“Die Bloutrein” are the preseason favourites
HJS Paarl Boys’ High are the early favourites to claim top spot in South Africa in 2023.
The have a top notch squad.
By resumé head coach Sean Erasmus is arguably the top coach in schoolboy rugby. He didn’t have that much time with the squad ahead of 2022. For 2023, it’s been a full preseason.
Lots of people are keen to box Erasmus as a conservative coach so Boishaai’s expansive style very evident in the second part of 2022, initially came across as very square peg in a round hole stuff. It’s not like that at all. That’s the structure SE wants to coach all the time. This will make the Paarl school extremely “giftig”.
Western Cape
Gimsistency
Paarl Gim – Maybe a bit of a concern in the engine-room frontrow, otherwise the quality to suggest Top 3 material again. Excellent second-row and backline to boot.
Outen-chievers
Abrie Minnie’s Outeniqua hope to celebrate the school’s 100th birthday in style by producing an overachiever like season. They have a “bulspan” who will set out to end in top spot. They should be Top 5 and any way it’s looked at, they will strong challengers for the best over-performing school on the SA map.
What about Paul-erhouse Roos
National Powerhouse Paul Roos are never afforded the luxury of entering a season as underdogs. Expectations are always high and finishing outside the Top 5 considered a bit of a disaster. So the bad news of the Stellenbosch Maroon support base is that Top 10 is a reality but Top 5 will be a massive achievement. Roos will have a youngish 1st XV and if there are go-to players amongst the matrics, they are not being talked about at this stage. The real good news is that from 2024 onwards, Paul Roos are likely to become the bar setters in the nation. Verdict, don’t expect a Top 5 finish, but look forward to them nailing down a Top 10 finish.
Grey College
No one in there right mind ever writes off Grey. They will end in one of the Top 3 positions. There is enough quality, depth, determination and good coaching to ensure this.
See http://schoolboyrugby.co.za/wp-admin/post.php?post=41478&action=edit&classic-editor
Noord-Vaal
Seunskool expected to lead the charge
Lots of things suggest Affies should be challenging for top honours every season. They are a big, rich, strong rugby cultured Afrikaans language school. A recipe for success. And they are a success story. They are the fifth and final member of the Powerhouse Five. So a top 5 finish is the norm and they are good value for this in 2023.
Witbulle South of the Jukskei
Top 10 material for the Lions region flagship. Krugersdorp’s Monnas more than likely to have a big strong team.
Die Bere
Garsfontein are very much the new big kids on the block. Never short of sideline controversy which seems to deduct from their rugby achievements on the field. Once again they will have some “oulike” players. Predicted Top 10 finisher.
The darkhorses of the Vaal
Between Covid and a forgettable 2022 campaign, Helpmekaar, the oldest Afrikaans private school in SA, will enter 2023 under the radar. They do however have some very useful players at their disposal. If new head coach Dietlov Coetzee can hit the ground running, it could turn out to be a profitable campaign with a high finish.
Next Year!
Like Paul Roos, don’t expect too many fireworks from the Jansies of Boksburg but anticipate an ever improving 1st XV given the strength of their 2022 u16A.
KZN
Hilton
After some dismal years of having their names dragged through the mud for things like fixture padding and inconsistent decision-making, the negatives had a profound effect on Hilton, SA’s most expensive school. Since then they have turned things around big time. Like a few other schools around SA, Covid really came at the wrong time because it messed with their efforts to further establish themselves as the Sharks regions numero uno rugby school. 2020 and 2021 would have been grand years for the Black and White had the seasons gone the full distance. So in terms of consistency, they are the safe bet to finish top of their province’s pile once again. Since KZN has added “high standard” to what has generally proven to be a nice competitive league in the past, its not so easy to finish the congested second term season unscathed. Hilton are unlike to be undefeated locally along the way (something they avoided in 2022 on the way to a Top 10 national finish which may impact on them repeating the feat.
Greens add the machine suffix once again
Life isn’t expected to be easy for any school in the KZN Top League in 2023, but old pace-setters from the 2010’s, Glenwood have an excellent starting XV. If coach Derek Heiberg can keep this team intact, they have the potential to do really well. Expect potency in the line and their often timid pack is expected to have a bit more grunt this time around.
On the up
Hard to call a school in the Last Outpost a surprise package, but Michaelhouse are favourites to up their game and close the door on the top contenders in the provincial title run. This should do their national ranking the world of good.
Eastern Cape
Grey High
The Pajama-boys are the most consistent schoolboy rugby team in the Eastern Cape period. Every now and then another Eastern Cape school produces a amazing team and surpasses Grey, but generally if you are looking for a safe investment, Gqeberha’s finest is the go-to.
Talking Dreamteam
Marlow, Marlow, Marlow! The tiny farm school from Craddock was this website’s choice of team of the year in 2022. This year big things are expected of them once again. Guaranteed it won’t be that easy to reach the same heights as there will be a target on their backs this time around. However they have enough quality to indicate they are at the very least Top 20, and in a Cinderella-story they peak as high as Top 10.
Others
Between Queen’s and Selborne, one of these two Border giants will produce the goods and claim the highest finish for a school from the province.
@Knight_CHS07: Queens are my pick for the top side in the EC this year. How Grey High didn’t have a dream team in 2022 I don’t know, they were a force of nature at junior age level.
@Kantman: Your predictions are very well formulated. Oakdale really has the toughest schedule of all this year. I will follow there progress with interest.
I’m not counting out GreyPE, but I must remind everyone that the 2022 team was expected to be top 5 material based on their age group results. I am keen to see how Queens College do this year, they had an very good u16A and decent 1st XV in 2022. If they somehow have at least 5 or 6 players returning from last year’s 1st XV combined with the talent of that u16A we might have a strong Kudu for 2023.
@Kantman: Very wise and accurate analysis! Well done , you know your stuff !
One prediction I am prepare to make is whatever most of us predict will be wrong. Teams are too close and injuries does play major role . There is just no easy games anymore.
Top 10:
1. Boishaai
2. Grey College
3. Outeniqua
4. Affies
5. Paarl Gim
6. Garsfontein
7. Paul Roos
8. Monument
9. Boland Landbou
10. Stellenburg
I will take a stab at top spot prediction (assuming BHP ranking methodwill determine). When I refer to Top anything, it is based on strength and placement as per 2010-2022 ranking on SBR.
Top 5
Affies (depth, no Monnas or Outeniqua, will know by 20 May)
Garsfontein (well planned season, no Winelands games, will know by 1st May)
Grey (playing all Top 12 except Glenwood, 13 May at HJS will be key)
HJS (toughest schedule after Oakdale, getting through season will be key)
Outeniqua (centenery, no HJS, PRG or Affies)
Rest of Top 10
Glenwood (easiest schedule of Top 20)
Grey HS (easy schedule)
Monnas (not playing HJS or Affies)
Paarl Gim (will know by 1 May)
PRG (will know by 27 May)
Wynberg (I just like their trajectory)
Hilton will not be as strong this year as previously…they have not invested as heavily as in their 150 year vintage (2022)…lower age grade teams actually battled a bit in 2022….Michaelhouse to win home and away next year is my guess…
Interested in your take that Hilton will again be top of the pile in KZN this year. Their 4 SA Schools players have matriculated, and while they have some great talent still in the 1st team, with some u17 KZN reps, their u16A team last year were very weak. Unless they have recruited (which they probably have), are the remainder of the 1st team and 2nd team players dominant enough to claim top spot? Glenwood too had a weak u16A team by theor standards. I would think a school that has a mix of great returning 1st team players plus great u16A boys stepping up would have the edge? eg Michaelhouse, MBCollege, or Kearsney. I think it will be very competitive all round. Will be interesting to see how it unfolds.