SACS will host Paarl Gym in a heavyweight Cape schools clash on Saturday.
History heavily favours Gimmies, who have won every meeting between the sides since the turn of the century. The closest SACS have come to victory was a 17-14 defeat in 2000.
However, SACS are much improved this season. They are eighth on the FNB rankings having won eight of their nine matches, including the big scalps of Affies, Boland Landbou and Bishops, and beat Rondebosch 27-15 last weekend.
Paarl Gym are coming off a 23-21 win against Paul Roos, who were ranked No 1 at the time. Gimmies have also lost just once this season, to Bishops, yet are 12th in the rankings.
However, SACS 1st XV coach Graeme Wepener believes Paarl Gym are among South Africa's top three best teams.
'They’re a very good side and execute their game plan better than any team in the country,’ he told SARugbymag.co.za. 'They’re always a tough challenge and we will have to be at our best to beat them.'
SACS have made just one change to their starting XV with Seb Schultz replacing Sihle Lonzi, who is out with a mild concussion.
Paarl Gym have also had minimal disruptions, with No 8 JA van As coming in for Muller Uys who suffered a dislocated shoulder.
‘SACS are a very good side, and I don’t think they get the credit they deserve,' said Paarl Gym 1st XV coach Christoff Lötter. 'But we certainly know what a tough challenge they will pose and will have to be at our best.’
Other big games this weekend see Bishops host top-ranked Paarl Boys’, a wounded Paul Roos travelling to Wynberg, and Affies, who thrashed KES 92-0 last weekend, hosting Waterkloof.
Western Cape
Bishops vs Paarl Boys’
Brackenfell vs Bellville
Boland Landbou vs Framesby
Drostdy vs Hugenote
De Kuilen vs Durbanville
Oakdale Landbou vs Langenhoven Gym
Oudtshoorn vs DF Malan
SACS vs Paarl Gym
Wynberg vs Paul Roos
Tygerberg vs Rondebosch
Hermanus vs Worcester Gym
Gauteng
Primrose vs Stellenberg
Affies vs Waterkloof
Centurion vs Wonderboom
EG Jansen vs Kempton Park
Eldoraigne vs Zwartkop
Monument vs Florida
Garsfontein vs Menlopark
HTS Middelburg vs Nelspruit
Jeppe Boys’ vs St Alban’s
KES vs Westville
Marais Volljoen vs Jeugland
Parktown vs St Benedict’s
St Stithians vs Pretoria Boys’
St John’s vs St David’s
Volkskool Heidelberg vs Kynoch Noord-Kaap
KwaZulu-Natal
St Andrew’s School vs Clifton
DHS vs Glenwood
Northwood vs Maritzburg College
Voortrekker (Pietermaritzburg) vs George Campbell
Crawford College vs South City Christian College
Eastern Cape
Brandwag vs Muir
Dale vs Port Rex
Grey High vs Queen’s College
Hudson Park vs Marlow
Pearson vs Kingswood
Nico Malan vs Otto du Plessis
Selborne vs St Andrew’s
Dordrecht vs Maclear
Free State
AHS Kroonstad vs Welkom Gym
Upington vs Diamantveld
Fichardtpark vs Jim Fouché
Goudveld vs Witteberg
Sentraal vs Grey College
Hentie Cilliers vs HTS Welkom
Voortrekker (Bethlehem) vs Kroonstad
Harrismith vs Ladybrand
Reitz vs Vrede
Grey College 2nd XV vs Louis Botha HTS
– Email your school's fixtures to [email protected]
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
