Confident Paarl Boys’ High tackles SACS in King Price Derby Series
Paarl Boys’ High has produced a strong season, suffering only one defeat in their 13 games, a narrow 26-28 setback at Oakdale Landbou in April. They’ll be heavily favoured to see off SACS on Saturday in a King Price Derby Series clash.
Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).
It hasn’t been the best of seasons for the Cape Town school, but they’ve put up some strong performances against Boishaai in the recent past, including a hard-fought 12-20 loss at home last year.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 12:45 at the Buco Brug Street Stadium.
Paarl Boys’ High boasts a powerhouse pack, led by SA Schools’ prop Jordan Jooste, who specialises in dismantling opposition scrums, while also making a bone-crunching impact with his carries.
SACS captain and flanker Siphe Mbungendlu is no stranger to physicality himself. His side will look to him for inspiration in the set-piece and breakdown battles.
Physicality, though, is one of Boishaai’s calling cards, but they’re not one-dimensional. Their backs offer an additional strength in their speed of play, and inside centre Iwan Jordaan, doesn’t only collect points from the kicking tee. He creates tries with the ball in hand.
The SACS backs will have to be highly alert and present good line speed on defence. If they give the Boishaai backs even a sniff of space, they will be punished for it.
The SACS backline has not gelled as well as they usually do this season. However, they have had their moments and stunned opposition defences with their creativity
Fullback Quewinn Lackay and outside centre Mikey Skeeles are two of their key players and often find ways to break through the opposition’s defensive lines. Paarl Boys’ High, though, poses a hardy challenge with their rush defence.
The home side will fancy their chances of adding another win to an impressive record. Whatever happens, though, a fierce battle and entertaining rugby should light up this age-old Western Cape rivalry.
TEAMS
Paarl Boys’ High vs SACS at 12:45 in Paarl
Paarl Boys’ High (likely): 15 Mark Grindlay, 14 Jeneal Davids, 13 Tristan Joubert, 12 Iwan Jordaan, 11 Cole Moultrie, 10 Francois van der Merwe, 9 Liam de Villiers, 8 Steph van der Merwe (captain), 7 Kobus Wilken, 6 Wege van Zyl, 5 Jayden Joubert, 4 Gershom Pieters, 3 Cruz Davey, 2 Tommy Muller, 1 Jordan Jooste.
SACS: 15 Quewinn Lackay, 14 Josh Gorgens, 13 Mikey Skeeles, 12 Daniel Grant, 11 Imtiaz Abrahams, 10 Robert Boyes, 9 Matt Forbes, 8 Thando Sithole, 7 Harrison Bell, 6 Siphe Mbungendlu (captain), 5 Cameron Hirst, 4 Reuben De Klerk, 3 Qiraan Hermans, 2 Sango Zangqa, 1 Qawe Sawuka.
