WHICH VETERANS WILL BE RETURNING TO THE FRAY ?
The first shots of the 2013 season might only be scheduled to be fired up in Tulbagh at the start of March, but that doesn’t mean that the schoolboy rugby aficionados aren’t already starting to speculate about their teams’ and, in equal measure, their opponents’ line-ups for 2013.
In this vein, it is this site’s pleasure to bring you a round-up of those 2012 1st XV players who will once again be donning their schools’ colours this season.  This list is not exhaustive: it mentions only those players deemed by the coaches themselves to have turned out fairly regularly during the last campaign.
First up, the out-of-towners.
Boland Landbou have three very influential players around which to build.  Juggernaut prop Matthys Basson will be more than a handful for opponents, while flyhalf Tian Nel and fullback Heinrich Bühr, both of whom are prodigious place-kickers, will mentor the young backline, which includes several exciting youngsters.  The influence of the latter two will be particularly important given the Windmeul Warriors’ jitters in this area last year.
Needless to say, the Farmers never have a poor crop and this year’s vintage, to be coached by Oloff Bergh and Hottie Louw, is definitely not going to drop the ball literally or figuratively.
The new guard of Hein Kriek and Dawie Snyman at Paul Roos won’t be starting with a shortage of talent.  Amongst the forwards tight-head JP Botha, hooker Gerrie le Roux, lock Luan Louw and loose forwards Pieta Smit and Christo van der Merwe are sure to provide a firm foundation.  Old hands out  back include flyhalf Chris Smit, inside centre Daniel du Plessis – who spent a large part of 2012 injured – and right wing Pieter Rossouw.
If that isn’t daunting enough, factor in the Young Maties’ determination to put the roller-coaster ride of 2012 behind them and their opponents can brace themselves for a level of intensity beyond the norm in local schoolboy rugby.
Paarl Gym may only boast five of last year’s lot, but, when you consider that four of them are Craven Week caps, that suddenly becomes considerably more intimidating.  The tight loose looks like being their chosen sphere of operations.  It will take a major effort to unsettle lock JD “Jakkals” Schickerling (also an SA squad member), no 8 Rikus Bothma and flank Jacques Vermeulen around the sides of the forward phases.
Right wing Grant Hermanus also represented the province last year, while flyhalf Wyatt Murphy has the onerous task of filling Handré Pollard’s boots.  Murphy had some inexplicable lapses of concentration last season, not least when he gifted Outeniqua a try in Paarl, but, come late March, Christoff Lötter and Hendrik Weber are sure to have ironed out those kinks.
Most of the Paarl Boys’ High team matriculated last year, but they do have three players back.  It might have been four, but it appears that Fernando Kermis, who had a few 1st XV outings, has been persuaded to pursue his career at Florida.  Pencil him in for a Lions Craven Week spot.
Lock Burger van Niekerk will be influential in what is reputedly going to be a huge pack, while   incisive outside centre Dewald Naudé and reed-thin left wing Danté van der Merwe, who is apparently being considered for the full-back berth in order to give him more space to weave his magic, are going to have muster all their collective wiles if they are to direct the newcomers around them towards their opponents’ trylines.
Of the Cape Town sides, Rondebosch certainly seems to be in the pound seats.  They are able to call on 13 players who generally had extensive game-time in 2012.
These include props Kyle White and Brett Paulse, lock Christoff Blake, loose forwards Graham Geldenhuys and Ronnie Melck, scrumhalf Luke Houba, flyhalf Tyren Lee, centre Robert Blake, wings Devon van Rensburg and Matthew Steel, fullback Khanyo Ngcukana and utility backs Stef de Gouveia and Nic le Roux.
Fair enough, the ’Bosch didn’t enjoy a great year, but nothing whets your appetite for success like the bitter taste of adversity.  Three players from whom major contributions will be expected are pivot Tyren Lee, a revelation last campaign, and two of the boys at the back, Nic le Roux and Khanyo Ngcukana, both automatic first choices but neither of whom saw much service in 2012 due to serious injuries.
By contrast, it will be a very new-look Wynberg team.  The only players remaining from the Class of 2012 are centre Jarred Sage and flyhalf/fullback Siya Alam.  Sage will need to call on the experience gained by playing for the WP Academy team last year if the Lovers Walk Lads are to kick into gear.
Their new coach will be Justin van Winkel, himself a well-known local player. Those parents who have come to relish the sight of Gus Leslie on his predatory prowl down the touchline will have to get up early as he and Craig Childs will be starting out with the Under 15s this year.
SACS coach Graeme Wepener is delighted to be able to field an experienced front row in loose-head Joel MacQuene, hooker Struan Murray and tight-head Yandisa Maqunekana, while lock Dean Basson will return to back them up.
As regards the backline, the cupboard is rather bare, the only veterans being outside centre Richard Rodgers and fullback Keagan Wheeler.
Bishops will be striving to return to normality with a core group of six returning players.  Indefatigable hooker Cuan Hablutzel, probably their player of the year, will pack down with prop Taariq Allen, lock Justin Halliday and loose forward Saud Abrahams, although questions are already being asked about the last-named’s fitness.
A lot of the team’s fortunes may rest on versatile WP Academy centre Herman Share, hopefully now past the shoulder injury woes which sidelined him for much of last winter.  Back to support him on the left wing will be Ant van Ryneveld.
Don’t think it’s only the Western Cape schools who are being plundered by those up north.  The coach of mighty Noord-Kaap, who also happens to be the headmaster, only got to hear through the grapevine that his points-machine wing Demetrio Tieties recently enrolled at Garsfontein !
That’s about it.  Start the countdown !
Written by Tony Stoops