Grey High braced for Grey College onslaught
Grey High is braced for what is often the toughest challenge in SA schoolboy rugby when they meet their Bloemfontein rivals, Grey College, in a King Price Series Derby encounter on the Kolisi Field, in Gqeberha, on Saturday at 15.30.
The visitors have dominated the annual derby, with Grey High having to go back to 2014 for their last victory, a nail-biting 27-20 win, which ended with Grey College hard on attack. Now, the class of 2025 has their chance to make a statement.
Grey High coach Matt King acknowledged the significance of the occasion: “We think of this as the ultimate test,” he said. “To be able to play against what is historically the greatest rugby school in the world is a privilege reserved for very few sides, so it’s something we really value.”
While the emotions of excitement and nervousness are running through the squad, the Grey High coach wants a performance of which his players can be proud.
“We are focusing on what we do well but will need to be accurate in all areas if we are going to be competitive,” he said.
“In our view, if we can match them physically, put them into pressure situations, and take our opportunities when they arise, then anything is possible.
“The team has had a good build-up to the game, and they know that only a really proud performance will be accepted on Saturday.”
While Grey College, with dangerous weapons, powerhouse centre Ethan Adams and fullback Lamla Mgedezi, leading the way, will start as the outright favourite, coach Bobby Joubert has been careful not to allow complacency to creep into their ranks.
“The match versus Grey High has a lot of tradition and is always a very important fixture on our calendar,” he said.
“I believe it might be nice and wet this weekend, so that could be an equaliser, and they always play their best against us, so we are preparing for a very tough match.”
The history between the schools goes back to their first meeting in 1929, but the early matches were irregular, at best.
Grey College won that opening game 16-0 and recorded further victories in 1930 (9-7 at Grey High) and in 1953 (13-3 in Bloemfontein).
This was followed by two draws in 1963 and 1968 before the derby became a permanent fixture on the schools’ calendar in 1972.
Grey High recorded their first win in 1976 (13-12) when star wing Robbie Logan slotted a last-minute penalty, while the Gqeberha school’s best period came in the early 1990s when they drew in 1990 (6-6) and then won three successive home games in 1992, 1994 and 1996.
They have never beaten Grey College in Bloemfontein. The closest they came to pulling off that feat was in 2001 when, under the captaincy of Luke Watson, they lost 15-18.
In other action this weekend, Marlow Agricultural will be aiming to bounce back after suffering an agonising 27-30 defeat against Queen’s College last weekend. They host Pearson in Nxuba.
Interestingly, Pearson is the only Eastern Cape side to have beaten Queen’s this season and they come off a hard-earned 10-10 draw with Graeme College on a wet and muddy field last Saturday.
They will need to rise to the occasion again to hold a tough Marlow outfit.
In two matches in Kariega, Brandwag will start as the favourite against DF Malherbe, while Nico Malan will need to be on their guard when they face Daniel Pienaar.
Grey High vs Grey College results since 2014
2014: Grey High won 27-20
2015: Grey College won 32-21
2016: Grey College won 33-7
2017: Grey College won 73-10
2018: Grey College won 63-8
2019: Grey College won 58-0
2020: Covid-19
2021: Covid-19
2022: Grey College won 52-34
2023: Grey College won 38-14
2024: Grey College won 41-27
Teams:
Grey High vs Grey College at Kolisi Field in Gqeberha at 15:30
Grey High: 15 Meyer Prinsloo, 14 Noah Mbizi, 13 Bradley Myburgh, 12 Ciaran Killian, 11 Akhumzi Masoka, 10 Ned Taggart, 9 Ray-Dylan Wilkinson, 8 David Melariri, 7 Jean Nel, 6 Cody Wilmot, 5 Ed Scorey, 4 Riley Higgs, 3 Ross Atkinson, 2 Blake Parker, 1 Evan Mucka.
Grey College: 15 Lamla Mgedezi, 14 Benjamin van den Berg, 13 Ethan Adams, 12 O’Ryan Klein, 11 Thristan Maree, 10 Toriq Schambreel, 9 Sherwin Buys, 8 AJ Booysen, 7 Adem Nieuwoudt, 6 Xander Smit, 5 AJ Meyer, 4 Claude Steyn, 3 JG Badenhorst, 2 Tian Fourie, 1 David Hayidakis.
Marlow Landbou vs Pearson, near Cradock, at 14:00
Marlow: 15 Du Preez Vermaak, 14 Pierre Marais, 13 Dawid-Malan de Ridder, 12 Ockert du Preez, 11 WJ Pienaar, 10 Cole Hurter, 9 Logan van Vuuren, 8 GD Jordaan (vice-captain), 7 Adrian Joubert, 6 CJ Botha, 5 Marnus Malan, 4 Burgert van Heerden, 3 Herman le Roux, 2 Markus Bester, 1 Zian Jacobs.
Pearson: 15 Denilo Jordaan (vice-captain), 14 Matthew Els, 13 Sibu Mkhontwana, 12 Hanro Botes, 11 Siya Ncwadi, 10 Keano Beling, 9 Kadin Kretzmann, 8 Robert Harris, 7 Cameron Knoetze (captain), 6 Siphe Myataza, 5 Mlibo Toni, 4 Ryan Herbst, 3 Jordan Bruintjies, 2 Nicholas Gillespie, 1 Joshua Pienaar.
Die Brandwag vs DF Malherbe in Kariega at 14:00
Brandwag: 5 Rezanio Petrus, 14 Enzo Martin, 13 Angelo Adams, 12 Derono Potgieter, 11 Dwayne Louw, 10 Leewin Kammies, 9 Zanick Carolus, 8 Duane Meyer, 7 Erik Rudman, 6 Josh Badenhorst, 5 Damian le Roux, 4 Justin Swanepoel, 3 Francu Fouche, 2 Liam Erasmus, 1 Zandré van der Mescht.
DF Malherbe: to be confirmed
Daniel Pienaar vs Nico Malan in Kariega at 13:15
Daniel Pienaar: 15 Raqiel Jaftha, 14 Chibuzo David, 13 Zinzile Mtoywa, 12 Luyanduhlanga Ndzimande, 11 Sibabalwe Kopisani, 10 Ashley Liesing, 9 Rozario Grootboom, 8 Stiaan Coertze, 7 Luphawu Manzine, 6 Etto Mapapu, 5 Josh Steyn, 4 Ntsako Maimela, 3 Clewin Papenfus, 2 Denovan Booysen, 1 Awakhe Kume.
Nico Malan: 15 Regan Stone, 14 Kobus Strydom, 13 Gelden van Niekerk, 12 Enzo Machaba, 11 Tequane Koopman, 10 Leighton Lawrence, 9 Lleyton Mienie, 8 Pietman Kleinhans (captain), 7 Chrisjan de Lange, 6 Neil Lategan, 5 Ruben van Dijk, 4 Ulrich van Zyl, 3 Waldo Krige, 2 MC Ferreira, 1 Janu Janse van Rensburg.
