Well-rested Garsie Bere ready for Affies test in King Price Derby Series clash
A well‑rested Garsfontein will take on an agitated Wit Bulle of Affies on Saturday at Bere Park in Pretoria in a King Price Derby Series clash.
Follow all the action live on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com) or on DStv channel 216. Kick‑off is at 15:30.
The Garsfontein Bere have not been in action since their previous match at the NMI Toyota Noord/Suid tournament on Monday, 30 March. That game marked a historic first victory of 31–28 over Paarl Boys’ High.
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool Pretoria’s Wit Bulle, meanwhile, have already been in action four times since then.
After the main fixture against Hoërskool Durbanville (24–13) on the final day of the NMI Toyota Noord/Suid tournament on Tuesday, 31 March, Affies narrowly lost 27–29 to Michaelhouse during Pretoria Boys High’s 125th anniversary celebrations.
They then made short work of Grey High School from Gqeberha by 59–19. Last Saturday, the Wit Bulle suffered a 24–52 defeat at home against Paarl Gimnasium in a King Price Derby Series encounter.
Garsfontein might have run onto the field as favourites on Saturday, but the fact that the clash will take place on a soaking‑wet Bere Park surface is likely to curb the effectiveness of the team’s dangerous back three of Drewyn Baron, Neil de Kock and Yuvrah George.
The Bere are also the only team that has managed to beat the country’s top school team so far this season, Hoërskool Stellenberg, edging them by 21–20.
The team would probably have occupied the top spot on the rankings if it were not for the fact that they went down 26–29 to Jeppe High School for Boys in their first match of 2026.
Garsfontein’s loose trio, led by influential captain and eighthman Lourenz de Jager, will play an important role for the home side in this encounter. The two flankers, Derik Potgieter and Stefan “Kwagga” van der Vyver, will support their captain both in the set pieces and in open play.
Van der Vyver’s work at the breakdowns could prove particularly decisive.
Affies starts with a new centre pairing in Estian Marx and Rico du Plessis. The latter has only run out once before for the Wit Bulle, when he played at outside centre against Grey High.
This time he will start at inside centre alongside Marx. The only other change to Affies’ starting line‑up is the loss of eighthman, Janno Geyser. Keegan Fourie will have to fill Geyser’s boots.
The Blue Bulls selectors will also be watching the match with keen interest.
The teams:
Hoërskool Garsfontein: 15 Drewyn Barron, 14 Neil de Kock, 13 Levi Jordaan, 12 Keagan Knighton, 11 Yuvrah George, 10 Ruan Fluks, 9 Dean Wilbers, 8 Lourenz de Jager (captain), 7 Derik Potgieter, 6 Stefan van der Vyver, 5 SW Potgieter, 4 JJ Fourie, 3 Ruben Lombard, 2 Justin Blom, 1 André van Wyk.
Affies: 15 Reuben Venter, 14 Dandré Brink, 13 Estian Marx, 12 Rico du Plessis, 11 Joshua Gouws, 10 Reuben Smith, 9 Fourie Roberts, 8 Keegan Fourie, 7 Caleb Pretorius, 6 Lohan Bitzer, 5 Reubenne Vlok, 4 Martin van Niekerk (captain), 3 Hannes Nagel, 2 Carl Els, 1 Francois de Beer.
Kick-Off: 15:30
Referee: Gerrie de Bruin.
