Preview: DHS v Glenwood
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Durban High School and Glenwood will meet for the 134th time when they face-off in their Classic Clash on Saturday.
The meeting between the two sides has captured the attention of rugby lovers in Durban over the last few years and it will be no different this time around as the home team DHS go in search of a win that has eluded them in this tie in the last few years.
DHS appointed Old Boy and former Sharks and Blue Bulls scrumhalf Scott Mathie as their rugby coaching coordinator this season to help turn their fortunes around.
"Preparations have been going great. The guys are excited and we been working hard and looking forward to it," Mathie told FNB Classic Clashes.
"It’s been a bit of a yoyo season. We have been on one week and off another week and we just really have to find some consistency in our game. We had some disappointing results of late, but started off with some really positive results.
DHS’s last three results this season have seen them been thumped 15-55 by Kearsney and 6-54 by Michaelhouse before they got a morale boosting 34-0 win against George Campbell this past weekend
Mathie knows his team will be in for another difficult challenge against rivals Glenwood.
“Glenwood are a tough opposition and we expecting a real brutal encounter. It always has been and it always will be.
“We not thinking about Glenwood at the moment, we just thinking about our performance and we want show the heart that a DHS boy should show and bring that commitment to the game. If we can do that then we can upset the apple cart," added Mathie.
Glenwood have also had a tough season and will be looking to continue their recent winning streak over DHS. Head coach Rudi Dames says that preparations have not been ideal ahead of the big clash.
"It is not the perfect preparation as the guys have not played in three weeks. But the guys have had some time off to recover.
"DHS got the advantage of being at home so it’s going to be tough, but it is nice as well," said Dames.
Out of the nine matches they played this season, Glenwood have won four and lost five with their best result probably being their 57-12 win over Maritzburg College.
Although they last played a few weeks ago Glenwood are coming off two straight wins against Northwood and Noord Kaap, however Dames knows that Saturday will bring different challenges.
"We got a young side this year as we only got six Grade elevens from last year's first team that are still with us.
"DHS will be the same as every year and it is going to be incredibly hard. The whole match will be hard as it will be 30 boys putting their bodies on the line," Dames added.
Recent results:
2013: Glenwood 46-14 DHS
2014: Glenwood 38-13 DHS
*Glenwood has 54 wins versus DHS’s 68, with 11 draws since the first game in 1922.
Teams:
DHS: 15 Matthew Noot, 14 Dillon Bryan, 13 Mvumeleni Mathenjwa, 12 Luyanda Ndabandaba, 11 Joel Kidgell, 10 Gert Coetzee, 9 Gareth Simpson, 8 Mthokozisi Ntuli (captain), 7 Matthew Hamilton, 6 Phuzukuvela Sithole, 5 Ryan Dafel, 4 Liam Whitfield, 3 Tiaan de Jager, 2 Aza Tshutsha, 1 Hero Mpanza.
Replacements: TBC
Glenwood: 15 Jayden Morgan, 14 GJ Lubbe, 13 Donovan du Randg, 12 Martin Holtzhausen, 11 Ilunga Mukendi, 10 Jerome Bossr, 9 Jordan du Preez, 8 Marco Palvie, 7 Nama Xaba (captain), 6 Austin Brummer, 5 Lencho Brynard, 4 Kwenzo Blose, 3 Renier van Rooyen, 2 Quinton Vorster, 1 Christopher Klopper.
Replacements: 16 Ajay Pretorius, 17 Ferdie Pieterse, 18 Shane Westman, 19 Matthew Bauer, 20 Craig Hunt, 21 Sean Maduna, 22 Devon Brough.
Referee: Ruaan du Preez
Assistant referees: Local
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