Premier InterSchools derby Maritzburg College vs Affies Historic Overview 2012

Jul 18 • Premier Schools, School, School Rugby Fixtures, School Rugby Overview • 8027 Views • Comments Off on Premier InterSchools derby Maritzburg College vs Affies Historic Overview 2012

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Next Premier Interschools: Maritzburg College vs Affies – Upmost Schools Rivalry

Maritzburg College will play Affies on Saturday 21 July in the next Premier Interschools, with kick off at 13h15.

The match will be played at Goldstones, Maritzburg College’s home ground and will be televised on SuperSport 1 at 17h00.

Maritzburg College vs Affies Historical Overview (Rudolph Pollard)

History of Interschools rivalry

While Maritzburg College and Affies Interschools only started in 1996, this has become one of the most eagerly-awaited matches in the schoolboy rugby calendar given the rich rugby history and heritage of both schools. One of the key aspects is the number of teams that both schools can field and thus the chance for all players (up to 27 rugby teams) to get exposure and play for their school in a Premier Interschools game.

Every year these schools travel with all of their teams, along with parents, staff and supporters, and as a result firm friendships have been formed throughout the years.

The 1st XV have met 17 times since 1996, with Affies the dominant team winning 15 of these matches. The biggest win coming in 2011 when Affies won 55-7.

College won twice with their biggest win in 2000, taking the match 16-10.

Looking at current form it must be said that Affies looks like the firm favorite to win again. Not only are they currently ranked at No. 3 on the National School Rankings with College at No. 22, but the Blue Bulls with 8 Affies representatives, also dominated the recent Craven Week and won the unofficial “final”. The Affies captain, Pierre Schoeman, also captained the Blue Bulls at Craven week this year.

College was represented by three players at the Craven Week, with fullback Jessie Kriel most probably the star player at the tournament. Kriel was outstanding at the back for KZN and hopefully he can carry that form into the Affies game.

College will do well to contain Affies No. 10 Ryno Eksteen and No. 13 Jurie Linde. Both of these players are exceptional ball carriers and have the eye for a gap. If they get half a chance, it’s going to be a long afternoon for the boys from Maritzburg.

The strength of this Affies team is reflected in the six players called up for the SA U18 High Performance squad. Heinrich Viljoen, Jurie Linde, Nicholas Janse van Rensburg, Pierre Schoeman, Ryno Eksteen and Marcus Kleinbooi. Jesse Kriel from College was invited.

College will take comfort in the fact that they are playing at their beloved Goldstones and that home ground advantage will most definitely count in their favour.

Results through the years

1996: Affies 12 – College 9
1997: Affies 21 – College 16
1998: Affies 36 – College 15
1999: Affies 29 – College 7
2000: Affies 10 – College 16
2001: Affies 20 – College 5
2002: Affies 20 – College 19
2003: Affies 25 – College 24
2004: Affies 33 – College 3
2005: Affies 32 – College 7
2006: Affies 15 – College 19
2007: Affies 31 – College 19
2008: Affies 52 – College 15
2009: Affies 10 – College 0
2010: Affies 32 – College 20
2011: Affies 19 – College 6

Maritzburg College Team

Affies Team

1.Pierre Schoeman

2.Francois Steyn

3.W P Eloff

4.Jean Droste

5.Nicolas Janse v Rensburg

6.Albert v Heerden

7.Heinrich Viljoen

8.Steven Meiring

9.Louis Venter

10.Ryno Eksteen

11.Andries vd Merwe

12.Nico Lee

13.Jurie Linde

14.Marcus Kleinbooi

15.Costant Pretorius

16.Cornell de Waal

17.Xander Swart

18.Gerhard de Beer

19.Calvon Allison

20.Heine Lombaard

21.Marchant vd Heever

22.Thys v Wyk

Maritzburg College Profile

Maritzburg College was founded as the Pietermaritzburg High School in 1863 to accommodate the influx of children arriving at the new city of Pietermaritzburg and its surrounding farmlands within the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. As the school swelled, city architects were commissioned

to build a larger classroom and boarding block, which was completed in 1888 and later became known as “Clark House”, honouring the school’s third headmaster, Mr RD Clark (MA (Oxon)), who is often referred to as “the Father of College”. Clark House is a Pietermaritzburg landmark and carries South Africa’s heritage seal, certifying it as a national monument. A similar honour was bestowed on the school’s Victoria Hall, the building of which was commenced in 1897 (Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee year) and which served as a British Army hospital from late 1899 until mid-1900 during the Second Boer War.

The school crest is a red shield with a crossed carbine and assegai over the Latin scroll bearing Pro Aris et Focis (For Hearth and Home). Debate has taken place as to the origins of the school’s crest and colours of red, black & white. A popular belief is that they highlight the various skirmishes, battles and wars between the British and the Zulu that took place in the late 19th century, with the colours representing the warring parties (white and black) and the blood that was shed between them (red). As recently as 2005, this issue had not been conclusively settled by the school’s Archives Committee. As an aside, four Old Collegians perished during the famous Battle of Isandhlwana, at which over 1,300 British and colonial troops were slaughtered by the Zulus on 22 January 1879, during the Zulu War. A memorial in honour of those fallen Old Boys was unveiled on the battlefield in 1969.

The impressive Campus of Maritzburg College as seen from the air

Rugby at Maritzburg College

Maritzburg College is traditionally the dominant school rugby force in KwaZulu-Natal. The first recorded rugby match in the province of Natal took place in the Market Square of Pietermaritzburg in October 1870. The contestants were Maritzburg College (then known as Pietermaritzburg High School) and Hermannsburg School. Played on a sun-baked, wheel-rutted, gravel surface, the contest lasted for more than three hours and ended in a victory, for the High School, by two goals to nil.

The 1897 1st XV

The arrival of James Mervyn (Skonk) Nicholson, as a master at Maritzburg College, signalled a revival in the school’s rugby fortunes. From 1948 he coached the First XV for 35 consecutive seasons, until 1982. In 1949 the First XV was unbeaten, as were ten other teams of his, while a further thirteen First XVs during that period lost only one match each. His teams’ record was:

Played     Won        Drew       Lost
504           403           49            52

The legendary JM (Skonk) Nicholson

His teams in the 1950s and early 1960s were particularly successful, at one stage losing only five matches in eleven years!

Skonk’s successors were scarcely less successful. The 1985, 1988 and 1995 teams were unbeaten and four other First XVs lost only one match. Since the turn of the new century, College has often found it difficult to match those statistics. The reasons for this are many: the increasing importance placed on sporting success by schools; the greater spread of talent, often owing to lucrative bursaries offered to promising players; the erosion of the rural core of College boarders; and the greatly strengthened fixture list.

The First XV’s record, however, represents only a fraction of the rugby played at Maritzburg College. Every weekend, as many as thirty teams take the field, playing the game with fierce enthusiasm and pride. The school’s rugby success is therefore built on a very firm and broad foundation.

For many years, Maritzburg College’s rugby has been characterised by the rugged qualities and outstanding support work of its forwards, the hard running and punishing tackling of its backs and an eagerness to move the ball at every reasonable opportunity. Most notable, however, is the fierce determination and spirit typifying College teams and imbuing them with an indomitable will to win.

Maritzburg College’s superbly consistent record, great depth of talent and enviable reputation for a hard but sporting approach to the game have made it, historically, the premier rugby school in KwaZulu-Natal. No one would seriously dispute College’s right to that title.

When a banquet was held in his honour a few years back, Skonk Nicholson was asked to name his College Dream team for the era 1948-1982.

The Skonk Nicholson Dream Team Back: PJ Lindsay (1977), LM Sharp (1972), K Oxlee (1952) Centre: JF Eliot (1955), JGM Anderson (1971), OB Taylor (1954), GD Adam (1972), JD McIntosh (1963), IL Smith (1948) Front: BL Dennison (1973), A van der Watt (1965), DM Anderson (c) (1963), Mr JM Nicholson, CM Jamieson (vc) (1979), BA Sharp (1964), GC de Graaf (1978

Maritzburg College boys have won 22 South African Schools caps, an achievement surpassed by only one South African school.
SA Schools Representatives

*Captained SA Schools.

Old Boy Joel Stransky (1984) became the darling of South Africa when he won the 1995 Rugby World Cup for his country with a superbly taken drop goal in extra time of the finals.

Joel Stransky with his most famous of drop goals!

World Cup Rugby Finals and College Old Boys is no stranger to each other, be it in playing capacity or official’s capacity. A career in rugby refereeing which started when he was a spindly 15-year-old on the backfields of Maritzburg College reached its glorious summit when Old Boy Craig Joubert took charge of the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and France in 2011.

Craig Joubert with father Des moments before refereeing a school game at College in 1992

Craig at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

List of College Springboks (Test Caps Only)

Famous Maritzburg College Springbok Flyhalves Keith Oxlee, Joel Stransky, Butch James, Peter Grant

A further two players received springbok colours for going on tour, but never played in a test match. Jeremy Thomson (1996) and Pieter Dixon (2000) In addition, several College Old Boys have represented other countries: Hubert Freakes and Geoff Appleford (England), Juan Grobler and Chad Erskine (United States), Brenton Catterall (Zimbabwe), Wim Visser (Italy), Frank Goedeke (Germany) and Andrew Binikos (Cyprus).

Affies Logo

Affies Profile

The Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Afrikaans Boys’ High School) also known as Affies, is a public high school for boys situated in the city of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, opposite Loftus Versfeld, the rugby stadium and home of the Bulls and Blue Bulls. The school is well known throughout South Africa for its high academic standards, sport achievements and production of leaders in a variety of fields and subjects, in South Africa and throughout the world.

The school’s founding on 28 January 1920 marked the establishment of the first purely Afrikaans-medium school in South Africa. This event predated the official recognition of the Afrikaans language by five years. With English as well as Dutch established as the official language in South Africa many of the Afrikaans population believed it should also enjoy recognition. Afrikaans as language grew so much that Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven gave in a motion at the Cape Provincial Council to slowly replace Dutch with Afrikaans. This thought was strongly supported by MP Mr Jan Joubert and Pastor Chris Neetling. As leaders in the community they quickly organized a group to establish a purely Afrikaans school in Pretoria. Starting 28 January 1920, with 44 children and 3 teachers the school was founded.

The school was housed in the home of General Piet Joubert at 218 Visagie Street, Pretoria. By 1927, the school had grown and new premises were required. The school was therefore moved to the current premises of the Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool. At the end of 1927, the school took over the Hogere Oosteindschool, a Dutch-medium instruction school, suggestive of the demise of Dutch as a language in South Africa and the ensuing adoption of Afrikaans as the primary instruction medium.
By 1929 this building had also run out of space and the decision was made to split the boys and girls into separate schools, thus creating the first separate Afrikaans boys’ and girls’ schools in South Africa. These two schools are now situated across each other in Lynnwood Road.

The beautiful old buildings of the “Hogere Oosteindskool” that houses Affies since 1927

The beautiful old buildings of the “Hogere Oosteindskool” that houses Affies since 1927

Rugby at Affies

Affies is famed and regarded as one of the best rugby schools in South Africa. It has delivered many Springbok players in the past and continues to supply loads of talent in the SA Schools and SA Academy sides. Affies also has many players at all provincial levels of rugby.

Affies have a huge talent pool in the school and one that is rich in depth. There are more than 10 senior teams each year, and teams as far as G-teams are filled at each age group.

Each year Affies challenge the country’s leading rugby schools such as Grey College (Bloem), Maritzburg College, Glenwood High School, Hoërskool Noord- Kaap and many more. At these derby matches each and every team gets a chance to take the field for the Rooi, Geel and Groen. In the last few decades Affies has produced top quality players such as Louis Schmidt, Wynand Olivier, Fourie du Preez and current Blue Bulls captain Pierre Spies (also an Affies choir boy) to name but a few. Perhaps Affies’ most unknown star was Francois Swart who played fly-half for Die Witbulle (the school’s first team) alongside scrum-half Fourie du Preez. The formidable duo played for the Blue Bulls and were fast becoming the next Springbok scrum-and fly-half pair. Tragically Francois Swart died in 2004 and since then Affies hosts an under-15 rugby tournament in the Easter Holidays bearing the name of Francois Swart. The long standing legacy of Affies rugby builds each year and upcoming stars are still being produced.

Rugby Alumni of Affies

Louis Schmidt (1954): Springbok rugby player 1958 and 1962, and the original Blue Bull

Tonie Roux (1964): Springbok rugby player 1969 to 1974

Dr. Pierre Edwards: Springbok Fullback (1980) & Affies Headmaster

• Grant Esterhuizen (1994) : Springbok rugby player 2000
• Johan Roets (1996) : South Africa A and Bulls Super 14 rugby player
• Skipper Badenhorst (1996) : Natal Sharks / SA Under 21 / Cheetahs Super 14 rugby player
• Nicolaas Alberts (1996) : Springbok Sevens Rugby Player and Cambridge University Triple Blue (Rugby,Cricket and Athletics)
• Eugene Marx (1996) : SA under 21 / Golden Lions rugby player
• Edward Coetzee (1997) : Natal Sharks rugby player

Fourie du Preez (2000): Springbok rugby player 2004-

Wynand Olivier (2001): Springbok rugby player 2006-

Pierre Spies (2003): Springbok rugby player 2006-

• Jacques Botes (2004): Sharks Rugby Player
• Tiaan Snyman (1998): SA Under 21 / Bulls / Lions rugby player
• Sarel Potgieter (2002): WP ans SA Sevens rugby player
• Derick Kuun (2002): Blue Bulls rugby player
• Jacques-Louis Potgieter (2002): Cheetahs / Blue Bulls rugby player
• Adriaan Fondse (2001): WP / Stormers rugby player
• Gerrit-Jan Van Velze (2005): Blue Bulls rugby player
• Cliff Milton (2002): Blue Bulls 2003 – 2007 / Stade Francais 2007 – 2008 rugby player
• Ruan Cloete (2002): Falcons / Lions rugby player
• Dean Greyling (2004): Blue Bulls rugby player
• Ruan Snyman (2005): Blue Bulls rugby player
• Frik Kirsten (2006): Blue Bulls rugby Player
• Gerhard Van Den Heever (2007): Blue Bulls and Stormers rugby player
• Andries Ferreira (2008): South African rugby player, representing the Cheetahs in both Super Rugby and the Currie Cup.
• Quinn Roux (2008): South African rugby player, playing for the Western Province and Stormers

Super 14 Final 2009

Absa Currie Cup Final 2009

Absa Currie Cup Final 2009

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