All eyes of the SA Schoolboy Rugby supporters will be on a packed Faure Street Stadium tomorrow at 16:00, when the crown for the best 1stXV in South Africa will find a new home.
History says that the "favourites" normally lose with an average difference in scores close to 3 points. However, in 2024, Paarl Gim ignored history and beat Paarl Boishaai 30-08.
Paarl Gim has won 52 interschools, Paarl Boishaai won 42 and 11 matches ended in a draw.
The spectators will be a mix of old boys who have their own tale of heroics on this day in history, and the later it gets, the history gets inflated until his schoolmates also start to doubt the story. The daddies will tighten their belts on their already too-tight pants an extra notch or two, while the mommies will wear whatever is needed to restore what gravity already has destroyed 30 years ago.
Paarl Boishaai lost only to Oakdale almost four months ago, while Paarl Gim drew to Rondebosch and Affies. Not much to decide who is the favourite.
However, Paarl Boishaai started their "season" with a tour to the UK, slowly building their squad to claim the crown of the Paarl. I had the privilege of witnessing Paarl Boishaai's efforts on the pitch, and each time there was a "difference", a new defensive pattern, changing the attack from their usual dominant pack of forwards to an all-out attack from the back, which improved every time. And this makes Paarl Boishaai my favourite for tomorrow. Young men who were slowly rebuilding, to right the history with 2024 engraved in their memory.
However, Pieter Rossouw and Paarl Gim will be ready to pounce at every tiny opportunity they get. And if/when they claim the crown of the Paarl and 1stXV of the year, they will take it in their stride with the humility of a true champion.
All I know is that it will be a spectacle between the two best 1stXV teams in the country. The match will be played at a high tempo, matching each other blow by blow until the bounce of the ball favours one of the teams.