Cambridge out to turn the tide
Since the East London derby became a Classic Clash in 2011 the result has gone the way of the home side each time, but Cambridge are hoping to turn that statistic on its head.
They certainly will have their work cut out for them against a Hudson Park side that will be flying high after taking down Dale College last week.
By contrast Cambridge are coming off a heavy defeat at the hands of Queen's College so the odds really do seem to be stacked against them.
Cambridge coach Tony Koch knows that his side will go into the game as underdogs but remains hopeful that they will be able to pull off an upset.
"Hudson Park will be confident after beating Dale last week and on paper they have had a better season so they will rightfully go into this one as favourites," he said.
Cambridge have won 11 out of their 18 games this season, and Koch is hoping that they will be able to end their season on a high in what will be the final game for the matric boys in the team.
"The team have been together for a while so hopefully there is some synergy. We have tried to play down the fact that it is the last game, you never want the memory of a loss so that has been our focus.
Hooker Siyambonga Konzani is the only player in the Cambridge side to have a taste of representative rugby this year having played for the Border Academy side, but in skipper Sandile Mantantana they have a flyhalf with two full seasons of first team experience under his belt.
Hudson Park managed to beat Cambridge on their home turf in their first derby ealrier in the season, so they will feel confident that they can repeat the feat on home soil and continue the trend of the FNB Classic Clash going with the home side.
Teams:
Hudson Park: TBC
Cambridge: 15 Lihle Nyondo, 14 Apiwe Suzile, 13 Milasakho Qabaka, 12 Ndhiphiwe Zingani, 11 Lutho Magopeni, 10 Sandile Mantantana, 9 Nathan Dickerson, 8 Cwenga Cenge, 7 Sive Bishoti, 6 Pumezo Kanzi, 5 Bheki Qaba, 4 Chase Zimmerman, 3 Siphamandla Mbusi, 2 Siyambonga Konzani, 1 Jean Grieb.
