Preview: Klerksdorp v Lichtenburg
HS Lichtenburg will make the trek across town as clear underdogs in a Classic Clash against HS Klerksdorp on Saturday.
Both sides have prepared well for the encounter and each side poses a unique threat to the other, with Lichtenburg having the bigger pack of forwards while Klerksdorp have the dynamic and fleet-footed backline.
Over recent years, the matches have a lot closer and tighter than one would expect, especially with Klerksdorp boasting an Under-18 Springbok in the shape of captain Edmund Rheeder.
"The matches have been pretty even over the years with the result usually going the way of the home side. The games are always tight and the outcomes can go either way, which is what makes this contest so exciting.
"Edmund [Rheeder] is a very experienced No.8 but just because he has played at International level, does not mean we will build our game around him. We are a unit and everyone has their job to do on the field – we do not play as individuals.
"We know Lichtenburg will come at us hard with their big pack of forwards but we are up for the challenge and will definitely not back down – we will take them head on. For us to be successful in this match, we know we will have to stop them up-front and give ourselves quick second phase ball in order to utilise the speed of our backline," Klerksdorp coach Peet Prinsloo said.
His counterpart, Lichtenburg's Naude Pienaar believes his balanced team of underdogs will be worthy opponents and they could well upset the apple cart and pull one over their more-fancied opponents.
"We have prepared well for this game and are looking forward to the match. Unlike Klerksdorp, we do not have any stars or stand-out players – we are just a well-balanced group of talented and experienced players who enjoy playing this game together.
"We know their backline pose a massive threat to us because of their speed and skill, so we will need to keep the ball away from them and keep it tight among the forwards in order to counter their backline. They have a good side and we are definitely the underdogs.
"For us, this game is going to come down to who can handle the pressure better and who is able to take their opportunities," Pienaar stated.
Teams:
Klerksdorp: 15 Desmond Waldeck, 14 Paul Maluleke, 13 Michael Steinberg, 12 Dewald Basson, 11 Riaan Scholtz, 10 Erich Hough, 9 Anker Pretorius, 8 Edmund Rheeder, 7 Willem Swanepoel, 6 Phillip Barlow-Jones, 5 Ruhan Oosthuizen, 4 Tertius Oosthuizen, 3 Douglas Bruce-Smith, 2 Erlo Heymans, 1 André Pretorius.
Replacements: 16 Danie Swanepoel, 17 P.J. Ellis, 18 Ettiene Peens, 19 J.C. Hatting, 20 Brandon Nel, 21 Armand Vogel, 22 Maghiel le Roux, 23 J.W. Nortjé.
Lichtenburg: TBC
Referee: Renier Coetzee
Assistant referees: Local
