Silly season is nearing its completion and soon all questions about where the various school teams actually fit into the big picture will start to be answered. When it comes to pre-season discussions about who will be top of the pile in the Western Cape, conversations don’t often progress much further than a chat about what the outcomes will be in the intense and pulsating games between Paarl Boys High (HJS), Paarl Gim and Paul Roos. There are always positive vibes around about several other Cape schools and their chances of doing well but “well” is generally defined as finishing in fourth place in the region. Not that this is any kind of dishonour or poor show. The WP Rugby Institute website puts it perfectly when they state that “Western Province has more quality schoolboy rugby players than anywhere in the country or even the world.” Fourth under those circumstances is excellent and could easily translate to a Top 10 finish nationally. That’s how tough the compo is down south. Rondebosch is an excellent example of a team that is expected to turn more than a few heads in 2013. The school has 13 returning players with 1st XV experience according to information presented by Stoopstats.co.za This does not guarantee success but it is usually a sign that something good is brewing.
So getting back to the big question. Western Cape school rugby numero uno for 2013! Who will it be? Who is going to emerge as top dog this year? Boishaai, Gimmies or the Maroon Machine? The answer is off course OUTENIQUA!!! It’s not part of the general rule of thumb but yip, the Kwaggas have a seriously good looking team this year. If anyone is primed to do the unthinkable and knock one of the three big guns from the Boland off top spot, don’t look to Cape Town or the Northern Suburbs or the rest of Boland, hone in on one particular South Western Districts powerhouse from George. It’s going to be an amazing season. Paul Roos are overdue for a really big one. On paper Gimmies look invincible. HJS runs a top set-up and it’s little wonder they currently have the best record of all schools against Grey Bloem. Winning the psychological battle against these three powerhouse schools is a battle all on it’s own. Outeniqua has to do that first to stand a chance on the field but they have the personnel this season to bring it.
Hi guys
Have been incredibly busy, so not much posting and have a big year ahead of me so will be more scarce.
Don’t write off Bishops this year. last year was the worst in 152 years of Bishops rugby. Its probably what the school actually needed. I believe that there is good talent in this year’s side, but am not close enough to the school to comment more than that.
I think they will surprise one or 2 big guns this year.
@Amalekite: Bloedwors jersey for me to.
@beet: Hi Beet. I have been away for the last 2 weeks. Please assign me a Westville jersey. Thank you.
Paarl Gim is vandag amptelik 155jaar oud.
@rugbyfan: Ye you got it right it was the 1972 team that was so good.
@BOG: Bog sorry i meant 1972 got my years a bit mixed and 67 was very good.
@BOG: Hey i see people got a bit hot under the collar here.
@PaulRoosPa: @PaulRoosPa: Baie dankie- ek is in die mark as “wynbouer”- ek verneem julle bied dit aan as vak. Ek kan julle absoluut waarborg dat geen versoeking in die vorm vd finale produk, in die pad sal kom vd leerders nie.
@BOG: Bog iemand moet werk skep vir die arme OG’s! 8)
@Grasshopper: I get that you the walking Encyclopedia of Glenwood, but you should refrain from involving Glenwood in everything. We all love our respective schools, but really now
@Brum, thanks for that. Obviously Bishops had a great side that year……..
Apologies they lost to Northlands and College in Natal and then Wynberg and Bishops 39-16 on tour in the Cape
Grasshopper , Glenwood in 1979 lost 4 games in total .Northlands who had Hugh Reece-Edwards and drew with College , Voortrekker and then Wynberg and Bishops 39-16 on a tour of Cape Town.
@Gungets, not sure of 79 in detail, that para was taken from an old rugby programme. I was only born in 79. I do have great story tellers in the form of my uncle who played in the 64 & 65 Glenwood side and also in the first Craven week, my uncle who was at DHS in 79 and my dad who was at DHS in 69…..they tell me all the stories at our family braai’s….
@Grasshopper: You neglected to mention that 1 of those 1979 losses was to College at Goldstones. 7-3, which hardly balances the drubbing on Dixons, but College will claim it.
@beet:
Just read your e-mail… Sorry for the late response but I’ve responded.
@BOG and Grasshopper
Yes it was Durban High School. They were complimented for that. In fact, the HT score read 7-6 to Grey so it mustve been tough till the 2nd half.
That DHS team had 5 KZN players and one SA Schools B team player. Very good team that!
Bog, the OG are friends of ours. We try to help with employment etc.
@BOG:
@Ploegskaar: beet needs to dig up something interesting on Monnas….
@Ploegskaar: With Hans Coetzee running things, it’s going to become Fort Monnax. No info will get out.
@Playa: Think he is patiently waiting for a Monnas article….
@Playa: Re-surfaced as “The Beast”
What ever happened to Andre T?
@Maroon: No one can question his coaching credentials. You had an OG build your new sport complex- are you looking out for an OG as principal too? In about 20 years, this “policy”, should start paying dividends. Selfs my perd wat ek twee jaar gelede daar gelos het, hou julle gras kort- hy is nou so vet(en sleg) van al daardie groen gras, dat n hyskraan hom nie kan skuif nie.
@Ludz, it didn’t/ It’s because I spoke about Glenwood playing Paul Roos and Gim this year and it went down that route. if you want to talk about Queens go ahead, that is why you have a Queens jersey and I have a Glenwood jersey. We obviously have the knowledge of our particular schools and I probably blog the most on here. Happy to talk about any other school….
Bog, Dawie jnr is involved with the WP rugby and is still a good friend of PRG. He was also not involved in PRG coaching last year.
From what I understand, Dawie snr., was approached due to his particular skills set and availability.
How did this post manage to become about Glenwood again
@PaarlBok: Wel, dan gaan daar ‘n helse knal wees waneer daai twee pakke mekaar op die 27ste Julie op die Plaas tref…..Ons wens nooit vir veel nie, net miskien ‘n hehaling van 2009.
@Maroon: Above , we have compared some GCB teams of the past and the team in which the PRG coach, Dawie Snyman and his brother, Jackie, played in, ie 1967, must also be regarded as one of the best. Those days, boys were men and 2 in that team, were going on for 21. They heard in the Navy that they had failed( For the younger generation, “failed” means that you had to repeat the year), so they completed the yr and returned to complete their schooling the following year- Waldo Schooling and Thabo Wepener. And there were no moans or groans and the only supplements in those years, were brandy and Coke. What made PRG go from nephew(Dawie- Jackies son) to the uncle? Getting desperate to beat Grey?@Grasshopper: No this was DHS as in Durban High School.@The Beast: Koo-wee, is that you AT?
The new coaching structure is a very good one. Bog, we even use some Grey experience
Paul Roos has a good squad this year. Nice big pack and speed at the back. Lots of experience guys returning, but this in itself is not a guarentee for success. Should be a great season in the Western Cape.
@GreenBlooded: Big Al and I are old mates…….. Love pulling his chain!!!!
@Grasshopper: Saw some big boys at Paarl Gims practise.
@Grasshopper: A fire needs needs oxygen. Take away the oxygen, the fire goes out. Physics 101.
@Grasshopper: I hope they enjoy roasted bottoms………could be pretty anal!!!!
@Beast, yes boet Glenwood are playing Gimmies and Paul Roos this year……see the connection?
@BoishaaiPa: Time for photographs again………me thinks!!!!
@Grasshopper: The heading was Boishaai, Gimmies, Paul Roos or …?
Not Glenwood again………………freak oke……there are other schools other than those damn Grasshoppers!!!!!
@Bog, are you sure that was Durban High School and not Diamantveld Hoerskool, very different….
@Grasshopper: I have often read about the attempt being made to ressurect DHS rugby. Guess which team had the narrowest margin against GCB in 2007? DHS- 21-6 !! Surprized? @rugbyfan: Believe me if I say that I am VERY familiar with the team of 1971(Pilots team) and I have to disagree- by a long margin.
@Paarlbok, don’t expect a big Glenwood pack this year. I hear we are under 750kg, which is tiny by modern standards. But the backs are lightning quick…..I think all run the 100 under 11secs. Going to be good games against Paul Roos, Boland Landbou and Gim….
Been talking to Elmo (Boishaai coach) and he dont sound that confident, have to start all over this year, been at Paarl Gims practises and they look as good as ever at this stage, still a big sqaud conditioning but working hard to get ready for a difficult season. Agree on the Kwagga one. Recon Gims 2013 season will be tested early in the season after two away matches against the Kwaggas and Paul Roos.
Whoops, not boishaai swap that for Paarl Gim….
@Rugbyfan, it’s all relative. Good for Glenwood and KZN is not quite the same as good for Grey Bloem. We used to play your Cherries side in the 90’s and just won. in 92 we beat your Cherries side 14-10 at the Kokstad festival, so just imagine how much we would have lost at 1st level. We are spring chickens to the A league, playing the likes of Paarl Gim, Paul Roos, Paarl Boys, Affies and Grey. It will take time to build up the confidence to believe we can win regularly. We do now have 2 wins over Affies, one over Grey, Paul Roos, Monnas and Boland Landbou. We still need to get a Gim and Boishaai scalp to really believe we can compete. This year we have some serious fixtures playing Paul Roos, Boland Landbou, Boishaai, Affies, Grey Bloem, Monnas, College x 2, Selborne and 3 tough fixtures at Pukke usually Framesby and Outeniqua……hectic!
@Grasshopper: That would have been intersting games as far as i can remember both those years Grey also had good teams in 65 they played 15 lost 1 which was against Queens 6-3 and in 1979 they lost one which was against Paarl Boys High 15-13 all other games they won by an average score of 34-7 which is a very big margin the only other close game that year was against Queens 12-10(Which was the only game they lost that year.
I remember hearing alot about Glenwoods 1979 team they were very good.
@Bog, that makes it a better pill to swallow, hahaha. For me what would have been great is if our best two years 1965 and 1979 had a chance to play Grey Bloem in those years. We might have had a chance then….
The 1965 side is still considered by most Old Boys and KZN pundits as the best ever produced by Glenwood, playing 14 and winning 14, scoring 283 points while only 50 points were scored against. Seven players represented Natal Schools that year and included great names like Kevin Sclanders (capped 3 times for Natal Schools), Hylton Aylward (capped 3 times for Natal Schools & Captain in 1964 & 1965), Dennis Morrissey (capped 2 times for Natal Schools), R.D Shaw, E Sclanders, A.J Delport, A.R Wallace, D.M Lawson and C.R Chambers. In 1979 saw Glenwood produce their best side since 1965. Although 2 games were lost by the narrowest of margins, there was little doubt that they were the best side in Natal. They played magnificent rugby, combining superb forward power with intelligent backline play. Their margins of victory over some of the best sides in Natal say it all, College 33-6, DHS 32-4, Westville 44-9 and Hilton 53-12! Derek La Marque was simply superb. Probably the only schoolboy to represent South Africa at waterpolo while still at school and captain both SA Schools rugby and waterpolo in one year. He was capped 3 times for KZN Schools in 1977, 1978 and 1979. He went on to have a good career with Natal and helped Natal make the 1984 Currie Cup final, playing with greats like Wynand Claasen, Craig Jamieson and Hugh Reece-Edwards.
@BOG: Not sure of your age saw 2007 team a few times they were brilliant although still rate 1971 as GB best team forwards were way better.
@Grasshopper: I have seen many school sides over many years, in SA and beyond, and at different levels and I regard that side, as the best that I have seen.Keep in mind, that they effectively represented FS in the CW final and beat WP, which was a good side, 53-3
@Bog, yes it makes me feel better because out loss was in Bloem away from home after a long bus trip. I think that must be Glenwood’s biggest loss ever…..
@Grasshopper: Yep, you are right- 50 points plus. 81-0 to be exact. But, if it makes you feel better, they beat MC 86-3 that year in PMB
@Bog, yeah to beat Grey anytime is a big achievement and 2012 was probably our last chance, but to be honest our team were not a team and Grey would have steam rolled us if the game had been played. Yes, in 2007 we lost by 50 points plus I think. Up in Bloem visiting teams seem to have a 30 point deficit from the start…..although you have to admit we gave Grey a decent game in 2011, with Moolman putting down your SA Schools flank/No8 a few times. The game was very close at half time until Serfontein came on and changed the game to Grey’s favour. Probably Glenwood’s best performance in Bloem….
@BOG:
True about the second ½ of the season tho. New coach. New emphasis. Almost played like a new team.
@Grasshopper: Do yourself a favor and keep a Saturday open to travel to Paarl’s Brugstreet…Perhaps for the Boishaai vs Paul Roos or Boishaai vs Landbou games…You dont even have to watch the main game to see the intensity…One of my favorite matches to watch vs PRG is always the Boishaai “Effies” against the Paul Roos Pirates…Great pre-match war dances and always great running rugby!
@rugbyfan: Indeed, with the slaughter at Brug Str. possibly the lowest point in their season and history. No tears from me though, having been on the receiving end of a proper hiding at the Piley Rees in my matric year (’92), with a certain Herschelle Gibbs pulling the strings at 10!
@Ploegskaar: Ye they were Bishops were shocking
@Grasshopper: Much was expected from the 2012 Wynberg side, as they had played and performed so well at the various age group levels. A good result against Grey PE away boded well for their season, but unfortunately a close loss against Paarl Gim at home and mixed success against their mountain peers was as close as they came to realizing their pre-season potential. This, as well as the PRG monopoly on WP CW selections, resulted in their lack of WP CW representation. Purely based on feedback from the BL team and having watched all the matches played against the S-subs teams last year, SACS was the best of the Soute.
@beet: The issue with these private school there could just be 10 imports that know body knows about which could or not make them better.
Agree with Boland Landbou they do well something about these agri schools look at Marlow had a subdued 2011/12 but with the Under 16 pack they had last year 2013 and especially 2014 they will be a had unit to beat.
@Kes Dutchie: I agree. The further we go back in time, the more prominent Bishops appear to be, right back to a point reached where they overtake Grey Bloem as one of SA’s best rugby schools.
If you look at BoishaaiPa’s 4 year Top 50 in the SBR Rankings vault, you’ll see Bishop who’s last terrific season was back in 2010, down in 13 spot. Still very good but 8 places behind PRG. In fact Bishops are a lot closer to possibly the biggest overachievers in the WP – Boland Landbou (based on size ratio). Last time I looked the results coming out of Bishops lower teams did not inspire much confidence. I think they may need to get a few recruits in if they want to go toe to toe with the Big 3 in the W/C. And I won’t be at all surprised if BL overtakes them on a 5-year ranks listing after this season is completed.
@beet: So right about the level of competition in the WC. Apart from playing the Cape Town/Winelands regulars PRG, Boishaai, Paarl Gim, Boland Landbou, Bishops, SACS, Rondebosch and Wynberg, you need to add games against Outeniqua and Oakdale from the SC, Hugenote Wellington and Worcester Drostdy from the Boland and the ever dangerous Tygerberg from the Northern Subs. To be the best you definitely need to beat the best down here in the deep south!
@all, I’m lucky enough to live in Cape Town now and will be attending a few of those games. Beet if you want clips and pics, just let me know and I’ll do my best. Wynberg had a great side last year but that was not reflected in the Craven Week selections, but I won’t cover old ground. Just one thing to warn Outeniqua and any school with expected great teams, play it down and bit and don’t get ahead of yourselves, Glenwood did that and got burnt in 2012….
Rugby is of course not played on paper. PRG has a great crop of u/16’s taking the step up this year, as has Wynberg, but only time will tell if they can carry their respective age group form through to a higher level. Personally I think the 2012 2nd and 3rd team results, where many gr. 11’s would have played, may provide a picture of how things may unfold in 2013. Outeniqua definitely has the inside track in the WC, although they are also not an unknown entity anymore, but I agree that one of the 4 mentioned schools will wear the unofficial crown in the WC again this year.
@beet: Selborne against GB last 6 games D1 L5
@beet: I do think that traditionally you could mention Bishops just about in the same crowd? however last year was a bit rough and from what I hear this year wont be much of an improvement. Hopefully they prove us wrong
@Grasshopper: I wanted to go as far back as the GCB amazing unbeaten team 2007. Those are the 6 seasons. Definitely Glenwood got a great victory in 2006. One that will not be forgotten + they had a chance to repeat it last year. Pity the match was cancelled.
@Amalekite: I think we’ll see an interesting battle unfold in and around Cape Town. SACS have been working hard at their rugby and we witnessed some of the dividends last year. Tygerberg also had a poor 1st XV season in 2012 and I expect they will up things this year. Wynberg and Bishops, I’m not so sure about. Certainly Bishops have had excellent seasons in the past but the compo is tough in the Cape. What’s good in every other region might only buy a school 7-8 in the pecking order down there.
BTW – what school jersey can I assign to you?
No mention of Bishops ? Last year was most probably their worst year in my memory. They are a proud rugby school. I expect them to be back with a vengeance…
@Beet, did you forget the Glenwood 14-10 win over Grey Bloem in 2006, one of our best achievements. Yes the Grey Bloem side that year was average for them but a win is a win…..
@BOG: It’s about other teams as well and being able to compete right through the age groups and lower teams. Everybody finds it difficult playing in Bloem, specially the teams from the coast…and here I am only referring to atmospheric changes…not even talking about the refs
…..The last couple of years when Grey came down to Paarl the total matches won where very even , close to 50/50…Up in Bloem it tends to go 75/25. I think overall a better performance in depth than most other schools.
I think in the last 6 seasons it stands like this against Grey Bloem:
HJS 1W 1D 4L
Gim 1W 5L
PRG 1W 5L
Affies 1W 5L
Selborne 1D 5L
Everyone else incl Monnas and Klofies 0W
@BOG: lots of emphasis on currently Bog
Grey College has not beat HJS since 2010.
Beet, Are you sure that Boishaai has the best record against GCB? I thought it was PRG.
Methinks mayhaps to much pre-season hype and expectations can unsettle a ship!..I have seen that happen often….We will have to wait and see….Do not underestimate Boland Landbou this year..they have a good crop of u/16’s coming through as well!