Klein Nederburg, New Orleans in FNB Classic Clash
Match Preview
For the second Saturday in recent times the Faure Street Sportsground will host a big Interschools, an FNB Classic Clash. This time the contesting teams are Klein Nederburg and New Orleans.
Last year New Orleans won a squelchy game 8-0 when the two sides met. It promises not to be soggy again this year – but the match will be close.
Both side have high hopes of victory. History would back New Orleans. The two teams have met 21 times since 1984, when they met first. New Orleans have won 19 times, Klein Nederburg just twice, Despite the history there seems a general belief that this is the year of New Orleans.
The teams have much the same records this season.
Klein Nederburg have played 12, won 8 and lost 4.
New Orleans have played 13, won 9 and lost 4.
Both teams have players back from last year's side.
Klein Nederburg have 4 back – fullback Wade Engel, centre Jonathan van Niekerk, eighthman Rhonwan Anderson and loosehead Audrin van Schoor.
New Orleans have 4 back – fullback Ethan Marthinus, wing Wayden van Rooyen, centre Zandré Jansen and captain Herschall Collins, who was a lock last year and is an eighthman this year.
Klein Nederburg had nobody at Craven Week.
New Orleans had wing Glenton Cupido and scrumhalf Grant Paulse at Craven Week.
Burton Francis would have been back playing for Klein Nederburg but instead he went north to Potchefstroom and played flyhalf for the Leopards at Craven Week. He then played flyhalf for the SA Academy side which beat the SA Schools side. His scrumhalf that day at Ellis Park will be playing – Grant Paulse, the Boland scrumhalf who will be the big achiever at Paarl on Saturday. Grant played for Boland at the Under-13 Craven Week as well but oddly enough he was not a certainty in the New Orleans team. Of his competitors Marlin Snyders is at flyhalf and Vernon Baadjies, last year's scrumhalf, is on the bench.
Last year New Orleans played without their star, Hilton Lobberts who played in two World Champion teams this year – the &Under-19 team that won in Durban and then the Under-21 team that won in Argentina.
Klein Nederburg manager Christie de Kock says that the season has been going well for his side and he is positive they have a very good chance of winning on Saturday.
Both sides have light packs and the match could well be decided by speed. There Klein Nederburg believe that they have an edge through their wings, Calvejile Fortuin and Ridewaan Steyn, though they will have their hands full with Glenton Cupido, the Boland Craven Week player. In addition they have three stars in the loose – flanks Gerschwin Hermanus and Elrick Croutz and lively hooker Elmarco Janjola.
There are other activities during the week – hockey, soccer, table tennis, chess, netball and darts, but it will be the rugby that counts most, especially the 1st XV match.
The referee for the match is the experienced provincial referee Jamiel Panday.
Teams:
Klein Nederburg: 15 Wade Engel, 14 Calvejile Fortuin, 13 Delano Hoffman, 12 Jonathan van Niekerk, 11 Ridewaan Steyn, 10 Christopher Kainda, 9 Lindsay Davie, 8 Ronwyn Anderson, 7 Gerschwin Hermanus, 6 Elrick Croutz, 5 Marlin Vergotine, 4 Brenton Anderson, 3 Oswald van Wyk, 2 Elmarco Janjola, 1 Audrin van Schoor (captain).
Coach: Gareth Watts, Hennie Kriel
New Orleans: 15 Ethan Marthinus, 14 Glenton Cupido, 13 Neville Bauman, 12 Zandré Jansen, 11 Wayden van Rooyen, 10 Marlin Snyders, 9 Grant Paulse, 8 Herschall Collins (captain), 7 Enrico Carelsen, 6 Elrick Smit, 5 Justin Solomon, 4 Conré Peters, 3 Luvoyo Mzele, 2 Adrian Willemse, 1 Lester Brown.
Coaches: Lyndon Mans, Ivor Fortuin
Date: 13 August 2005
Kick-off: 14.00
Venue: Faure Street Sportsground, Paarl
Expected weather conditions: Scattered Clouds with a high of 14°C.
Referee: Jamiel Panday (Boland)
For a general view of Klein Nederburg, click here.
For a general view of New Orleans, click here.
For a profile of the Klein Nederburg captain, click here.
For a profile of the New Orleans captain, click here.
