Pretoria will be hosting two massive games just a few kilometres apart on Saturday when Garsfontein hosts Jeppe, and Waterkloof hosts Affies. The rest of the region will see their heroes coming out to impress their supporters. I think, following the next two weeks, I will be able to predict the winners taking into account the travelling and referees.
All eyes will be on Garsfontein and their new coaching staff, looking for some new and innovative additions to their already successful rugby DNA, while Jeppe's growth into a top ten rugby school is undeniable. Who will ever forget their 22-19 win over Grey College at the Noord/Suid Rugby Festival? However, their matches against Garsfontein were, in recent years, close and extremely physical.
Jeppe had two boys, Mihle Dyakala and Phano Letsie, in the SA U17 EPD Squad, while surprisingly Drewyn Baron was Garsfontein's only representative. While it can be expected that Jaques van Rooyen's hand will be visible in Grasfontein's pack of forwards, the battle at the back could be interesting with both sides having brilliant talent that can squeeze the match-winning try out of any defence, with time already up on the clock. Therefore, expect an abrasive battle up front for the first thirty minutes or so, whereafter Garsies should start to dominate, providing their electric backs with quality attacking ball.
Being a close game, Jeppe will be patient with their loosies, ready to pounce on anything loose, from which Jeppe will attack and score spectacular tries. And like I said before, in a close game, one bounce of the ball could be enough to secure a win.
Down the road, Waterkloof and their supporters will wait for Affies with revenge in their hearts, and following their 40-09 win over Middelburg HTS, their supporters' mobiles and laptops will be ready to celebrate. Unfortunately, I do not think we will see the best from Waterkloof as the ill-timed fixture against Middelburg HTS will count against them during the final twenty minutes of the second half. And this is a pity, as I said in a previous article, this Waterkloof team is almost coached to perfection, with three or four stars who are able to swing a game in two seconds.
Waiting for them will be a fresh Affies team with a brilliant U17 group that is rumoured to have eight boys in the starting line-up. Affies in recent years did not make full use of the BIG forwards, and I suspect that we will again see them playing an expansive fifteen-man game plan, which unfortunately will be the difference between Affies and the cramping Waterkloof.
In Krugersdorp, Monnas will host Welkom Gim in a clash that not many will show interest in. However, South African schoolboy rugby is a lot poorer without the Wit Bulle in the Top 10. Monnas lost to Diamantveld with one point (36-35), which was one of the big surprises last weekend, while Welkom Gim received a 102-03 drubbing from Grey College. This week will be an opportunity for Monnas to fix a few small glitches; however, if Monnas do not beat Welkom Gim properly, the doomsday prophets will be having a ball. Come on, Monnas.
NoordVaal
Garsfontein vs Jeppe
Heidelberg Volkies vs Bergsig Akademie
Hugenote Springs vs Die Anker
Jeugland vs Montana Bulls
Menlopark vs Ben Vorster
Middelburg vs Transvalia
Middelburg HTS vs Piet Retief
Monnas vs Welkom Gim
Nelspruit vs EG Jansen
Parktown vs Trinityhouse
Potch Volkies vs Klerksdorp
St Alban's vs St John's
St David's vs St Stithians
Wagpos vs Zwartkop
Waterkloof vs Affies
Wesvalia vs Lichtenburg