The rugby season in South Africa is at full pace with some big matches being played all over the country with the one in the Paarl between Affies and Paarl Gym the "big" one between the number six and number three ranked teams according to the Ruggas.co.za rankings taking place. In New Zealand, more and more schools start to become active with St Kentigern playing Hastings maybe the biggest one there.
New Zeeland
Napier Boys High is playing in their first match against Westlake after their tour in South Africa and although Westlake has been the punching bag in this pre-season all eyes will be on Napier. St Kentigern already beat Westlake with 57-00 last week takes on Hastings BHS this weekend. St Kentigerns is ranked number three in New Zealand and Hasting number four, so this should also provide a lot of excitement.
South Africa
Central Region - Welkom Gim who is having a great start to their season, apart from the 29-0 loss against Grey College play against Voortrekker Bethlehem which ended Goudveld's good start with a win of 39-38 last weekend. Goudveld will try to get their season back on track against Kroonstad AHS which themselves are not doing that bad.
Eastern Cape - A lot of quality games being played here with the game between Dale and Queen's steeped in history. There is a big history when it comes to these two schools playing against each other, where form is not necessarily the guide to who will win this game, but more the pride and passion that is displayed between these two Eastern Cape schools.
Grey High hosts Paul Roos in Port Elizabeth in a match that should see Paul Roos win with relative ease. Paul Roos' team as close as a dream team as it can be. Both teams are unbeaten with Grey High's only mishap a draw against St Andrew's (17-17) last weekend. Grey College travels to Selborne College in the other must be at game, in the Eastern Cape. Grey College is unbeaten and most pundits favourites to remain ranked #1 and unbeaten for 2019 should win this one as Selborne's loss to Jeppe (15-19) makes a lot of people question their 2019 team.
KwaZulu-Natal
DHS had a horrible start to their season losing three from four is hosting Northwood who also is struggling, but DHS should win this one while Westville who lost to DHS last weekend hosts Jeppe from Johannesburg. This match should provide some great running rugby with Jeppe maybe just the favourites.
Glenwood hosts Monnas this weekend with Glenwood maybe not as strong as in previous years. Monnas is expected to come home with their loss last year at home against Glenwood revenged.
Noordvaal - The various PUKKE competitions are reaching quarter and semi-final stages and should provide a lot of excitement. A struggling Pretoria Boys High hosts Maritzburg College who must be the favourite after their close loss against Glenwood (7-15) last weekend. Nelspruit travels to Middelburg HTS this weekend to determine the champions of Mpumalanga with Middelburg HTS the favourites and also still unbeaten.
Garsfontein hosts Waterkloof with Garsfontein the favourites if the can keep the yellow cards away. Garsfontein received four yellow cards against Rustenburg last weekend ending the game with only twelve players on the field. Menlopark who lost against Monnas (8-30) host Ben Vorster in the other big game in Pretoria and should be too strong for their visitors.
Western Cape - Apart from the Affies vs Paarl Gim game most of the big dogs from the Western Cape is out of town.
Rondebosch hosts a Boland Landbou side that appears to be in fine form, having put their early 64-17 rout at the hands of Helpmekaar behind them. It is no secret that the Farmers produce their best rugby when they don’t have a record to protect and their free-flowing play is a joy to behold. Bosch has a strong front row, which includes Lukhanyo Vokozela and Troy Fisher, but when they look up and see Tehan du Plessis and Hen-ko Smuts in front of them, even they are bound to feel just a little bit uneasy. One suspects that rangy lock Matt Gray will find himself up against it too.
Wynberg got a 62-31 hiding out at the Farm last week, while Stellenberg continued to build on their burgeoning reputation with a fourth victory in five starts, Stellenberg to take home the scalp of yet another Premier "A" side. Bishops visit Bellville, one of their bogey grounds in recent years, but should be able to subdue and conquer the local Lions.
Durbanville picked a wonderful time to break their duck for the year when they beat visitors SACS 33-24, but this week it’s the Bulls of Oakdale who come to the lush edge of the northern suburbs. After an iffy start, Oakdale scaled a formidable peak last week when they edged the HTS Drostdy side 42-40 in Riversdale. The effects of that victory could have one of several consequences. Did that mighty tussle take a heavy physical and mental toll on the pride of Riversdale, or did it, in fact, reinvigorate them at just the right time as Wildeklawer looms in the not too distant future?