Adelaide host Winterberg in FNB Classic
Match Preview
Winterberg Landbou travel the 28 km into Adelaide to play the Gymnasium in an FNB Classic Clash on Saturday.
Adelaide with their massive pack of forwards are the favourites but Winterberg hope that their determined, speedy backs will be able to upset the predictions.
It could be the classic clash of rapier and against broadsword, though not entirely so as Adelaide coach Terence Morgan, an Old Boy of the school, believes that he has a well-balanced side – quick backs behind a big pack. He believes that this year's team is better than last year's, and last year's team won well.
Adelaide have seven players back from the side that beat Winterberg 23-7 last year while Winterberg have only five players back – all backs, but one of them is a match winner.
At flyhalf for Winterberg is Aubrey MacDonald, the versatile player who played for Eastern Province at Craven week and then for South African Schools – an outstanding achievement for a boy from the platteland.
The others back for Winterberg are fullback Mzuvukile Nakani, right-wing Charl Marais, left-wing Sinovuyo Ganto, and centre Yanga Boto, who was a scrumhalf last year.
Those back for Adelaide are centres Sherwin Ambraal and Darryn Lentoor, scrumhalf Buntu Ntlanzi, flank Ricky de Gouveia, lock Aviwe Andries, hooker Frans van der Walt and prop Dwayne Kinghorn.
Apart from Aubrey MacDonald, Winterberg have nobody who received higher honours this year, but Adelaide have Sherwin Ambraal, Jonty Royati and Shane Meyer who played for Eastern Province Country Districts at the Academy Week in Upington.
This year Winterberg has played 14 matches, winning 6 and losing 8. Adelaide Gym has played 13 matches, winning 9 and losing 4. One of Adelaide's victories was 17-3 over Hangklip who recently beat the powerful Queen's College side.
The two sides have met only three common opposition:
Burgersdorp lost 13-12 to Adelaide and 20-6 to Winterberg.
Hangklip lost 17-3 to Adelaide and beat Winterberg 29-5.
Middelburg lost 44-0 to Adelaide and 44-0 to Winterberg.
Teams:
Winterberg: 15 Mzuvukile Nakani, 14 Charl Marais (captain), 13 Jarryd Smith, 12 Yanga Boto, 11 Sinovuyo Ganto, 10 Aubrey MacDonald, 9 Rudy Turner, 8 Andrew Coetzee, 7 Lee Champion, 6 Gerhard Strydom, 5 André Smuts, 4 Javan Eaton, 3 Ignatius Mejane, 2 DC Botha (vice-captain), 1 Sivuyile Hiti.
Adelaide Gymnasium: 15 Lonwabo Ntlama, 14 Jonty Royati, 13 Sherwin Ambraal, 12 Darryn Lentoor (captain), 11 Garland Ray, 10 Mthandozo Mbangata, 9 Buntu Ntlanzi, 8 Phillip van der Walt, 7 Christo Jordaan, 6 Ricky de Gouveia, 5 Mzubisi Makapela, 4 Aviwe Andries, 3 Shane Meier, 2 Frans van der Walt, 1 Dwayne Kinghorn.
Date: 23 August 2005
Kick-off: 15.30
Venue: Adelaide Gymnasium
Expected weather conditions: Clear with high of 23°C dropping to 7°C
Referee: Jacques Barkhuizen (Eastern Province)
Previous results
1993: Adelaide won 18-6
1994: Winterberg won 22-6
1995: Winterberg won 22-6
1996: Adelaide won 20-17
1997: Winterberg won 20-15
1998: Winterberg won 13-0
1999: Adelaide won 12-0
2000: Winterberg won 30-17
2001: Adelaide won 12-11
2002: Adelaide won 25-15
2003: Adelaide won 18-10
2004: Adelaide won 23-7
For a profile of Adelaide Gymnasium, click here.
For a profile of Winterberg Landbou, click here.
For a profile of the Adelaide captain, click here.
For a profile of the Winterberg captain, click here.
