Kaplan hails Paul Roos team ‘once in a generation’

South Africa’s most experienced Test referee Jonathan Kaplan is also among the most respected authorities on schoolboy rugby.  Kaplan, on his Twitter feed, described this season’s Paul Roos side as a ‘once in a generation’ team.

Paul Roos, unbeaten in 11 matches, smashed Paarl Boys High 44-8, just a fortnight after hammering Paarl Gim 32-13 at Paarl Gim.

Kaplan, who has refereed 165 different schools First XV’s, emphasised the quality of this year’s team when he said he hadn’t seen anything like it for a decade. Kaplan still referees a Schools match every Saturday.

Paarl Boys High have been the most dominant team in South Africa for the past three years, but this season the cycle was broken with defeat against Grey College and the whipping at Stellenbosch against Paul Roos.

Grey Kollege also kept their unbeaten status with a come from behind late surge to score two tries in the final five minutes and beat Affies. Grey raced to a 22-0 lead and Affies were outstanding in clawing back the deficit to lead 28-27 going into the final few minutes. Grey then scored twice to win 39-28.

Paul Roos and Grey College are without question the leading two teams in South Africa this season, with Paarl Gim and Glenwood and (probably) Paarl Boys completing the top 5.

Paul Roos will travel to Grey College in Bloemfontein on August 18 for the most anticipated Schools match of the season.

Glenwood are also unbeaten in KZN and were dominant at the Kearsney and Wildeklawer festivals. They recently beat Affies and at the weekend scored their most impressive win of the year with a 49-22 dismantling of the traditional powerhouse Monument.

Glenwood plays Grey College on August 4.

Boland Landbou, in the Western Cape, beat Bishops 24-14, Rondebosch were too strong for Durbanville High 30-15, Stellenberg downed SACS 25-22 at Newlands, scoring a converted try in the last five minutes. Paalr Gim also beat Oakdale 47-38.

Selected results on SARugby Magazine’s Schools’ Section

Western Cape

Worcester Gym 25 Bellville 29
Milnerton 7 vs Brackenfell 22
DF Malan 33 De Kuilen 5
Drostdy 25  Outeniqua 18

KwaZulu-Natal

Clifton 27 Northwood 41
DHS 45 vs Maritzburg College 30

Noordvaal

Ben Vorster 21 Helpmekaar 36
EG Jansen 15 Garsfontein 57
Eldoraigne 37  Zwartkop 24
Florida 20 Pietersburg 29
St Stithians 31  Jeppe 47
Menlopark 39  Nelspruit 12
St David’s 22 St Benedicts 19
St John’s 28 Pretoria Boys’ High 15

Eastern Cape

Cambridge 10  St Andrew’s 19
Dale 41  Grens 19
Hudson Park 37 vs Queen’s 22

Free State

Welkom Gim 20  Hentie Cilliers 20
Wilgerivier 18 Kroonstad 12
Diamantveld 57 Upington 24

Photo: Thys Lombard/Paul Roos Facebook