The KZN school rugby season draws closer to an end for most schools with all the high profile games taking place in and around Pietermaritzburg this weekend.
Maritzburg College vs Michaelhouse (live streaming starting at 14h30: https://t.co/wbSQvYPj4J)
Unbeaten Michaelhouse are the form team and therefore the favourites for this game. They are a well balanced team and have a lot of good things going on in different positions this season, which allows them to play not only a skilful high tempo game but one full of variation as well. Even so Goldstones won’t be an easy ride. Earlier in the season against KZN teams of similar strength to College, House left the door wide open for their opponent to surprise them at the death. The Law of Large Numbers suggests that another close call might not go their way. So this is perhaps where the visitors’ greatest challenge lies – to not let a game they dominate end in an adverse result.
As an attacking force, the College backline has displayed limitations in recent weeks. They can’t seem to generate line speed or fancy footwork to get around opponents nor are they physical enough to go through opponents. They also haven’t shown signs of the kind of resourcefulness needed to catch opponents unawares with things like clever dinks etc. So based on recent performances, anything positive they produce with ball in hand should be regarded as a bonus by the home support. By contrast the Michaelhouse backs pack a lot of firepower: one of the best 10’s in SA has a superb ball handler on his outside shoulder and beyond him is another gifted ball-player with ability to cut and accelerate, then there are two pacy wings and finally an x-factor fullback. Given these threats, the challenge for the College backs seems like it will be to produce rock solid suffocating defence. If they can upset the House backline rhythm, this game could come down to a battle of the packs where the College boys know how to get points using effective rolling mauls and pick ‘n drive play.
The battle up front should be pulsating. The matchups in the tight five are good ones, with the height of 2m tall House lock Jordan Sinsink-Clee, potentially the biggest difference maker here. The loose-forward clash promises to be off the charts with four of the province’s hungriest players (Prinsloo + Walters vs Thunder + Glover), all under 1.8m, competing at and around the breakdown. The absence of Milo Sidiki, a taller MHS backrower provides College with a bigger window to throw lineout ball long.
Remembering 2007 : College vs Michaelhouse
Essentially Michaelhouse, who had 6 Craven Week reps in 2007 arrived unbeaten at College on College Reunion Day and expected to cruise past the Red Black White based on comparable results. House were however without outstanding wings Mark Richards and Ruan Combrinck due to injury as well as Pat Lambie and Ross Cronje who were involved in the SA Schools game at the time. However College did not have one Craven Week rep and MHS still had Guy Cronje at 10 (Craven week captain that year), Murray de Bruyn and Xillan van Rooyen (the Craven Week 12 & 13) and Ntsolo Setlaba (CW flank) on the field. College were hugely motivated and tackled and niggled and shut down the MHS backs by targeting the young scrummie (Michael Simpson – Grant Khomo 2006 and Academy Week in 2008) and putting him under pressure. Net result – the only loss that the Michaelhouse 2007 team suffered. The Michaelhouse “lowlights” are on youtube which will give a perspective of the niggly, scrappy nature of the game.
Hilton vs Kearsney
This game should be a cracker. Predicting a winner is difficult as chances are it will come down to one or two key plays that separate the two sides at the end. The last encounter on Botha’s Hill earlier this season was won by Kearsney but it was a game of two halves, the first one belonging to Hilton. For both teams a win on Gilfillan will go quite a way to defining their season. For Hilton defeat would mean they will probably end after next week’s Michaelhouse rematch with a record of losing more matches than they won in 2015, double defeats against the two big KZN private schools, not one single win against a team of significance, and bear in mind this is by no means a weak Hilton team either. Kearsney has a few 2015 scalps to be proud of and has run Michaelhouse and Westville, currently the two top schools in KZN this season close, so all-in-all they their season is respectable but is standing on played 15 won 8 lost 6 drew 1 at present. So getting two wins from their last two games boosts them to the worthy round figure of ten wins and a probably a thumbs up for their 2015 achievements.
Kearsney come in fresh off a win against Northwood, where they produced exciting attacks. The requirement will be more of the same. Look for opportunities and give players a big of licence to take advantage.
Against College, Hilton didn’t win or retain enough ball and the ball they did recycle was usually painfully slow ball. So for one thing they need to achieve faster ball security, which in turn will give their bigger carriers chances to run at less organised defences. The Hilton backline attacks from deep were awesome so finding ways to get the ball wide quickly in their opponents half may also go a long way to influencing the scoring. Better tactical kicking and kick chasing must surely also be on the cards, as this aspect is always handy on Gilfillan, especially when playing with the sun at your back.
The exciting contest in this match has to be at flyhalf where two under-17’s Curtis Angus of Hilton and Cameron Ritchie of Kearsney are capable being playmakers with plenty of flare.
St Charles vs DHS
If DHS pitch up in the right sort of intensity they should be expected to win comfortably but on home soil, SCC is likely to be a different kettle of fish and they will be full of desire to set the record straight after last weekend’s painful experience on Meadows.
Glenwood vs Port Natal
The main bit of interesting but unconfirmed news for this game is that Glenwood may play their outstanding under-16 lock JJ van der Mescht. Since the Porties starting line-up are all under-18, it’s possible for Glenwood to get the paperwork in order to allow the big lock to play. The trick might come in if the White Knights introduce an under-19 replacement at some stage.
@Playa: I thought MC were full value. Very physical game and MC very good in defense and at the break down. They harassed the MHS 9/10 consistently, limiting their time on the ball. In the end the continual pressure created the opportunities for MHS.
Eish! College handed a beating
Michaelhouse were full value for their win
@GreenBlooded: Thanks. That’s good to know. An attempt at an u18 arrangement must have been made then because Porties generally reward their 2nd XV match achievers with places on the 1st XV bench so an u19 could otherwise be on the bench.
How formal does the declaration have to be? From what you are saying Grey PE erred during one of their games at the last Cape Schools Week two years ago by obtaining this declaration beforehand.
They need to declare upfront if it is an U19 or U18 game. If it’s U18 – no U19’s can play. If it’s U19 – no U16’s can play. It can’t change during the game.