Classic Clash in the Far North

Travel north from Pretoria and you reach Polokwane. Travel further north near to the border with Zimbabwe reach Tzaneen. Hoërskool Ben Vorster will come south from Tzaneen to take on Hoërskool Pietersburg in Polokwane which used to be called Pietersburg.

Why would you want to travel 100 km from warm, lush, subtropical Tzaneen up to high, dry, cold Polokwane? You would if you could play an FNB Classic Clash – probably between the strongest two teams in the whole Limpopo province.

Both schools have enthusiastic rugby sides. After all Trevor Nyakane comes from Ben Vorster and Victor Matfield from Pietersburg. They are schools that give their teams the opportunity to play rugby.

This Season

In recent times Ben Vorster have flourished more than Pietersburg and Last year beat them 31-3. It ,may not happen again this year as Ben Vorster Have not produced quite the same results.

That said, they have won six of their nine matches, losing to the strong Helpmekaar side, Lydenburg and Rustenburg.

Pietersburg have played further afield than Ben Vorster but won just two of their 11 matches.

Opponents in Common

They have each played Rustenburg and Helpmekaar.

Ben Vorster lost to Rustenburg 25-19 and lost to Helpmekaar 31-24.

Pietersburg lost to Rustenburg 46-22 and lost to Helpmekaar 73-5.

Experience

Pietersburg have four players back from the 2013 team that lost to Vossies – halfbacks Hardus Geldenhuys, and Nick Enslin, lock  JR Visagie and prop Erick Snyman. Some players have come into the starting team from the 2013 bench – flanks Biemond  Hoogenboezem, and Francois Rousseau and prop Komape Moloto. Tokkie Murray is on the bench for the second year.

Vossies have back in the starting team  from last year Jinx Molapo, Theo Mahlo and hooker Mitch Mametja plus four players who were on the bench –  Allan Mhlanga, who is on the bench again, Diederik Oberholzer and outside centre Vukosi Mabuza.

Representative Players

The 2013 Limpopo Craven Week side had 14 players from Ben Vorster and two Pieties. There is only one of those playing on Saturday – Mitch Mametja, who will captain Limpopo at Craven Week.

Both Schools have players in the Limpopo representative team for the Craven Week for Under-18s in July 2014.

Ben Vorster have 13 players picked for Craven Week, while Pietersburg have two players selected.

The following players from the two schools have been chosen for Craven Week:

Limpopo: Vandré Rolls,  Vukosi Mabuza, BJ Vorster, Thepiso Mahasha,  Diederik Oberholzer, Dumisano Mushwona,  Mitch Mametja (captain), Modot Mabokela, Dirk Coetzee, Hanco Taljaardt,  Theo Mahlo, Tiaan Vorster, Thapelo Moloapo.

Pietersburg: JR Visagie, Nick Enslin.

Teams

Pietersburg: 15. Kone Moloto, 14. Byron Olkers, 13. Ansten Mokgokolo, 12. Diaan Coetrze, 11. Aakon Landsberg, 10. Hardus Geldenhuys (captain), 9. Nick Enslin, 8. Salie Vermaak, 7. Biemond Hoogenboezem, 6. Francois Rousseau, 5. Hanno Oosthuizen, 4. JR Visagie, 3. Erick Snyman, 2. Divan Human, 1. Komape Moloto

Replacements:  16. Johan du Preez, 17. Johan Murray, 18. Stefan Schoeman, 19. Jason Pelser, 20. Heinrich Holl, 21. Tommy Mashaphu, 22. Kobus Botha

Ben Vorster:  15. Duan Schoeman, 14. Eddie Engelbrecht, 13. Vukosi Mabuza, 12.  BJ Vorster, 11. Thapelo Molapo, 10. Vandré Rolls, 9. Diederik Oberholzer, 8. Tiaan Vorster, 7. Molothea Mahlo, 6. Dirk Coetzee, 5. Dumisani Mushwana, 4. Lenfred Pienaar, 3. Hanco Taljaard, 2. Mitch Mametja (captain), 1. Madot Mabukela

Replacements: 16. Matimu Manganyi, 17. Allan Mhlanga, 18. Sven van Niekerk, 19. Janco Erasmus, 20. Rendo Booyens, 21. Pule Molokomme, 22. Brady Burnett

Date 31 May 2014

Kick-off:

Venue: Hoërskool Pietersburg

Expected weather conditions: Clear with a high of 24°C and a low of 9.°C