Interschools - Ruan Smith

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:51

Coming a week after two of the top-rated schools in South Africa this year, Grey High and Grey College, met in Port Elizabeth last weekend we have the most eagerly anticipated schoolboy game in the country. It would be harsh to call the Grey game a curtain-raiser but such is the rich tradition and history between the two Paarl schools that it is regarded by most as the original and only “Interschools”.

Unbeaten Paarl Gimnasium take on a Paarl Boys' High team who haven't played to their full potential this year but who ominously appear to be running into form at just the right time. As if the game needed additional needle, is Paarl Gim’s 150th Anniversary celebration this year. Gim are unbeaten and had nine players in the Western Province Craven Week team (two went on the make South African Schools), while Boys' High only had two.

We spoke to one of Gim’s South African Schools stars and the man who, although he plays in the front row, may just be the difference between the teams come Saturday. Ruan Smith is a huge boy and while powerful in the scrums he does most of his damage with ball in hand. Quick off the mark and with the ability to stay on his feet he has caused headaches for every opponent this year. The go-forward he gives Gim allows his backs the space and time to wreak havoc.

Born in Vryburg in the North-West province, Ruan has been a Paarl Gim since Grade 8. Last year his parents decided to emigrate to Australia but fortunately for Gim and for South African rugby things didn't work out Down Under for his family and they returned home towards the end of last year. With their 150th celebrations on the go Gim were only to happy to accept Ruan and his brother Jean-Pierre (who plays tight-head for the Gim 2nd team) back into the school and the hostel.

While is Australia Ruan played for the Australian Under-18 team and featured in matches for them against Samoa and England. He said that the experience he gained there of playing at a higher-level has had a big influence on his play. It taught him how to handle pressure, which has been a huge help this year as his season has been packed with important games.  Ruan was very impressed with the organization and professionalism experienced in Australia and he says that they really look after their players. The attention to details, like ice-baths at the end of every training session, was impressive.

Craven Week was another huge stepping stone in his development as a player. Being able to compete against the best schoolboy players in the country was another opportunity to pick up valuable experience. After impressive performances with ball in hand his selection for the South African Schools team did not surprise anyone at the tournament. Ruan is looking forward to running out with the South African Schools team when they play a curtain-raiser for the Springboks Test against Australia in Durban on 23 August.

When we spoke to Ruan he had just finished a team dinner as Gim increase the intensity in their build up to the biggest game of their season. The Interschools match defines their season and a victory will in all likelihood allow the 2008 Gim team to go on to be the twelfth unbeaten team in the school's history.

Ruan says that what has made this team special is the fact that they are all such good friends. The team spirit and sense of brotherhood is what has seen them overcome every obstacle placed in front of them.
 
Gim go into this week’s game as favourites and Ruan is acutely aware that history is against them in this regard, as it is almost always the favourites that lose Interschools. Ruan knows that is not going to be an easy game and that it is always easier going into a game as underdogs. Gim are trying their best to approach Interschools as they would any other match but that must be almost impossible as the hype in the small country town will reach fever pitch come Saturday.

With some much at stake Interschools is very often a tense affair played in a test mach atmosphere. In true test match fashion Ruan says Gim will be hoping to neutralise the Boys' High pack first before unleashing their slick backs. With Ruan leading from the front and his captain and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder possessing a wonderful tactical boot, Gim should be well placed to play it close to their forwards for the first half at least. Having seen both the Gim and Boys' High backs in action over the last few weeks one can only hope that the game does open up in the second half.

Ruan and his brother have both been offered two-year contracts by Western Province and will be attending their Academy in Stellenbosch next year.