Preview: Paul Roos vs Paarl Gim

Gym vs Gim, 2 vs 3, Stellenbosch vs Paarl - what an exciting prospect!

This is the Paul Roos side's first South African fixture since winning the Sanix World Youth tournament in Japan where they beat teams from Russia, Japan, England, Australia and New Zealand. In all Paul Roos have beaten three New Zealand schools this year - Napier Boys' High, Southland Boys' High and St Peter's College.

While Paul Roos were away, Paarl Gim actually lost a match - against Grey College, ranked No.1, at the Wildeklawer tournament in Kimberley, a long way from Japan but quite possibly against tougher opposition.

There is a bit of déjà vu about this year's match. In 2015, Paul Roos won the Sanix Tournament and their first match back in South Africa was against Paarl Gim. Paarl Gim won - just.

The match this year is part of Premier Interschools fixtures, and so SuperSport will broadcast the match live on television.

Season So Far

Paul Roos have played and won 10 matches. Their two South African opponents have been Grey PE and Rondebosch.

Paarl Gim have played 11, winning 10 and losing to Grey Bloem. Of their South African opponents, six have been on the Top 20 - Affies, Menlopark, Monument, Oakdale, Bishops and Grey Bloem who beat Gimmies 47-33.

On the Schools Top 20, Paarl Gim are ranked second behind Grey Bloem and Paul Roos are ranked third.

Teams

Three of the Paul Roos side played for Western Province in the 2018 Craven Week - Tiaan Pretorius, Kade Wolhuter, who was a fullback then and is a flyhalf now, a player with a good boot, and loosehead Robert Rodgers, who is the son of the Springbok loosehead Heinrich Rodgers.

Paul Roos: 15 Cade Croy, 14 Andrew Pegg, 13 Tiaan Pretorius, 12 Ronin Daniels, 11 Luke Burger, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Xander Botha, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Arno Heenop, 6 André Smit, 5 Dylan De Leeuw, 4 Daniel Swart, 3 Corné Weilbach, 2 Meiring Ebersohn, 1 Robert Rodgers

Replacements: 16 Jesse Linders, 17 Damian Swartz, 18 Joubert Grobelaar, 19 Andreas Wild, 20 Calvyn Louis, 21 Gerhard Cloete, 22 Christiaan van Blommenstein, 23 Matthew Luddit

Of the Paarl Gim side, left wing Stravino Jacobs played for South African Schools in 2018, and he and Bobby Alexander played for Western Province at the 2018 Craven Week. Centre Ethan James was in the Western Province Grant Khomo Week side as were replacements Eric Basson and Bradley Davids.

Paarl Gim: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Curwin Gertse, 13 Ethan James, 12 Stephan du Toit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Jandré Burger, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Juan Wilson, 7 Pierich Siebert, 6 Louw Nel, 5 Marco van Rhyn (captain), 4 Reynhardt Crous, 3 Jovan Bekker, 2 Liam Compion, 1 Gerhard van Niekerk

Replacements: 16 Delarey Nel, 17 Louwtjie Marais, 18 Danté Booyens, 19 Johan van Rhyn, 20 Eric Basson, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Johan Smal, 23 John du Toit

Coaches: Pieter Rossouw, Helmut Lehmann

Date: 18 May 2019

1st XV kickoff: 12.15

Live television broadcast: SuperSport channel 210

Venue: Markötter Field, Stellenbosch

Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 21°C and a low of 11°C

Rugby Programme - 18 May 2019

Markötter Field

08.00: 4th XV

09.15: 3rd XV

10.30: 2nd XV

12.15: 1st XV

Rivierveld

08.00: Under-16C

09.15: Under-16B

10.30: Under-16A

Meulsloot

08.00: 7th XV

09.15: 6th XV

10.30: 5th XV

Doornbosch

08.00: Under-14B

09.00: Under-14A

10.00: Under-16D

11.10: Under-16E

Volkskombuis

08.00: Under-15C

09.00: Under-15B

10.00: Under-15A

11.00: 8th XV

Oval 1

08.00: Under-14E

09.00: Under-14D

10.00: Under-14C

11.00: Under-15D

Paul Roos vs Paarl Gim This Century

2001: Paarl Gim won 11-0

2002: Paarl Gim won 28-12

2003: Draw 16-16

2004: Paarl Gim won 15-10

2005: Paul Roos won 23-13

2006: Paul Roos won 9-14

2007: Paarl Gim won 58-12

2008: Paarl Gim won 17-14

2009: Paul Roos won 47-36

2010: Paarl Gim won 30-27

2011: Paul Roos won 34-30

2012: Draw 5-5

2012: Paarl Gim won 28-8

2013: Paarl Gim won 24-15

2014: Paul Roos won 16-10

2015: Paarl Gim won 23-21

2016: Paarl Gim won 28-24

2017: Paarl Gim won 20-19

2018: Paul Roos won 32-13