FNB Classic Clash in Pretoria

It's a massive logistical exercise when Grey College go up from Bloemfontein for interschools activities with Afrikaanse Hoer Seunskool of Pretoria.

To start with there are 29 rugby teams going up. There are also 12 hockey teams plus tennis, tabletennis, golf, crosscountry and chess. Teams in their school uniforms and staff all go up in buses and leave again at 16.30 on Saturday to get back to Bloemfontein some time after 22.00 that night.

Only enthusiastic, brave schoolmasters do that sort of thing!

The climax of the visit will be the match between the two 1st XVs. Affies have won the last two – one in Pretoria and then one in Bloemfontein. The last time they won two in a row, Grey smashed them in the next encounter. Looking at the performance of the two schools this year, it could happen again.

Grey are unbeaten. The nearest they have come to defeat was a draw with Monnas.

Results this Season

Affies have played seven matches. They beat Helpmekaar, Selborne and Oakdale but lost to Waterkloof, Monument, HTS Middelburg and Paarl Gim.

Grey have played 11 matches, winning 10 and drawing one, but they have not had such a concentration of powerful sides as Affies have had. They beat Goudveld, Hentie Cilliers, Klerksdorp, Menlopark, Potch Gimmies, Louis Botha, Dr EG Jansen, Westville, Outeniqua and Paarl Gim and drew with Monnas.

Six of Affies' opponents are ranked on the FNB Top 20 – Monument (2), HTS Middelburg (3), Waterkloof (5), Selborne (7), Paarl Gim (11) and Oakdale (20).  

Grey's Top 20 opponents have been Monument (2), Menlopark (4), EG Jansen (9) Paarl Gim (11) and Outeniqua (17).

Results against Common Opponents

Monument: Affies lost 36-14; Grey drew 10-10

Paarl Him: Affies lost 40-7; Grey won 15-14

Experience

Affies have three players back from the victorious 2013 team –  Eduan Keyter, Tian Schmullian and   DP du Plessis.

Grey have five players back from the squad beaten last year – Henry Immelman, who was then a wing, Wayne Wessels and De Wet Bezuidenhout, who has moved from lock to flank and two players who were on the bench last year – prop Callie Janse van Vuuren,  who is again on the bench, and scrumhalf Dian Badenhorst,

Last year Affies had eight players in the Blue Bulls Craven Week side but only fullback Eduan Keyter is back in this year's Affies side. Grey had 13 players at the 2013 Craven Week. Of them only Henry Immelman is back this year.

Affies have the advantage of playing at home but Grey will also have a great deal of support at the match.

Teams

Affies: 15. Eduan Keyter, 14. Tiaan Schmullian, 13. Rhyno Lourens, 12. Henco Jordaan, 11. Janco Booysen, 10. Eddie Fouché, 9. Divan Henning, 8. Eduan Lubbe, 7. Vic Meyer, 6. Gavin Forster, 5. Human Bodenstein, 4. Rohan Roelofse, 3. Reinhardt Goosen, 2. Viaan Mong, 1. DP du Plessis

Grey College: 15. Henry Immelman, 14. Lourens Steenkamp, 13. Julian Jordaan, 12. Mike Anndrade, 11. Niell Stannard, 10. Wayne Wessels, 9. Dian Badenhorst, 8. Alex Jonker, 7. Henry Slabbert, 6. De Wet Bezuidenhoudt, 5. Kassel Rothman, 4. Jurie Burger, 3. Janu Botha, 2. JC van Vuuren, 1. Ruben Terblanche        

Replacements: 16. Daniel Rust, 17. Callie van Vuuren, 18. Janco van Tonder, 19. Marius Kruger, 20. CJ Lotter, 21. Glen Erickson, 22. Lourens Steenkamp, 23. Raynard Esterhuizen        

Date: Saturday, 10 May 2014

Kick-off: 14.15

Venue: Afrikaanse  Hoër Seunskool, Pretoria

Expected weather conditions: A clear autumn day with a high of 24°C, dropping to 9°C, lovely day for rugby.

Referee: Jaco van Heerden

Rugby Programme

A Field

08.00: Under-14A

09.00: Under-15A

10.00: Under-16A

11.00: 4th XV

12.00: 3rd XV

13.00: 2nd XV    

14.15: 1st XV

B Field

08.00: Under-14F

09.00: Under-14E

10.00: Under-14D

11.00: Under-14C

12.00: Under-14G

C Field

08.00: Under-16B

09.00: Under-15D

10.00: Under-15C

11.00: Under-15B

12.00: Under-14B

Pretoria A Field

08.00: Under-16F

09.00: Under-16E

10.00: Under-16D

11.00: Under-16C

12.00: Under-15E

Pretoria B Field

08.00: Under-10th XV

09.00: 9th XV

10.00: Under-15F

11.00: 8th XV

Harlequins A Field

08:00:  5th XV

09:00:  7th XV

Results Down the Years

1953: Grey won 3-0

1954: Grey won 9-3

1955: Grey won 19-0

1956: Grey won 6-6*

1957: Grey won 22-0

1958: Grey won 14-6

1959: Grey won 14-3

1966: Grey won 25-11

1967: Grey won 22-0

1970: Grey won 16-11

1971: Grey won 19-0

1973: Grey won 10-3

1974: Grey won 14-6

1992: Grey won 24-3

1993: Draw 26-26

1994: Grey won 13-6

1995: Grey won 37-13

1996: Affies won 25-3

1997: Grey won 19-9

1998: Draw 23-23

1999: Grey won 17-13

2000: Draw 17-17

2001: Draw 12-12

2002: Grey won 46-21

2003: Grey won 33-3

2004: Grey won 32-29

2005: Affies won 27-20

2006: Affies won 18-13

2007: Grey won 47-10

2008: Grey won 31-12

2009: Grey won 30-13

2010: Grey won 23-6

2011: Grey won 16-11

2012: Affies won 35-29

2013: Affies won 37-31