Paarl Gymnasium ace lock Jaco Willemse has been ruled out for Saturday’s big Premier Interschool’s game against visiting fellow national powerhouse school Paul Roos Gymnasium from Stellenbosch. Willemse who stands 1.98m, weighs a massive 128kg, and who left a lasting impression during the recent televised game against Affies, limped off the field during Western Province trials earlier this week and it’s believed that he will be sidelined for 6 weeks. This adds to Gim’s woes as they are already without three star backline players in Craven Week Player of the Year 2013 Grant Hermanus, captain Wayno Visagie and big booter Andri Cooper, via injury.
Paul Roos will be without their first two choices at fullback. Injuries keep the lively Morné Taljaard (knee) as well as reliable Joshua Vermeulen (ankle) sidelined. This results in usual flyhalf Aidynn Cupido shifting to fullback in the starting line-up. Other than the two replacements called onto the bench for the injured fullbacks, PRG will be at full strength.
The heavy rain in the Western Cape is expected to last until tomorrow evening, followed by overcast conditions and possible light rain in Saturday morning. Kriel field does not drain well though, so expect conditions under foot for this game to be heavy. This should suit Gim’s heavy pack of forwards. It’s believed that Paul Roos has the better tactical kickers in their team, so everything still points to a very interesting match-up.
Gimmies have a proud home record in tact at the moment. The last time they lost on Kriel was in 2011 to Rondebosch, although they were held to draws there by Outeniqua in 2012 and Oakdale last year. So that’s almost 3 years unbeaten on home soil (1085 days).
The match will be televised on SuperSport Select SA (Channel 210) at 12h05 on Saturday, 10 may 2014.
Teams:
| PAARL GIM | PAUL ROOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gavin van den Berg (vc) | 1 | Carl Prinsloo |
| 2 | Marco Mostert | 2 | Jacques van Zyl |
| 3 | Adriaan Geldenhuys | 3 | Jerome Korf |
| 4 | Dieter Leicher | 4 | Louis Conradie |
| 5 | Hennie Beukes | 5 | Emile Cloete |
| 6 | Dehan Visser | 6 | Jacques Oosthuizen |
| 7 | Waldo Macdonald | 7 | Dean van Tonder |
| 8 | HJ Luus | 8 | Michael Meyer (c) |
| 9 | Zandré de Koker (c) | 9 | Herschel Jantjies |
| 10 | Walter Smit | 10 | Reinhardt Foruin |
| 11 | Grant Williams | 11 | Edwill van der Merwe |
| 12 | Willie Smal | 12 | Edrich Venter |
| 13 | Taigh Schoor | 13 | Matt Gallow |
| 14 | Leaviel Gouws | 14 | Nico Leonard |
| 15 | Paul Human | 15 | Aidynn Cupido |
| 16 | Willem Moolman | 16 | Muammir Salie |
| 17 | Heinrich Hattingh | 17 | Robert Matthee |
| 18 | O’ Neil Thiart | 18 | Christiaan Hamman |
| 19 | MJ Hayes | 19 | Joa Swart |
| 20 | Gustav Marais/Johan Visser | 20 | Mitchell Carstens |
| 21 | Keenan Abrahams | 21 | Calvin Nell |
| 22 | Paul Beresford | ||
| 23 | Adriaan van Niekerk |
Remember to make your pick on our Premier Interschools Superbru
Well done Paul Roos!!!!!!!
Sjoe, moeilik om te voorspel. Seker rugby sal die wenner wees tussen twee bulspanne wat my na aan die hart lê. Sal maar van veraf kyk. Die dogters hokkie op die astro langsaan tussen twee van Boland se sterkste dogters spanne gaan ook wit warm wees. Die twee afrigters is boesem vriende en baie vir beide spanne op die spel. Bloemhof is 3de en Gim 6de op die SA Rankings. http://www.saschoolsports.co.za/hockey/national/hockey-girls-the-sa-schools-top-40-rankings.html
I did not see the incident where Jaco was injured because I was watching the U/16 trials. When I left I could see Jaco limping very badly and feared the worst.
Let’s hope he’ll be ready for Craven Week.
Sterkte Jaco – hoop jy herstel goed en vinniger as 6 weke (mens mag maar hoop) !!
@gimmie: It’s one thing about Paarl Gim. Never write them off. They are just too proud. It will be a tough game. I think the wet field will be a big factor here. It’s a shame about the weather. I was looking forward to some good old running rugby. Good luck to both teams!!!
@beet, apart from Hermanus, Cooper, Visagie and Willemse, we are also missing Stander (nr 14, he played 1st team all season last year) and willemse’s lock partner Ernst van Rijn. That is basically our 7 best players….with the exception of Vd Berg…I simply cannot see how such a depleted Gim side can compete with a competent Paul Roos team…I feel for our coaching staff….having said that I know our boys will give their everything…and that is all we can ask…