Paul Roos out to avenge 2022 loss at Rondebosch
After a shock defeat to Milnerton High School last weekend, Rondebosch Boys’ High will be eager for a strong bounce-back performance this weekend when they host Paul Roos Gimnasium.
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The Maroon Machine has been unstoppable so far this season and will be aiming for more of the same as they seek to ride the early season momentum they’ve built up. Two very impressive wins at the NMI North-South Tournament in Pretoria against Waterkloof (47-20) and the hosts, Affies (30-25), have put the Stellenbosch side firmly among the frontrunners this season.
Their fine run of form began at the end of last year, when a large Paul Roos touring group visited Ireland, where they performed well and produced a perfect record.
With their dual SA Schools’ star, Riley Norton, who captains the side, and dangermen, like Samuel Badenhorst, Keenan Stoffels and Gert Kemp, offering a myriad of attacking options, Paul Roos is primed for a special season.
‘Bosch, on the other hand, has already faced some tough challenges in 2024. They came up short against a fired-up Oakdale squad at the Wynberg Rugby Festival, going down by just four points, 13-17, and last weekend they let slip a 33-3 lead against Milnerton in the final 15 minutes to lose by one point.
They have, however, also shown that they have ample firepower, too, with a strong showing at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, where they were unbeaten, defeating Westville Boys’ High (31-10), Kearsney College (22-8) and Hoërskool Rustenburg (22-13) in their three matches.
Alutha Wesi, who regularly runs out as a loose-forward, will start at inside centre this weekend. He takes on a massive defensive role trying to contain Badenhorst and Matthew Kleyn in the visitors’ midfield.
The hosts will be in no doubt that they have a massive challenge ahead of them. They’ve only bested the Stellenbosch side twice before, with their match in 2011 ending in a 17-17 draw. However, the last time Paul Roos visited the Tinkie Heyns Field, in 2022, the hosts were victorious by 24 points to 12.
Paul Roos turned the tables last year, scoring a comfortable 24-7 victory, but they’ll be looking to avenge that aforementioned loss in ‘Bosch’s backyard this weekend.
Badenhorst, Keenan Stoffels, Reuben Kruger, Jesse Stegehuis, Truspe Schoeman and Oliver Reid were all in the team that beat Rondebosch last year on the Markötter Field in Stellenbosch.
In Rondebosch’s squad for the weekend, David Simon and Dylan Miller switch places from last year’s match, when Simon ran out as fullback and Miller started in the no. 10 jersey. Apart from them, only Wesi, Tom Barnard and Justin Amos remain from the team that faced Paul Roos in 2023.
Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Paul Roos Gimnasium at 12:10
Rondebosch Boys’ High: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 David Kadima, 13 Randall-John Davids, 12 Alutha Wesi, 11 Shakeel Abrahams, 10 David Simon, 9 Caleb Belelie, 8 Joshua Neill, 7 Danil-Nicolas Oosthuizen, 6 Matthys du Plooy, 5 Tom Barnard, 4 Carl Geddie, 3 Matthew van der Merwe, 2 Justin Amos, 1 Luke Pretorius.
Paul Roos Gimnasium: 15 Matthew Seymore, 14 Hugo Coetzee, 13 Matthew Kleyn, 12 Samuel Badenhorst, 11 Keenan Stoffels, 10 Joshua Dampies, 9 Adeeb Boraine, 8 Reuben Kruger, 7 Riley Norton, 6 Gert Kemp, 5 Jesse Stegehuis, 4 Truspe Schoeman, 3 Luchwayito Mbaliswana, 2 Altus Rabe, 1 Oliver Reid.
