Paul Roos will host Paarl Gym in Saturday's Mutual & Federal Premier Interschools clash.
Paul Roos are unbeaten so far this season and No 1 on the FNB top 20 rankings, while 18th-placed Paarl Gym have suffered a single loss, at Bishops three weeks ago.
Recent history can’t separate these two teams, with three wins each from the last six meetings. Home-ground advantage also appears to count for little, with the away side claiming victory in 2013 and 2014.
Paul Roos recently became the fourth South African 1st XV to win the Sanix World Youth Rugby Tournament in Japan. The school is also celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, which has increased the pressure on the 1st XV, who are wearing special jerseys, to perform well.
'We’ve got a target on our backs,' Paul Roos coach Hein Kriek told SARugbymag.co.za. 'Everyone wants to beat us after our victory at the Sanix tournament.
'The boys are in a good space,' he added. 'We’ve had some light training this week to get everyone on the same page, and been boosted by the return of some U19 guys who weren't eligible for the Sanix tournament [winger Jason Myburgh will start, with prop Dre Calitz and hooker Robert Conradie on the bench].'
Paarl Gym are coming off the back of a 39-0 win against Boland Landbou last weekend, and have retained that team for Saturday's match.
'We’re feeling good and looking forward to the game,' Paarl Gym coach Christoff Lötter told SARugbymag.co.za. 'They are obviously a very good side, but we also rate ourselves.
'We slipped up at Bishops, when a few of our guys were still not match fit following the cricket season, but have fought back well since.'
Saturday's match will be televised live on SuperSport Select (channel 210) at 12:10.
In other big games this weekend, Grey College will be looking to end a three-match losing streak against Selborne, Affies will host KES and Boland Landbou visit Paarl Boys’.
Western Cape
Paul Roos vs Paarl Gym
Brackenfell vs Bishops
Bellville vs Swartland
Paarl Boys' vs Boland Landbou
Drostdy vs Oakdale
Hugenote vs Worcester Gym
Stellenberg vs Outeniqua
Rondebosch vs SACS
Wynberg vs Strand
Durbanville vs Tygerberg
Eastern Cape
Dale vs Grens
Pearson vs Daniel Pienaar
Hudson Park vs Stirling
Kingswood vs Port Rex
Queen’s College vs Graeme College
Selborne vs Grey College
St Andrew’s vs Cambridge
KwaZulu-Natal
Hilton vs Clifton
Glenwood vs Voortrekker (Pietermaritzburg)
Kearsney vs Maritzburg
Michaelhouse vs Northwood
Westville vs Pretoria Boys’
Gauteng
Affies vs KES
Eldoraigne vs Wonderboom
EG Jansen vs Marais Viljoen
Monument vs Rustenburg
Garsfontein vs Waterkloof
Jeppe Boys’ vs St Benedict’s
Menlopark vs Glenwood
Nelspruit vs Witbank
Parktown vs St John’s
Free State
Jim Fouche vs Sentraal
Hentie Cilliers vs Welkom Gym
Heidelberg vs Kynoch Noord-Kaap
Fichardt Park vs Louis Botha
Goudveld vs Kroonstad
VIDEO: SuperSport looks ahead to Paul Roos vs Paarl Gym
Photo: Kobus Basson
