SA Schoolboy rugby

[OomStruisbaai]

I'll start this one with Paul Roos Gymnasium (biggest Bok supplier) rugby .
64 x Paul Rosers plying their trade currently national and international:






Left out Daniel du Plessis (Stormers) , Zander Botha (Cheetahs) & Schalk Brits who retired.

[assfly]

I've been watching highlights of a few games recently, especially from when Kiwi teams come to play at the festivals.

Always nice to see them do the haka and then take a pounding from Grey College, Paul Roos, etc.

[Blake]

I've been watching highlights of a few games recently, especially from when Kiwi teams come to play at the festivals.

Always nice to see them do the haka and then take a pounding from Grey College, Paul Roos, etc.

Just a pity our Top Schools aren't facing their Top Schools. The NZ schools in the festivals aren't even in their Top 10 in most cases.
The Top 10 SA schools put up similar scores against the lower level local schools.

[Mr Bungle]

I've been watching highlights of a few games recently, especially from when Kiwi teams come to play at the festivals.

Always nice to see them do the haka and then take a pounding from Grey College, Paul Roos, etc.

Just a pity our Top Schools aren't facing their Top Schools. The NZ schools in the festivals aren't even in their Top 10 in most cases.
The Top 10 SA schools put up similar scores against the lower level local schools.

Assfly

[Blake]

Mr Bungle,

Not knowing much about NZ Schoolboy rugby, where would the following schools rank:
Christchurch Boys
Napier Boys
Southland Boys
John McGlashan

I don't think any of them are in the Top 10, proabably not even the Top 20.

While I am sure their visit to South Africa would be a great experience and they would have been well hosted and taken care of, the reality is that putting them up against Grey College or Paarl Boys or Monument or Paul Roos or Affies is just leading lambs to the slaughter. Those "Schoolboy teams" would give a number of semi-pro teams worldwide a run for their money.

[assfly]

I've been watching highlights of a few games recently, especially from when Kiwi teams come to play at the festivals.

Always nice to see them do the haka and then take a pounding from Grey College, Paul Roos, etc.

Just a pity our Top Schools aren't facing their Top Schools. The NZ schools in the festivals aren't even in their Top 10 in most cases.
The Top 10 SA schools put up similar scores against the lower level local schools.

Assfly

How am I supposed to know that?

Jeez, nice to see a rare pleasure of mine when the family are in bed turn out to be a sham

[Blake]

Jeez, nice to see a rare pleasure of mine when the family are in bed turn out to be a sham

I also enjoyed watching those blowout matches...until I started to look at the teams .
Not sure how the organizers decide on who to invite.

[assfly]

That said, the skillset on some of those kids from Grey College is incredible.

I can't help but feel that so much of that care-free, ambitious, running rugby is drilled out of them as soon as they turn pro.

[Blake]

That said, the skillset on some of those kids from Grey College is incredible.

I can't help but feel that so much of that care-free, ambitious, running rugby is drilled out of them as soon as they turn pro.

Indeed - it's also why I enjoy watching. Same with Varsity Cup. I think as the players near the pinnacle the game speeds up, on-field mistakes become more costly, and the general appetite for risk taking is reduced.
Ultimately those skill-sets atrophy in the players and they become more and more difficult to revive...vicious cycle.

[assfly]

Indeed - it's also why I enjoy watching. Same with Varsity Cup. I think as the players near the pinnacle the game speeds up, on-field mistakes become more costly, and the general appetite for risk taking is reduced.
Ultimately those skill-sets atrophy in the players and they become more and more difficult to revive...vicious cycle.

We're lucky that players like le Roux and youngsters like Bosch and Willemse seem to keep that attacking mindset.

[OomStruisbaai]

Indeed - it's also why I enjoy watching. Same with Varsity Cup. I think as the players near the pinnacle the game speeds up, on-field mistakes become more costly, and the general appetite for risk taking is reduced.
Ultimately those skill-sets atrophy in the players and they become more and more difficult to revive...vicious cycle.

We're lucky that players like le Roux and youngsters like Bosch and Willemse seem to keep that attacking mindset.

Must give credit to the coaches or director of rugby as they are called nowadays of Paul Roos , Grey College and Grey High. Paul Roos always play running rugby which isn't good when you play the Paarl Schools who tend to play much more tighter.

The score is important when the top lot meets but its more important to drill running rugby with freedom when they are young. Players always remember their plan A (drilled as schoolboy) when they play. Coaches try to change that at provincial level playing to their own plan.

[OomStruisbaai]

Mr Bungle,

Not knowing much about NZ Schoolboy rugby, where would the following schools rank:
Christchurch Boys
Napier Boys
Southland Boys
John McGlashan

I don't think any of them are in the Top 10, proabably not even the Top 20.

While I am sure their visit to South Africa would be a great experience and they would have been well hosted and taken care of, the reality is that putting them up against Grey College or Paarl Boys or Monument or Paul Roos or Affies is just leading lambs to the slaughter. Those "Schoolboy teams" would give a number of semi-pro teams worldwide a run for their money.

NZ Top 15
Top 15
1. St Kentigerns College - 1A - Blues
2. Hastings BHS - Super 8 - Hurricanes
3. Kings College - 1A - Blues
4. Rotorua BHS - Super 8 - Chiefs
5. Otago BHS - Otago Comp - Highlanders
6. Kelston BHS - 1A - Blues
7. Hamilton BHS - Super 8 - Chiefs
8. Nelson College - UC Championship - Crusaders
9. St Bedes College - UC Championship - Crusaders
10. Scots College - Wellington Comp - Hurricanes
11. Francis Douglas MC - Central North Island - Chiefs
12. Christchurch BHS - UC Championship - Crusaders
13. Sacred Heart College - 1A - Blues
14. New Plymouth BHS - Super 8 - Chiefs
15. Gisborne BHS - Super 8 - Hurricanes

[Mr Bungle]

Mr Bungle,

Not knowing much about NZ Schoolboy rugby, where would the following schools rank:
Christchurch Boys
Napier Boys
Southland Boys
John McGlashan

I don't think any of them are in the Top 10, proabably not even the Top 20.

While I am sure their visit to South Africa would be a great experience and they would have been well hosted and taken care of, the reality is that putting them up against Grey College or Paarl Boys or Monument or Paul Roos or Affies is just leading lambs to the slaughter. Those "Schoolboy teams" would give a number of semi-pro teams worldwide a run for their money.

Oom has listed a top 15.

What I do know is back in my day at high school in the mid 90s, year 13s (last year of high school) at Southland Boys would repeat the year to make the biennial your to South Africa. It would have been an amazing experience.

[Carter's Choice]

While I am sure their visit to South Africa would be a great experience and they would have been well hosted and taken care of, the reality is that putting them up against Grey College or Paarl Boys or Monument or Paul Roos or Affies is just leading lambs to the slaughter. Those "Schoolboy teams" would give a number of semi-pro teams worldwide a run for their money.

Ah, the myth of South African Schoolboy superiority. Just like the myth of South African TV money and the myth of South Africa's superior referees? South African Rugby is built on mythology. The facts are that over the past 5 years you've lost 50% of your test matches and haven't won anything at Super Rugby level.

[Chilli]

While I am sure their visit to South Africa would be a great experience and they would have been well hosted and taken care of, the reality is that putting them up against Grey College or Paarl Boys or Monument or Paul Roos or Affies is just leading lambs to the slaughter. Those "Schoolboy teams" would give a number of semi-pro teams worldwide a run for their money.

Ah, the myth of South African Schoolboy superiority. Just like the myth of South African TV money and the myth of South Africa's superior referees? South African Rugby is built on mythology. The facts are that over the past 5 years you've lost 50% of your test matches and haven't won anything at Super Rugby level.

True. However our trophy cabinet is well stocked at the moment.

[Carter's Choice]

While I am sure their visit to South Africa would be a great experience and they would have been well hosted and taken care of, the reality is that putting them up against Grey College or Paarl Boys or Monument or Paul Roos or Affies is just leading lambs to the slaughter. Those "Schoolboy teams" would give a number of semi-pro teams worldwide a run for their money.

Ah, the myth of South African Schoolboy superiority. Just like the myth of South African TV money and the myth of South Africa's superior referees? South African Rugby is built on mythology. The facts are that over the past 5 years you've lost 50% of your test matches and haven't won anything at Super Rugby level.

True. However our trophy cabinet is well stocked at the moment.

Big deal, you won the RWC, You were beateb by the ABs in the pool stage which gifted you a miracle draw.

[Blake]

While I am sure their visit to South Africa would be a great experience and they would have been well hosted and taken care of, the reality is that putting them up against Grey College or Paarl Boys or Monument or Paul Roos or Affies is just leading lambs to the slaughter. Those "Schoolboy teams" would give a number of semi-pro teams worldwide a run for their money.

Ah, the myth of South African Schoolboy superiority. Just like the myth of South African TV money and the myth of South Africa's superior referees? South African Rugby is built on mythology. The facts are that over the past 5 years you've lost 50% of your test matches and haven't won anything at Super Rugby level.

Not at all; I just was in fact down playing the thrashings the top SA schools were handing out at the festival due to the opposition.

Even locally there is a massive gulf between the Top 10 schools (who are effectively semi-pro outfits with multiple coaches, conditioning coaches, nutritionists etc) and the rest. They would probably be competitive against semi-pro teams from Tier 2 countries and maybe even a couple of Tier 1 countries.

I’m sure the same can be said for the Top 3 NZ, English and Irish senior schoolboy sides.

[Chilli]

Ah, the myth of South African Schoolboy superiority. Just like the myth of South African TV money and the myth of South Africa's superior referees? South African Rugby is built on mythology. The facts are that over the past 5 years you've lost 50% of your test matches and haven't won anything at Super Rugby level.

True. However our trophy cabinet is well stocked at the moment.

Big deal, you won the RWC, You were beateb by the ABs in the pool stage which gifted you a miracle draw.

The prison style man shaming of the All Blacks by the Poms ( who we comfortably beat ) must still hurt

[OomStruisbaai]

4 more years