Mammoth Classic Clash in Bloem
Just the logistics are an achievement of great proportions. Every schoolmaster involved deserves much praise and gratitude.
Playing against Grey College of Bloemfontein, especially in Bloemfontein, is an enormous challenge. And so it will be for Affies, one of South Africa's very best rugby schools. Year in and year out these are two of the best in the world.
Grey usually win, but then Affies are in good company as Grey usually win against any opposition. It is no surprised that Grey are unbeaten this year and that they are top of the Top 20. Affies have lost three times but to those powerhouses Paarl Boys' High, Paarl Gim and Paul Roos. At present they are ranked seventh of the FNB Top 20.
There will be a huge crowd on Grey College's main field when the 1st XV match kicks off at noon. Bloemfontein will be cheering, not booing this weekend as matches there are normally well-mannered.
Grey have four players back who went to Craven Week in 2016 – centres Rikus Pretorius and Janco van Heyningen, fullback David Kriel and prop Naudé Naudé. The Grey centres are outstanding, but then Janco van Heyningen played for SA Schools last year when he was 17.
There are also four players in their team who went to the Academy Week – flank Marcel Theunissen, lock Johan Wilken, hooker Ru-Hann Greyling and flyhalf Christopher Schreuder.
Judged by the team that went to the Wildeklawer, Affies have no such prominent returnees.
Teams:
Grey College: 15 David Kriel, 14 Henk Cilliers, 13 Janco van Heyningen, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Richard Kriel, 10 Christopher Schreuder, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Arno Nieuwoudt, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Jaap van Zyl, 5 Johan Wilken, 4 Handré Roux, 3 Naudé Naudé, 2 Ru-Hann Greyling, 1 Luke Janse van Vuren
Replacements: 16 Wihan Marais, 17 Herman Agenbag, 18 John Fincham, 19 De Wet Marais, 20 Reynardo Gouveia, 21 Dillion Schultz, 22 Marius Kearney, 23 Wycliff Vlitoor, 24 Pienaar van Niekerk
The Affies team that was at the Wildeklawer tournament: 15 Ruan Wasserman, 14 Sean Thungo, 13 Zach Briel, 12 Charles Goedhals, 11 Ruben Meiring, 10 Reghardt Roets, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Philip Potgieter, 7 Jaco Labuschagne, 6 Divhan du Preez, 5 Carl Els, 4 Michael de Waal, 3 James Combrinck, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Wiehan Bezuidenhout.
Replacements: 16 Johan van Zyl, 17 Dewald Donald, 18 Sarel Joubert, 19 Jordan Swemmer, 20 Marius Potgieter, 21 Steyn van der Spuy, 22 Ruan van Tonder, 23 Heinrich Bisschoff.
Date: 6 May 2017
1st XV kick-off: 12.00
Venue: Main Field, Grey College, Bloemfontein
Expected weather: Partly cloudy with a high of 24°C and a low of 9°C.
Rugby Programme for 6 May 2017
Hoofveld
07.10: Under-14A
08.20: Under-15A
09.30: Under-16A
10.40: 2nd XV
12.00: 1st XV
Oval
07.10: 5th XV
08.20: 3rd XV
09.30: 6th XV
10.40: 4th XV
Grey College A
07.10: Under-16B
08.20: Under-16D
09.30: Under-16C
10.40: Under-15B
Grey College B
07.10: 7th XV
08.20: 8th XV
09.30: 9th XV
10.40: 10th XV
Windmill A
07.10: Under-14C
08.20: Under-14E
09.30: Under-14B
10.40: Under-14D
Windmill B
07.10: Under-15D
08.20: Under-15C
09.30: Under-15E
10.40: Under-16E
Tommix
07.10: Under-15F
08.20: Under-16F
10.40: Under-14F
Results Down the Years
1953: Grey won 3-0
1954: Grey won 9-3
1955: Grey won 19-0
1956: Draw 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
2014: Grey won 42-31
2015: Affies won 29-18
2016: Grey won 53-29
