It’s ‘Magic Mike v Super Seb’ at Piley Rees

GIVE Mike Mavovana space and he will make you pay for it. So, the Rondebosch star faces Bishops at Piley Rees today aware that he will be a marked man.

That won’t bother him, though, as he thrives on the attention, and it’s been that way all season. How fortunate Rondebosch Boys’ High are to have the fullback, a genuine match-winner.

Before the midyear break, Mavovana had scored 16 tries, many of them solo efforts. It earned him a place in Western Province’s victorious Craven Week team. He subsequently added to his tally for the SA Schools side in the recent SA Under-19 Series in Cape Town.

Mavovana makes scoring look easy, and he’s at his best with little room to manoeuvre. His ability to see space, coupled with his explosive pace, bamboozles defences.

And when he’s not crossing the whitewash, he’s defending bravely, and also enjoys the odd cleanout at the breakdowns.

And come the next few years, the youngster expects to show off his skills on the international Sevens circuit.

“I think the shorter version of the game is tailor-made for me,” said Mavovana. “I would love to carry on playing the longer format, but I’m aware that being small-framed counts against me.

“The perception out there is that one needs to be big and strong to cut it in the senior ranks, so there’s not much I can do about that. All I can do is do what I do best and see where that takes me.”

Bishops have a star of their own in Seb Prentice. The left wing has been nicknamed “Super Seb”, and he doesn’t need a second invitation to make a dash for the line.

Prentice scored five tries in one game this season, and even more thanks to his speed and power.

Inside centre Lubelo Scott can also make something happen out of nothing, along with fullback Brandon van der Westhuizen.

Bishops’ 15-man attacking approach will come down to the conditions on the day, and their pack will have to fire in the set-pieces, especially at lineout time.

Bosch have a competent pack who enjoy the physical confrontations and plenty will rest on their shoulders.