Preview: MHS v HTS Middelburg
Middelburg will come to a standstill on Saturday when the Rooibulle of HTS Middelburg square off with Middelburg Hoërskool in a Classic Clash.
The only blip on HTS' Classic Clash campaign against their bitter local rivals came in 2009 when MHS claimed a famous victory and there will certainly be no lack in intensity when they make the short trip to MHS.
The match is a culmination of activities over the weekend that will divide Middelburg in two and attract a crowd of thousands to the grounds of Middelburg Hoërskool.
On paper the Rooibulle are a much stronger team, ranked among the best in the country and with just about every one of their starting team set to represent the Pumas at Craven Week or in the Academy side.
However, they know better than to underestimate their determined neighbours who would love nothing more than to upstage their more fancied rivals.
Boys from both schools trained together for the Pumas Craven Week squad this week, but that will all be put aside on Saturday when red meets green in front of a fanatical crowd.
HTS have played far stronger opposition this year, missing out narrowly against Grey College at Kearsney and also going down to the unbeaten Paarl Boys, and with few injuries to speak of they are well prepared for what is their biggest game of the year.
Middies are known for their speedy backline, and should send the ball wide in an attempt to run their opponents off their feet, with HTS certain to rely on their imposing forward pack to get their rivals on the back foot.
HTS coach Coenie Nollte has taken this team through from Under-14, with Eric Basson as the captain every single year, so there is a good understanding which translates into a unified approach on the pitch.
Experienced MHS coach Piet Bothma knows that his team go into the match as underdogs, but with the support of the home crowd he believes that they have what it taes to pick up their first win in the Classic Clash since 2009.
Middelburg Hoërskool: 15 Telvin Mhlongo, 14 Jacobs Jacobs, 13 Siyabonga Khaliswayo, 12 Cyprian Nkomo, 11 Fana Ngwenya, 10 Chris Hanekom, 9 Ruben Roodt, 8 Nefdt du Toit, 7 Phillip Olivier, 6 Wandile Shabangu, 5 Maius Verwey, 4 MJ Ackerman, 3 Duanne van Wyk, 2 Jopie Kuhn, 1 Steven Pieterse.
Replacements: 16 Marcel Dique, 17 Matthys Scwartz, 18 Mpumelelo Matias, 19 Joshua Mey, 20 Jadrich van der Merwe, 21 Andisqa Mndawe, 22 Frederik Greyling, 23 Johan Engelbrecht, 24 Ryan Phiri, 25 Lebogang Maloka, 26 Ricardo Steyn.
HTS Middelburg: 15 Ryan Cloete, 14 Waldo Conradie, 13 Jacques du Toit, 12 Ruan Ludick, 11 Zander Joubert, 10 Brandon Parr-Bayley, 9 Francois De Villiers, 8 Eric Basson (captain), 7 Chrisjan Steynberg, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Bernard Kotzenberg, 4 Philip Hennop, 3 Johandre Olckers, 2 Gerik Mynhardt, 1 JP Mans.
Replacements: 16 Walter Janse van Rensburg, 17 Neven Nel, 18 Gerhard Combrink, 19 Eduan Mare, 20 Tiaan Botha, 21 Jandre Venter, 22 Lewin Bronkhorst, 23 Boet Heyl.
