/S15 /international level, then Steve Strydom, Stony Steenkamp, Lourens vd Merwe and Jaco Peyper, comes to mind and Im almost certain that I have omitted someone. Have a blessed day in the Klerksdorp OAH.
How many refs of significance have Grey produced over the years?
Dont know why you want to change the coaching staff with a record the 2009 – 2011 teams had. Wonder if the All Blacks will follow suit?
Then again…………this is South Africa………….even worse…………..this is the Orange Free State………………..even worse……………this is the afrikaaner.
@BOG: Thank you so much for reminding us those stats every 2 weeks since 2010. It really keeps us uninformed participants up to date. Wonder what the record looks like since 1948?
@BOG: like the mentorship idea and slowly integrating a new coach. I’m sure Ingo will be there to listen and give advice…..he sounds like the Toppy of Glenwood with a far better record, but then the quality of player at his disposal was a different class….
Du Plessis joined the first team only halfway through the season in 2012 and his impact was immediately felt and seen. Expectations are high and I think, everyone would wish him well. GCBs success rate is remarkable- around a 96% winning margin for longer than a century- considering that they still use teachers as coaches and not so-called “high profile” appointments. Vive la Grey !