Another thriller on the cards as Jeppe hosts DHS
Recent meetings between Jeppe High School for Boys and Durban High School (DHS) have produced enthralling clashes, with DHS winning 24-20 in Durban last year, and Jeppe triumphing 39-36 in Johannesburg in 2023.
On Saturday, DHS faces Jeppe in Johannesburg, again.
With 12 wins and only two losses – against unbeaten Paarl Gimnasium and Westville Boys’ High – the Horseflies boast much the better record.
Jeppe’s record is eight wins and sevens defeats, although those losses have come against, among others, Garsfontein, Grey College, Rondebosch, Oakdale, and Affies.
There is one big eyesore among Jeppe’s results and that was a 24-70 thrashing at the hands of Monument, a team that DHS beat 32-17 at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival without really getting out of second gear. That, though, appears to be an anomaly.
The good news for the home team is that they’ve been much better in the latter part of the season than they were in the early going. In many ways, their turnaround began with a win over DHS’s arch-rivals, Maritzburg College, at the Absa Wildeklawer Festival. They went down 27-42 to a strong Oakdale team in their next game, but they were on track.
Since then, they’ve beaten Northwood, St John’s College, and Pretoria Boys High and lost by just two points at Affies, who snatched victory with a last-gasp penalty. That was a painful defeat for the boys in black and white.
DHS opened their season with 10 wins on the trot before coming unstuck against Paarl Gim, who, most would say, boasts the best 1st XV in South Africa this year.
Playing in Johannesburg will favour Jeppe. It’s not just about the home ground advantage, but it’s also about playing at altitude. Especially for teams travelling up from the coast, the latter stages of games can really burn the lungs. But DHS is well conditioned, well drilled, and a never-say-die outfit. They’re more than the sum of their parts.
Another area that might favour Jeppe is goal kicking. Jeppe flyhalf Nehemia Hollenbach has enjoyed an outstanding season off the tee and is odds-on to punish opponents if they concede penalties within kicking distance. DHS number 10 Jordan van Wyk is a solid kicker, but he has, at times, been streaky.
Counterbalancing that is the fact that Jeppe will be without two of their stars, SA Schools A loosehead prop André Poulton and Golden Lions‘ centre Lindelani Nkambule. Poulton has been a reliable cornerstone of their set scrums, while Nkambule has produced a fantastic highlight reel of tries this season.
It’s the relentless, cohesive attack of DHS that will be the biggest challenge that Jeppe faces. The Durban team is a pedal to the metal outfit and has a strong bench. There is no let-up.
They’re also a hard-hitting defensive unit and that physical defence sets up counterattacking opportunities, which they’re good at exploiting.
They feature a potent midfield partnership with the powerful inside centre Zingce Simka, an SA Schools A selection in 2024, partnering Nathan Aneke, who was included in the SA Schools side after the FNB Craven Week this year.
There’s little chance that either side is going to be surprised by the approach of the other. They both understand what awaits them – they, in many ways, play a similar game – and it will come down to which team executives their game plan better.
Disrupting the flow of quality ball will be key and the battle of the two loose trios should be fascinating. DHS captain and number six flank Daniel Ikotela is a lead-by-example type, well backed up by Jose Lottering and Bradley la Grange, while the Jeppe trio – Kazimla Manzi, Grady Ngui, and Mihle Dyakala – bring a hard physical edge to Jeppe’s challenge.
TEAMS
Jeppe High School for Boys vs Durban High School at 13:00 in Johannesburg
Jeppe High School for Boys (provisional)
15 Dalitso Milanzi, 14 Ndimphiwe Mjiji, 13 Joel Akilo, 12 Phano Letsie, 11 Lethabo Mashao, 10 Nehemia Hollenbach, 9 Talent Sithole, 8 Mihle Dyakala, 7 Grady Ngui, 6 Kazimla Manzi, 5 Glodi Thsipamaba, 4 Lagan Fleisher, 3 Aluwani Ndlovu, 2 Ayanda Funeka, 1 Joshua Hamman.
Durban High School
15 Cilermo Carolus, 14 Neo Shakwane, 13 Nathan Aneke, 12 Zingce Simka, 11 Zenkosi Mthiyane, 10 Jordan van Wyk, 9 Marcwin Nero, 8 Bradley la Grange, 7 Jose Lottering, 6 Daniel Ikotela, 5 Zion Smith, 4 Vimbiso Kasvosve, 3 Omphiwe Kola, 2 Okuhle Mbanjwa, 1 Elvino Witbooi.
