East meets West in Stellenbosch

The match occurs on Saturday, April 9 on the Markötter Fields in Stellenbosch.

They are schools with long traditions, Grey founded in 1856 and Paul Roos 10 years later as Stellenbosch Boys' High. Both schools are proud of the Old Boy Springboks - Grey with 15, Paul Roos with 51, which is more than any other school in South Africa.

Both are boys only schools - Paul Roos with roughly 1 200, Grey 800. In both cases the headmaster's title is rector.

Meetings between the two schools are big affairs. They include hockey, tennis, squash, debating and golf, but, of course, the rugby counts most and in particularly the first XV match.

It is the 12th meeting of this kind since the first in 2005. Of the previous 11, Paul Roos have won six, Grey four and there was a draw in 2005.

Of the five previous matches in Stellenbosch, Grey have won three, most famously the cliffhanger in 2014, won with the last act of the match.

Last year was a different matter when the powerful Paul Roos side went to PE and won 34-3. In fact, of the 21 matches between the two schools that day, Paul Roos won 19, Grey's only wins in the Under-16 A and U-16 B.

But it's a new year this year.

So far Grey have had spectacular results. They have played and won four matches, amassing 160 points with only 21 against. Their most startling result was a 44-0 victory over Bishops at the Saints Easter Festival.

Paul Roos have played five, won four and lost to Affies. One of their victories was over Monnas.

The two sides have as yet no opponents in common.

Both schools have a SA Schools player from last year playing for them again - No.8 Kwezi Mafu for Grey and flyhalf Damian Willemse, who is Paul Roos' captain this year.

In addition, Grey have backs back from last year's side - fullback Sihle Njezula, centre Aya Oliphant, left wing Khanyo Mafunda, flyhalf Lubs Dobela and scrumhalf David Masterson. That is a lot of backs. In the pack there is only Kwezi Mafu who may not play because of injury.

Teams:

Paul Roos: 15 Joshua Vermeulen, 14 David-Ley Moses, 13 Dylan de Villiers, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Aiden Lombard, 10 Damian Willemse (captain), 9 Tiaan Coetzee, 8 Bruce Coetzee, 7 Johan Joubert, 6 Hanré du Toit, 5 Phillip van Dyk, 4 Jesse Johnson, 3 Tristan Leitch, 2 Daneel Steinmann, 1 Cameron Dawson

Grey: 15 Sihle Njezula, 14 Khanyo Mafunda, 13 Ayabonga Oliphant, 12 Josiah Twum-Boafo, 11 Ayabonga Matroos, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 David Masterson, 8 Kwezi Mafu, 7 Phillip Weyer-Henderson, 6 Bevan Prinsloo, 5 Conner Thalrose, 4 Tertius Groenewald, 3 Sive Mazosiwe, 2 Aphiwe Febana, 1 Michael Biggs

Date: Saturday, April 9

Venue: Markötter Fields, Stellenbosch

Kick-off: 14.10

Expected weather conditions: Clear with a high of 28°C, dropping to 21°C. Another lovely day in paradise, though a bit hot for the match.

Referee: Nathan Swartz (Western Province Referees' Society)

Results Down the Years

2005: Draw, 14-14 in PE

2006: Paul Roos won 28-14 in Stellenbosch

2007: Paul Roos won 31-17 in PE

2008: Grey won 23-19 in Stellenbosch

2009: Paul Roos won 20-13 in PE

2010: Paul Roos won 43-37 in Stellenbosch

2011: Paul Roos won 22-19 in PE

2012: Grey won 23-19 in Stellenbosch

2013: Grey won 23-18 in PE

2014: Grey won 27-26 in Stellenbosch

2015: Paul Roos won 34-3 in PE

Match Programme - April 9

Main Field

10.20: 4th XV

11.30: 3rd XV

12.40: 2nd XV

14.10: 1st XV

Meulsloot

08.00: 9th XV vs Grey 7th

09.10: 5th XV

10.20: Under-15E

11.30: 6th XV

Rivierveld

08.00: Under-16E vs Grey D

09.10: Under-16C

10.20: Under-16B

11.30: Under-16 A

Volkskombuis

08.00: Under-15D

09.10: Under-15B

10.20: Under-15A

11.30: Under-15C

Doornbosch

08.00: Under-14D

09.10: Under-14A

10.20: Under-14C

11.30: Under-B

Springboks

Paul Roos Gymnasium: Arthur de Kock (1891), Japie) Louw (1891), Jim McKendrick (1891), Bob Shand, Paul de Waal (1896), Japie Krige (1896), Bob Loubser (1896), PARO Nel (1903), Paul Roos (1903), Koei Brink (1906), Pinkie Daneel (1906), Boy de Villiers (1906), Freddie Luyt (1910), Dick Luyt (1910), Koot Reynecke (1910), Gideon Roos (1910), Wakkie Krige (1912), John Luyt (1912), Tom van Vuuren (1912), Nic du Plessis (1921), Theuns Kruger (1921), Charlie Meyer (1921), Mannetjies Michau (1921), Phil Mostert (1921), Tokkie Scholtz (1921), Jackie Tindall (1921), Attie van Heerder (1921), PK Albertyn (1924), Nico Bosman (1924), Daunce Devine (1924), Kenny Starke (1924), George Daneel (1928), Manus de Jongh (1928), AF du Toit (1928), PK Morkel (1928), Boet Prinsloo (1928), Ferdie Bergh (1931), George van Reenen (1937), Ballie Wahl (1949), Tjol Lategan (1949), Jannie Engelbrecht (1960), Gertjie Brynard (1965), Hempies du Toit (1980), Cabous van der Westhuizen (1994), Justin Swart (1996), Cobus Visagie (1999), Andries Bekker (2008), Schalk Brits (2008), Francois Hougaard (2009), Juandré Kruger (2012), Willie le Roux (2013).

Grey High School: Jack Hirsch (1906), Fred Smollan (1933), Freddie Turner (1933), Bunny Reid (1933), George Smith (1938), Ian Kirkpatrick (matriculated at Kimberley Boys High) (1953), Wilf Rosenberg (1955) (Matriculated at Jeppe), Roy Dryburgh (1955), Mickey Gerber (1958), Peter Allen (1960), Shaun Povey (1981), Luke Watson (2007), JJ Engelbrecht (2012), Siya Kolisi (2013), Jan Serfontein (matriculated at Grey College) (2013).