Paul Roos face Affies in the first Mutual & Federal Premier Interschools match of the season in Stellenbosch on Saturday.
Affies started their 2015 campaign with a 24-0 victory over Helpmekaar while Paul Roos beat Swartland 67-0 in a warm-up match last weekend.
Key areas for this derby are forward and set-piece dominance. Affies are blessed with a massive pack featuring No 8 Eduan Lubbe who is a strong ball carrier and has the ability to jostle over defences. Lubbe, along with his pack, will sorely test Paul Roos's resilience.
However, their opponents aren't the country's second-best rugby school for nothing as their counter-attack prowess led by the likes of Nico Leonard will probe the Affies defence.
Last season, the Pretoria-based side achieved just eight victories out of 15 matches while Paul Roos won 15 of their 18 games.
Affies coach Jaco Koch said that preparation for Saturday's match has gone well and he feels his charges are more than ready to face Paul Roos.
'We've worked hard in training, amending mistakes made in our previous match. The team that makes fewer mistakes will win the game.'
Paul Roos coach Hein Kriek has an opposing view on how the game will be won, saying the team disrupting momentum may be victorious.
'We need to contain Affies' massive forwards, once they get momentum it will be difficult to stop. If we can get our set piece going and feed the backline, we will have a chance of winning.'
The schools have met 17 times between 1946 and 2013, with Affies winning nine of the 17 games, Paul Roos seven, and one draw.
Saturday's match will be broadcast delayed on SuperSport 1 at 9pm.
In other notable weekend fixtures, Grey High will tackle Bishops at the Graeme College Rugby Day while Rondebosch face Outeniqua at the Paul Roos Rugby Day.
Weekend's fixtures
KwaZulu-Natal
Westville vs Maritzburg College
DHS vs Northwood
Port Natal vs George Campbell
Eastern Cape
Union vs Cambridge
Muir vs Hudson Park
Queen’s vs Pearson
Selborne vs Brandwag
Kingswood vs Marlow
St Andrew’s vs Nico Malan
Graeme vs Dale
Grey HS vs Bishops
Framesby vs Waterkloof
North West
Potch Gym vs Transvalia
Rustenburg vs Florida
Kynoch Noord-Kaap vs Kearsney
Klerksdorp vs Drostdy
Gauteng
St Alban’s vs St John’s
St David’s vs St Stithians
Western Cape
Bellville vs Piketberg
Tygerberg vs Jan van Riebeeck
Brackenfell vs Labori
Hugenote vs Hermanus
SACS vs Langenhoven Gym
Oakdale vs Landboudal
Boland Landbou vs Worcester Gym
Paarl Gym vs Pietersburg
Rondebosch vs Outeniqua
HJS Paarl BH vs Diamantveld
Paul Roos vs Affies
Durbanville vs Swartland
Stellenberg vs Vredendal
– Email your school's fixtures to [email protected]
Photo: Supplied
