Potent Paarl Gim a huge test for Boland Landbou

On Saturday, Boland Landbou faces a massive challenge. They host the potent Paarl Gimnasium on the Perdeberg A Field at 12:45.

The last time they met, in Paarl, in April 2024, Gim ran out convincing 47-13 winners.

The visitors will be aiming to extend their unbeaten streak in 2025, which includes an emphatic 82-7 win over SACS last Saturday.

The farmers were thumped 74-14 by Affies at the Absa Wildeklawer tournament, in Kimberley, while Affies held Gim to a 16-16 draw at the NMI Toyota Noord/Suid, in Paarl, which suggests the gap between the sides is wide. Boland Landbou is a far different beast on their home ground, however. But there is no doubt that they are the long-shot underdogs.

No injuries have been listed for the game.

Saturday’s weather forecast is for a cloudy but almost windless day, with the temperature topping out at 18 degrees Celsius.

Boland will look to playmaker and scrumhalf, Jayden Brits, to lead their attack against the stonewall that is Paarl Gim.

They possess fantastic firepower in the form of twin brothers, Jadon and Jason Ocks, at fullback and outside centre respectively. They add options to the Boland attack with their strong running and passing games.

The challenge for the Boland forwards will be to win their own set pieces, and retain possession at the breakdown, in order to give their creative backs as many plays as possible.

Paarl Gim will be led by their valiant captain Markus Muller, who scored two tries and nine conversions in challenging conditions for an incredible 28 points against SACS last week. With quality and confidence in every position, Gimmies are a nightmare for defences.

With the quick passing between their half-back pairing, scrumhalf Mickyle Booise and flyhalf Louis Koen, lightning wing Thomas Saunders will look to wrap around and break the line for tries.

Muller will whip torpedo passes out wide when he isn’t breaking the line to score himself.

Paarl Gimnasium’s offload game is the key to their offensive might, and the explosive speed of their forwards, including lock Migael Turner, flank Alain Voges, and the powerful eighthman Quinton Potgieter builds massive momentum that is extremely difficult to contain.

Teams

Boland Landbou vs Paarl Gim, Perdeberg A Field, Paarl, 12:45

Boland Landbou: 15 Jadon Ocks, 14 Aleit Stander, 13 Jason Ocks, 12 Dante Christians, 11 Gehano van Bo, 10 Pieter Bergh, 9 Jayden Brits, 8 Juan Visage, 7 Stephan Griesel, 6 Blake De Kock, 5 Chad Meintjies, 4 Kody Nell, 3 Derico Messina, 2 MJ Harmse, 1 Adrian le Roux.

Paarl Gim: 15 Dawid Badenhorst, 14 Johan Kleynhans, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Ethan Barker, 11 Thomas Saunders, 10 Louis Koen, 9 Mickyle Booise, 8 Quinton Potgieter, 7 Alain Voges, 6 Hendre van der Westhuizen, 5 Migael Turner, 4 Bernhardt Schulze, 3 Armand Brand, 2 Charles Whitehead, 1 Pieta Cilliers.