Following three weeks of action, with most of the schools finalising their preparations, this coming weekend will see most of the big dogs in action. We will as we expect witness what we are being spoilt within South Africa. Fast exciting and brutal action by the top junior talent in South Africa, and maybe in the world? A brutal world where last week's or year's fame counts nothing, zero and ziltz.
All eyes will be on Bloemfontein where Grey College host the giants from the Southern Cape, Oakdale. Grey already secured wins over Trio (38-10) and Welkom Gim (60-17) in 2025 while it will be the first outing for Oakdale. Grey showed that they are looking to hunt down the crown of the best 1stXV in South Africa, playing their well-known brand of hard-working forwards, force-feeding their exciting backs with an overload of quality front-foot ball. Oakdale on the other hand possesses one of the biggest packs of forwards, if not the biggest, which they need to work at 130% against their hosts. If not it could become a long day in Bloemfontein for the farmer boys.
Down the road, Welkom Gim hosts the "new" Monnas. Welkom Gim opened their season with wins over Jim Fouche (24-12) and Landboudal (45-14) before Grey College brought them back down to earth with a 60-17 drubbing. It will be Monnas' first outing of 2025. Welkom already showed with the ball in hand they can run any defence to pieces, however, as against Grey College Monnas will take them up front and maul and drive them to pieces whereafter their dangerous backs to travel home with big smiles on their faces. I do not think the Monnas that will arrive in Welkom is the final product, however, it should give us an educated look into their 2025 season.
Elsewhere in the region, Diamantveld will be looking to return to winning ways against Witteberg, after Affies blitzed through Kimberley a week ago.
Weekend's fixtures - Central Region
Diamantveld vs Witteberg
Fichardtpark vs Goudveld
Grey College vs Oakdale
Trio vs Jim Fouche
Voortrekker Bethlehem vs Sentraal
Welkom Gim vs Monnas