QUAGGAS READY TO KICK UP SOME DUST !
If you were to play word-association with your average South African sports fan, the mention of the words “schoolboy” and “rugby” in the same sentence would elicit an immediate reaction of “Grey Bloem”, “Paarl Boys’ High”, “Affies”, “Paarl Gym” or “Paul Roos”. This is hardly surprising: after all, nine times out of ten, these schools will be somewhere near the top of the pile.
This year a new name might just force its way into that elite group: Outeniqua, the pride of the Garden Route.
The Quaggas may have thrilled schoolboy rugby followers throughout the Western Cape and beyond last year, finishing in style by defeating Paarl Gym 30-22 in the Burger Trophy final in George, but many of those in the know feel that this was merely the entrée, the main course being this year’s squad.
Although head coach Piet Cloete and his aides – Jacques Wolfaardt (forwards), Martin Oosthuizen (backs) and Walter Lutch (biokinetics) – have steadfastly refused to be drawn on the subject, the anticipation regarding the composition of the team of ’13, tasked with flying the school’s standard high in this, its 90th year of existence, has been building relentlessly for a lot longer than just the last five months.
This unit comprises a heady mixture indeed:  last year’s 1st XV backline, six of whom are available again this season, and the essence of their juggernaut Under 16 pack, four of whom join two returning 2012 Craven Week Eagles and one Boland veteran to fill out what – on paper at least – looks next to unbeatable.
The team for their first high-profile engagement of the year, the Kearsney Easter Festival at the end of March, was recently announced and opponents’ worst fears have been realized.
The only unheralded back – in other words, the only player in that division not to have represented SWD at Craven Week 2012 – is full-back Hennie “Henna” Barnard.
The rest have all too familiar faces.
On the left wing is 2012 SA Schools cap Duhan “Duwey” van der Merwe, who, perhaps not entirely fairly, grabbed most of the headlines by running in eighteen tries in 2012.  On the right is Leighton “Soda” Eksteen, a hugely versatile player who is just as happy at full-back or even flyhalf.  As if this is not sufficient proof of his value, he is also one of the team’s trusted goalkickers, having contributed 112 points last campaign.
The centres, playmaker Warrick “Boogey” Gelant, also a 2012 SA Schools squad member, and Douw Schoeman, provide a delightfully unpredictable platform for the men out wide.  While Galant’s exhilarating flamboyance is reminiscent of the French game of old, he too has another side to his game. In 2012 he notched 167 points, 117 with the boot to go with ten sparkling tries.
And don’t be fooled into writing off no 9 Remu “Vensters” Malan and his halfback partnerDewald “Japie” Human as simply the links between the muscle and the music: they dotted down 23 times between them last year, with Human’s long-distance effort from an interception in the away game against Paarl Gym probably the pick of the lot !
Speed and stepping shouldn’t be too much of a problem: Malan, Human, van der Merwe and Gelant were all selected for the SA Under 19 7s team, too !
The number 8 berth is filled by powerful Dian Koen, who represented Boland in that position at Craven Week 2012 while at Hermanus, the two flanks being Geor “Cocktail” Malan – this year’s skipper – and Lian “Pepsi” van Schalkwyk, who shone in the early stages of last season, but was overlooked for higher honours.
All the remaining forwards, with the exception of loosehead Stefaan “Belelie” Grundlingh, who, like Geor Malan, gained Craven Week selection, caught the eye in the very successful SWD Grant Khomo (Under 16) team last season. Locks Hendri “Avo” Storm and Eduard “Eddie” Zandberg – a member of the SA Under 16 Elite squad – will seek to restore their partnership with hooker Marné “Marras” Botha and tightheadWynand “Wynie” de Necker.
Even the bench boasts its share of nobility.  Hooker le Roux Barnard has Grant Khomo colours, prop Gregory “Greg” Nel turned out for the SWD Academy team and lock Dirk “Cassie” Oosthuizen did duty in the SWD Under 19 side.  Stir in loose forwardChristopher Roelofse, flyhalf Stephen “Voël” Terblanche, wing Dirk “Babelas” Barnard and full-back Corné “Skillie” de Klerk, put the lid on , then hunt for cover !
All the team’s fixtures are in the Fixtures section of this site, but they are scheduled to appear in the Cape peninsula at Brackenfell Sports Day on Thursday 21 March and again at Brug Street on 14 April, when they face a showdown with Paarl Boys’ High.  Don’t say you haven’t been warned !
Written by TONY STOOPS – Visit is website Here