Wynberg chases King Price Derby Series win at SACS
Wynberg Boys’ High visits SACS on Saturday, favoured to claim a victory in their King Price Derby Series match on Memorial-A Field, which kicks off at 12:30.
In 2024, there was almost nothing to separate the sides, with Wynberg winning 9-7 at home in August, and SACS triumphing 30-29, also at home, in June.
This time out, though, Wynberg looks like a far more solid bet than SACS to win. Last Saturday, they fell to a hard-fought 17-21 loss to Paul Roos Gimnasium. On the same day, Paarl Gimnasium overran SACS 82-7. Will SACS suffer a hangover from that heavy defeat?
The weather forecast for Saturday looks perfect for rugby – a cool 16 degrees Celsius, with little wind and lots of sunshine.
The home team will, unfortunately, be without their captain, Siphesihle Mbungendlu, a member of the Western Province XV Craven Week side, due to injury. It’s a loss they can’t dwell on.
Luvuyo Mbuli will pack down in his stead on the side of the SACS’ scrum.
Wynberg will look to their powerful prop, Luqobo Makwedini, to deliver domination in the set scrums, while their captain and lock, Jaythen Orange, will be a tough challenge for the home side in the lineouts.
Behind their pack, Wynberg possesses many skilful playmakers, including flyhalf Achmat Behardien and centres Kunene Gadu and Yaqeen Ahmed. They’ve consistently shown the ability to unlock the toughest of defences.
SACS will aim to slow down Wynberg’s rapid phase play with strong counter rucks at the breakdown. Much will depend on how well they read the visitors’ inventive attacking play.
Wynberg will head into the contest with confidence. They’ve played some outstanding rugby this season, attacking with speed and creative freedom, which will ask serious questions of the SACS defence.
They’ll be eager to get the ball out wide where their hot-stepping wings can show off their fancy footwork.
Craven Week scrumhalf Morné Noble, besides offering a clean service from the base of the scrum, is also a dangerous man around the fringes of rucks and mauls, and he has a sharp eye for a gap. SACS will need to be on their toes when he has the ball in his hands.
Teams
SACS vs Wynberg, Memorial-A Field, Cape Town, 12:30
SACS: 15 Quewinn Lackay, 14 Josh Gorgens, 13 Mikey Skeeles, 12 Nathan Potgieter, 11 Imtiaz Abrahams, 10 Robert Boyes, 9 Matt Forbes, 8 Daniel Grant, 7 Harrison Bell, 6 Luvuyo Mbuli, 5 Cameron Hirst, 4 Reuben De Klerk, 3 Qiraan Hermans, 2 Sango Zangqa, 1 Qawe Sawuka.
Wynberg: 15 Daniel Ould, 14 Chad Campbell, 13 Kunene Gadu, 12 Yaqeen Ahmed, 11 Albert Lourens, 10 Achmat Behardien, 9 Morné Noble, 8 Alvn Machinja, 7 Tjeripo Karuhumba, 6 Alex Barrett, 5 James Orwin, 4 Jaythen Orange (Captain), 3 Luqobo Makwedini, 2 Noah Gila, 1 Luke Miller.
