Preview: Parktown v St.John's

 

The two schools have played each other twice before in a Classic Clash with each team coming away with a victory.

 

"It's one of our top derbies, we've played each other twice in a Classic Clash, and the fixture goes back ends of years," said Parktown Director of Rugby Jem van Vuren.

 

"This is the third time we have played in a Classic Clash."

 

The season started off slowly for St.John's with a narrow loss to King Edward High School, but the team has been improving.  

 

Parktown have had similar experiences through the season, having not got the results they had hoped for according to captain Siyanda Mlambo, but they have "stuck to their structures and done well," said Mlambo.

 

St.John's captain Michael Siebert is expecting the Parktown side to be full of muscle and well drilled from scrums and line-outs.

 

"We are preparing for a physical contest at ruck-time. We are also expecting their set pieces to very accurate and well executed," said Siebert.

 

Parktown's Van Vuren said the fact that the game is televised, it will not distract his team as they prepare for the much anticipated clash.

 

"The guys are focused, the word amongst the team is that they wont let any sideshows distract them with the televised game," said Van Vuren.

 

The St.Johns team are missing two players through injury, but otherwise are at full-strength ,and Parktown are missing three key players for the crunch match.

 

"Our top centre is out with a hamstring injury, our scrumhalf who has lions representation is out, our bruiser lock is also out," added Van Vuren.

 

However Van Vuren is confident his boys will step-up to the challenge.

 

"The boys that are filing in the gaps are really quality players, so it doesn't weaken our side at all."

 

Commenting on the St.John's style of play, Van Vuren said that they play a similar brand to Parktown.

 

"They are very much like us, a physical fast team," explained Van Vuren

 

"There will be a lot of talking on the field. 

 

"They will keep structure in Red Zone and get it out wide in the Green Zone, plus their set-phase is strong." 

 

 

Parktown: 15 Lelethu Mahlangeni, 14 Thando Mabasa 13 Darron Solomon, Siyanda Mlambo (Captain), 11 Michael Tambwe, 10 Ethan Anderson, 9 Matthew van Huyssteen, 8 Ethan Frasca, 7 Jonathan Stafford, 6 Lesiba Molopa, 5 Nkosinathi Gcobo, 4 Warrick Lang, 3 Liam Clay, 2 Kenny van Graan, 1 Nathi Ngele.

Replacements: 16 Neo Baloyi, 17 Darren Brand, 18 Revin Palm, 19 Sifiso Ngomezulu, 20 Tyler Murray, 21 Lucky Duma, 22 Liam Robson, 23 Kennedy Mpeku.

 

St.John's: 15 Luca Cioffi, 14 Dorio Venter, 13 Dillon Petyt, 12 Thomas Montgomery, 11 Francois Joubert, 10 Nicholas Zille, 9 Dean Medcalf, 8 Thomas Kirk, 7 Michael Sibbert (Captain), 6 Shean Edwards, 5 Lorenzo Masselli, 4 Franz-Josef Retief, 3 William Kumwenda, 2 Sibiya Sibiya, 1 Nicholas Peterson.