Playing on their newly named Jade Park on Saturday, Stellenberg High, with a win in their King Price Derby Series showdown against Hoërskool Durbanville, would have won five matches on the trot and 15 for the season.
Kickoff on Saturday is at 14:00. Last year, Stellies won the Durbanville derby 21-14.
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The Jade Brigade’s Forwards Coach, Louw Lombard, shared his admiration for their northern suburbs’ rival: “Firstly, congratulations to Durbanville on a great first season in the Premier A league,” he said.
“They’ve done really well and have shown that rugby in the northern suburbs is very healthy, and it continues to grow stronger every year.
“They’re a well-coached outfit that plays with a lot of structure and confidence. They also have plenty of X-factor players.
“We have a lot of respect for their coaching staff and the brand of rugby that they play, so we’ll prepare accordingly because we know they’ll be up for the challenge.”
Utility back Farrel-Leigh Dido is Durbies‘ wild card. He scored a try from a sensational solo run against Paul Roos Gimnasium back in May. He also scored a hat-trick against Hoërskool Melkbosstrand in June. He’s strong, fast, and a good passer of the ball.
Stellies have their own stars. Captain and eighthman Yanos Molnar is both a ferocious ball-carrier and tackler. His opposite number, Durbanville captain and eighthman, Muller Jansen van Vuuren, possesses similar strengths and will aim to take the physical battle to Molnar.
The hosts also have players who can shift the momentum in the set pieces. Lock Juvan Burden has put together an outstanding season. He’s a tough challenge in the lineouts and a massive presence around the park with his relentless engine. Loosehead prop Uzair Blanckenberg is a big factor in the set scrums.
It has been a season to remember for Stellenberg, their best yet, and flyhalf Ethan van Biljon, who made the South African Schools team alongside Juvan Burden, leads the Jade Brigade’s backs. He’s a complete player whose skills have set up centres, Daniel Mongie and JC Swart, to score plenty of tries.
Durbanville Head of Rugby Johan du Toit recognised Stellenberg’s superb season, saying: “We respect them as a team. They’ve developed excellently in their third year in Premier A.
“Their players are well-coached, and we must be prepared for a tough effort by the whole team.”
The stakes on Saturday are big. A victory for either side adds gloss to their season, regardless of the results of their matches earlier in their campaigns.
The teams:
Stellenberg High: 15 Liam Jacobs, 14 Ralton Rhode, 13 JC Swart, 12 Daniel Mongie, 11 Emile Cilliers, 10 Ethan van Biljon, 9 Daniel Steffan, 8 Yanos Molnar (captain), 7 Carlo Brink, 6 Seth Coetzé, 5 Juvan Burden, 4 Rocco Buchanan, 3 Janu van Deventer, 2 Liam Joubert, 1 Uzair Blanckenberg.
Hoërskool Durbanville (likely): 15 Raydon Williams, 14 Louwrens Rademeyer, 13 Farrel-Leigh Dido, 12 Malherbe Louw, 11 Cole Carls, 10 Hadley Erasmus, 9 Lorenzo Brogneri, 8 Muller Jansen van Vuuren (captain), 7 Zay-Winn Januarie, 6 Jean de Vries, 5 Eben de Jongh, 4 Jano Stone, 3 Hanno Rhode, 2 Tristen Muller, 1 Hannes Vermeulen.
Kick-Off: 12:30.
Referee: Joubert Labuschagne.
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