FNB Top 20 - 17 April 2012
This is the first FNB Top 20 of 2012, and it is produced with great trepidation after lots of thought, head-scratching and debate.
This is our 14th year of doing the Top 20.
It has never been easy but it has also never been as hard as this one as we try to weigh up performances, taking into account the strength of opposition and other circumstances.
Let us say what we have said for 14 years: this is not at all absolute. One has just to give a moment's thought to realise that no absolute Top 20 is possible, no matter what method we use. But it does produce extra interest in schools rugby by providing lots of discussion, as the selection of teams always does.
It is devoutly to be wished that such discussion is not acrimonious and that it does not lead to squabbling and nasty personal remarks.
So here we go in a year when already top teams have won and been beaten in an almost haphazard way.
FNB Top 20 - 17 April 2012:
1. Paul Roos
2. Affies
3. Paarl Gim
4. Paarl Boys' High
5. Grey College of Bloemfontein
6. Dale
7. Waterkloof
8. Glenwood
9. Westville
10. Noord-Kaap
11. Outeniqua
12. Framesby
13. Kearsney
14. Dr EG Jansen
15. Nelspruit
16. Centurion
17. Oakdale
18. Grey High of Port Elizabeth
19. Maritzburg College
20. Diamantveld
There are in South Africa so many fine rugby schools. There will be special interest in watching the fortunes of Ben Vorster, Bethlehem Voortrekker, Boland Landbou, Daniël Pienaar, Die Brandwag, Drostdy, Eldoraigne, Garsfontein, HTS Middelburg, Kemptonpark, KES, Marlow, Michaelhouse, Menlopark, Monument, Queen's, Selborne, Transvalia and many others.
It's early days yet.