FNB Top 20 - 4 April
Tue, 05 Apr 2005 15:03
First of 2005
The first FNB Top 20 for 2005, which will become a Tuesday feature, has been as difficult as it has always been. There are so many great rugby schools in South Africa, that it is hard to make distinctions.
From time to time one hears a coach of a top team complaining of the level of skill of the players emerging from schools.
If you watched the rugby played around the country already this year you would have seen a level of school that our Super 12 teams would envy. Things like passing catching, running angles, counterattacking, throwing into line-outs, kicking at poles, protecting and using the loose ball and scrumming was often top drawer.
We have taken results and we have listened to advice and we have come up with a ranking of teams. We have not included matches against non-South African teams, which has meant that Kearsney College have not been included as they are in South America.
Some of the teams have already played several matches. HTS Middelburg have played eight. Some schools have in fact had tough schedules. Paul Roos, Paarl Boys' High, Paarl Gim and Affies went from tournament to tournament in a tough week and a bit.
We have based our ranking entirely on this year's performances. Schools vary so much from year to year that anything else would be unfair.
We have also taken into account the calibre of opposition.
There are changes from last year's last FNB Top 20. In come Florida of the West Rand, Pretoria Boys' High, Rustenburg and Queen's.
Congratulations to Monnas as the first FNB Top 20 side of 2005. They have had an astonishing start to the year. They have played and won seven matches, scoring 379 points and 53 tries to their opponents' 24 points and two tries.
We have also mentioned some sides putting pressure on those whom we have - with trepidation - chosen.
The FNB Top 20 for 4 April is:
1. Monument
2. Grey High of Port Elizabeth
3. Grey College of Bloemfontein
4. Paul Roos
5. Paarl Gim
6. Paarl Boys' High
7. Outeniqua
8. Affies
9. Florida
10. Daniël Pienaar
11. HTS Middelburg
12. Waterkloof
13. Nelspruit
14. Pretoria Boys' High
15. Westville
16. St Andrew's of Grahamstown
17. Rustenburg
18. Boland Landbou
19. Marais Viljoen
20. Queen's, Dale
Those who are putting pressure on the above are Centurion, Jim Fouché, Hilton and Die Brandwag of Uitenhage.
