Stellenberg look to repeat last year’s success in George against the Kwaggas
Stellenberg travel to George to take on Outeniqua as the host’s centenary season nears its end.
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When these two teams met last year, Stellenberg were victorious with 27-17. After a strong performance against Rondebosch Boys’ High, which they won by 20-17 last week, the Jade Brigade hopes to repeat the previous year’s success on Saturday.
The Kwaggas have had an amazing season as they’ve celebrated their 100th year and they’ve been phenomenal on their home turf, with their only defeat in George coming against Grey College in a 19-17 thriller in April. Their only other loss this season came at the Absa Wildeklawer Festival in Kimberley when Garsfontein beat them 19-8.
Last weekend, they played host to an in-form Paarl Gimnasium and defended valiantly in difficult conditions to hold the Paarl juggernaut to a 10-all draw.
One of the areas in which the hosts had the upper hand in that game was the ability shown by JT Strydom (fullback) and Andrew Stopforth (flyhalf) to adapt their kicking game to the conditions, with Strydom’s conversion and penalty goal ultimately saving his team as both of Paarl Gimnasium’s tries remaining unconverted.
Strydom has been exemplary at fullback all season and represents Outeniqua in the SA Schools A team after his performance for SWD at the Craven Week which was hosted by his school during the holiday.
Stellenberg’s centre, Ruben Thompson, played on the wing against Rondebosch Boys’ High, from where he scored all 20 points for his team with two tries, two conversions and two penalties last weekend. He will definitely be one to watch in the squad from Bellville.
The Kwaggas’ star flanker, Jeffwin Wesso, is not available for this game, as he is on his way to Trinidad and Tobago, where he will be competing at the Commonwealth Youth Games as part of the SA U18 Sevens team.
Ruart Curlewis takes his place at the side of the scrum.
The loose forwards may have a telling role to play in this match, and the visitors will be expecting another big shift from their flanker, Marco Ferreira.
Ferreira holds the Stellenberg record for most tries in a single match after crossing the white line six times in their 60-5 romp against Parel Vallei in June this year.
Outeniqua beat Parel Vallei by a similar margin (59-6) in their first match of the season.
Judging by their performance from last week though, Outeniqua will not be giving away any easy tries and Stellenberg will need to be at their best to contain the likes of the Kwagga wingers, JJ Daters and Ashwen Damons, who have been phenomenal all year.
This fixture produces a thrilling competition every year and this meeting is set to be another great advertisement for South African schools rugby.
The teams are:
Outeniqua vs Stellenberg at 13:30:
Outeniqua: 15 JT Strydom, 14 JJ Daters, 13 Luca Potgieter, 12 Estiaan Cronje, 11 Ashwen Damons, 10 Andrew Stopforth, 9 Jamil Pretorius, 8 Brendon Gouws, 7 Dewald Gerber, 6 Ruart Curlewis, 5 Jayden Potgieter, 4 Michael Cronje, 3 Juan Kleinhans, 2 Nathan Smith, 1 Ruan Swart.
Stellenberg: 15 Dehan Neethling, 14 Liam Smith, 13 Estian Steyn, 12 Ruben Thompson, 11 Stefan Roux, 10 Tyron Labuschagne, 9 Clyde Frieslaar, 8 Dale du Toit, 7 Marco Ferreira, 6 Alex Schoeman, 5 Corne Bruwer, 4 Zian Erasmus, 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Almero Keizer, 1 Niel de Beer.
Other fixture:
13:10 – Hoërskool Punt vs Bredasdorp.
