Oldest Rivals Meet Again

It is one of the oldest matches in the rugby world, Bishops vs SACS and it's on again on Saturday morning.

There is a belief that the first time they met was in 1862. The oldest recorded score we have so far is 1873 when SACS beat Bishops by two goals to nil - in days before scoring.

How both sides are affected by winter ailments and the jolting that goes with rugby is not clear. But what is clear is that whoever play will give of their very best.

The Season so Far

Bishops have changed this year, or more correctly reverted to the running game for which they are famous, a game that can be fragile but  gives all players a chance to be a rugby player.

If teams do not stop Bishops before they get into their stride, they are likely to run away with the match - as happened up at SACS last term when Bishops won 80-5. The next week SACS beat Rondebosch and last week it took a late conversion from touch to enable Boland Landbou to draw 17-all out at the Farm.

Bishops, too, have had hidings, notably from the three 'country' schools - Boys' High, Gim and Paul Roos. They have also lost to Wynberg and Glenwood of Top 20 teams.

Results against Common Opponents

Boland Landbou: Bishops won 29-25; SACS drew 17-17 (Bishops at home, SACS away).

Wynberg: Bishops lost 20-19;  SACS lost 10-0

Paul Roos: Bishops lost 36-14; SACS lost 78-7

Paarl Gim: Bishops lost 34-12; SACS lost 37-10

Rondebosch: Bishops won 52-14; SACS won 13-12

St Andrew's: Bishops won 39-15; SACS lost 43-24

Representative Players

Both sides' players are eligible for Western Province.

This year Bishops had six players chosen for Craven Week - a surprise to many.

Craven Week

Bishops: Gerard Pieterse (Bishops),  Justin Heunis (Bishops),  Jez McIntrye (Bishops),  Saud Abrahams (Bishops),  Mervano da Silva (Bishops), JP Smith

After the Craven Week trials were held in Kempton Park to pick the SA Schools team to play England, France and Wales. Saud Abrahams was chosen for the trials but did not make the team.

Academy Week

Bishops: André Manuel (Bishops),  Sam Mitchell

Teams

Bishops: 15 Jesse Wilensky, 14 Keenan Jacobs, 13 Justin Heunis, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Devon Bruiners, 10 Jez MacIntyre, 9 Justin Rowe-Roberts, 8 Saud Abrahams, 7 Mervano da Silva, 6 Nic Bester, 5 Sam Mitchell  (Captain), 4 Max Linley, 3 Jean-Pierre Smith, 2 Justin Carey, 1 William Day

Replacements: 16 Keanan Alexander, 17 Luciano da Graca, 18 Tim Kuhn, 19 Jarryd Lurie, 20 Michael Inskip, 21 Luke Leach, 22 Tristan Leyds

Coaches:  André Jacobs, Mike Bayly

SACS: 15 Ciaran Dayaram, 14 Damian Rawstorne, 13 Dominic Sherrell, 12 Keagan de Villiers, 11 Aaqil Ebrahim, 10 Jordan Chait, 9 Michael Henning (captain), 8 Justin Williams, 7 Kaan van der Walt, 6 Thomas Posen, 5 Robbie Mylrea, 4 Connor Osborne, 3 Alexander Duckitt, 2 Johnno Rauch, 1 Brandon Sweet.

Date: Saturday, 9 August 2014

1st XV kick-off: 11.30

Venue: Piley Rees Field at Bishops

Expected weather conditions: Sunny with a high of  22°C and a low of 15°C, a beautiful Cape winter's day, ideal for rugby football.