Affies aiming to avenge 2023 loss to Maritzburg College
More than any other match of 2023, it was Maritzburg College‘s 50-31 victory over Affies in Pretoria which thrilled the supporters of the Red, Black and White, and which made schoolboy rugby supporters around South Africa sit up and take notice.
It was a masterful and complete performance from the Pietermaritzburg school, and it was their first victory over Affies since 2014. The previous year, Affies won on Goldstone’s, scoring two tries in the last five minutes to ensure a hard-fought 29-12 victory over College, which was their sixth in succession in the rivalry.
Both teams, therefore, have good reasons and strong motivation for victory when they meet at 13:30 on Saturday. College will be desperate to defend their home turf, while Affies will want to avenge last year’s 19-point defeat.
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The Pretoria school has put together a very strong season, but Goldstone’s is a tough venue for visiting teams. Last season, College went unbeaten on their home ground.
This season, they have lost just once on Goldstone’s, with DHS, one of the top teams in the country in 2024, launching a sterling fightback to claim a narrow 21-18 victory on 20 April.
That one stung the home side. Maritzburg College led 18-6 at the break and were full value for that advantage. They let things slip in the second half, though, and the Horseflies snatched victory.
Affies is another team that ranks among the handful of top teams in South Africa this season. They have been beaten three times, but only just, and by the teams ranked one, two and three in the country. Paul Roos beat the Pretoria school 30-25, Grey College won 31-27, and Paarl Gim sneaked a 20-19 victory.
An early season 57-31 win by Affies over Waterkloof looks better week by week, however, with Klofies enjoying an outstanding season and losing only to Paul Roos and sharing a draw with a very good Dr EG Jansen side, whom they had beaten earlier in the year.
A 52-26 victory over a strong King Edward VII team, a 39-26 defeat of Jeppe High School for Boys, and a 43-21 rout of Paarl Boys’ High, speaks volumes about the capabilities of the Wit Bulle in 2024.
It has been an up-and-down season for Maritzburg College, who were, unfortunately for the KZN side, at their worst at the Wildeklawer Festival, where they were soundly beaten by Grey College and Paul Roos.
They have, at times, been outstanding, though, with their 41-10 victory over an impressive Westville Boys’ High team being one of their highlights, along with a come-from-behind 26-24 defeat of SACS and a hard-fought 24-17 victory against Michaelhouse on Old Boys’ Weekend.
Their support on Saturday in Pietermaritzburg is likely to be almost as large as it was on that Old Boys’ Weekend.
Both sides are stocked with standout players, too, although some are missing after their exploits at the Craven Week.
Affies had centre Janco Purchase, their captain, selected for the South African Schools team for a second year in succession, while Maritzburg College’s skipper and loosehead prop Phiwayinkosi Kubheka matched him by being picked again.
He was joined in the SA Schools’ lineup by his tighthead prop Aiden Botha, which was a great boost for College and a comforting thought, knowing that Affies regularly produces one of the beefiest and strongest packs in South African schoolboy rugby, and their 2024 side has garnered regular praise for their outstanding form in the set pieces.
There was further recognition for Affies’ players, with lock JD Hattingh captaining the SA Schools A side against South African Schools, and Hendré Schoeman running out at scrumhalf.
Sadly, Hattingh won’t be in action on Saturday. He suffered a concussion in that match. His absence is a big loss for the visitors.
They’ll also be without tighthead prop Ruan Smit, who broke a foot in the Wit Bulle’s convincing 26-point win over KES. Affies has a more than capable replacement, though, with Deon Botes, who represented the Blue Bulls at the Academy Week, taking his place.
Hooker Ethan van Dyk, who ran out for the Blue Bulls at Craven Week, is also out, with Christiaan Potgieter, who wore the number two jersey against KES, taking over from him.
With three of their first-choice tight five missing, there might be a bit of an opportunity for Maritzburg College to blunt Affies’ power up front, but Affies are never short on depth, quality and size.
College, also, will be without their Craven Week no. 5, Jake Jansen. Despite the absence of those leading players, a top-quality clash is on the cards.
The forwards will determine the quality of the ball the backs will receive, and Affies, with their field general Ruben Pienaar pulling the strings, might enjoy the edge there. Last season, the Maritzburg College halfbacks, Rhett Quinn and Luc du Toit, were outstanding in their win over the Pretoria side, but College no longer enjoys that experience at nine and 10.
Affies’ no. 10, Pienaar, with his trusty boot, is also adept at making teams pay when they give away penalties, but College’s flyhalf James Slevin has made strides in his all-round play this season and goal kicking is a strength of his game. His conversions from tough positions in College’s 26-20 win over Hilton College, in their last match, played on 1 June, were vital contributions to his team’s win.
Outside of their fine halfback pairing, Affies, of course, has SA Schools’ midfielder Janco Purchase. His outstanding ball skills are also reflected in his excellence on the cricket field. He is a playmaker with a physical edge.
Speaking of playmakers, Hendré Schoeman’s remarkable versatility will be on show when he partners Purchase in the midfield. Remember, he played at scrumhalf for the SA Schools A side. Zirk Meyer, though, will wear number nine on Goldstone’s this weekend.
Considering players with the ability to turn matches on their head, one should not forget the potential impact of Maritzburg College fullback, Luyanda Kunene. He was no longer eligible for Craven Week selection this season, but in 2023 he was selected for South African Schools after lighting up rugby fields around the country with his scintillating counterattacking.
After Affies took a 14-6 lead in last year’s showdown in Pretoria, it was Kunene who crossed for College’s first try to jumpstart their stirring fightback. His ability to create and to finish is outstanding, but the visitors from Gauteng will know their defensive lines will need to be tight and disciplined to keep him in check.
TEAMS
Maritzburg College
15 Luyanda Kunene, 14 Langelihle Makhatini,, 13 Swelithle Mbatha, 12 Nkululeko Sithole, 11 Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, 10 James Slevin, 9 Rayke Maartens, 8 Imivuyo Kemke, 7 Wasi Vyambwera, 6 Struan Oosthuizen, 5 Bohlale Maphisa, 4 Naz Isaacs, 3 Aiden Botha, 2 Siya Nyathi, 1 Phiwayinkosi Kubheka
Affies
15 Ruben Groenewald, 14 Nicolaas Grobler, 13 Hendré Schoeman, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Eagan Roux, 10 Ruben Pienaar, 9 Zirk Meyer, 8 Ruan Lippold, 7 Albert Smit, 6 Lohan Potgieter, 5 Christiaan de Wet, 4 Munting Hamman, 3 Deon Botes, 2 Christiaan Potgieter, 1 Werner Vrey
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