St John's, Parktown in Classic Clash
There will be 13 rugby matches on the day, kicking off at 08.30. There will also be 13 hockey matches to make it a happy sporting occasion but, of course, it is the 1st XV match that counts above all, and it will be televised live on Super Sport (201).
The two schools are close (about four kilometres along Oxford Road) to each other as wealthy Johannesburg moved north. The two schools enjoy much the same ethos even though St John's is a private school, an Anglican church foundation, and Parktown a state school, St John's is older – founded in 1898 against the 1920 of Parktown. Both are highly esteemed schools.
Both started playing rugby in the 1930s when kikuyu grass came to Johannesburg to soften the falls on the Highveld's harshness.
Both schools have great sporting traditions and the whole day will be in the best of sporting spirits, keen but well-mannered.
The matches will all be played on the Burger Field, named for Maxie Burger who coached the 1st XV at St John's for 23 years. From there you look up the koppie to the crown of stone buildings at the top. It's a good place to be.
Player Experience
Each side has players back from last year's close encounter which St John's won but Parktown have more back, including both the halfbacks and all three loose forwards. In all they have eight back to the three of St John's.
Those back for Parktown are Thando Mabasa, Ethan Anderson, Matthew van Huyssteen, Ethan Frasca, Jonathan Stafford, Lesiba Molopa, Warrick Lang and Liam Clay.
Those back for St John's are Francois Joubert, who has moved from the wing, William Kumwenda and Sibiya Sibiya.
Last season Nicholas Zille, the son of Helen Zille's brother, was at flyhalf. This year Julian Zille is at eighthman.
Parktown's loosehead prop, Nkosikhona Masuku, was in the Golden Lions team at the Grant Khomo Week last year. They also had Kennedy Mpeku, who was a star at the Grant Khomo Week, but he is no longer at Parktown.
It looks as if Parktown may have the stronger side.
Season so Far
Each has played. St John's beat St Andrew's School of Bloemfontein 17-0 while Parktown had a huge 64-5 win over Fourways. On the other hand Helpmekaar gave Parktown a 40-7 hiding.
Recent Results between the schools
2009: St John's won 21-20
2010: Parktown won 20-10
2011: St John's won 38-29
2012: St John's won 26-7
2013: Parktown won 21-13
2014: St John's won 24-22
2015: St John's won 32-26
Rugby Programme
Burger Field
08.30: Under-16B
09.30: 4th XV
10.30: 3rd XV
11.30: Under-16 A
12.30: 2nd XV
14.00: 1st XV
Mitchell Field
09.30: Under-16C
10.30: 5th XV
C Rugby Field
08.30: Under-15A
09.30: Under-15B
10.30: Under-15C
D Rugby Field
08.30: Under-14B
09.30: Under-14C
1st Teams
St John's: 15 Francois Joubert, 14 Joseph Kamangu, 13 Bongani Molale, 12 Quintus Kilbourn, 11 Herman Lubega, 10 Kieran Houlston, 9 Wim Burger, 8 Julian Zille, 7 Nicholas Cambanis, 6 Phillip Mparutsa, 5 David McAlpine, 4 Conor Woodward, 3 William Kumwenda, 2 Sibiya Sibiya (captain), 1 Damien Henwood
Replacements: 16 Brayden Loxton, 17 Henri van der Walt, 18 James Braham , 19 Nicholas Ives, 20 Ronan Grobler, 21 Callum McCormack, 22 Lex Slabbert, 23 Gabriel Kritzinger
Parktown: 15 Darron Solomon, 14 Junior Nthlane, 13 Thando Mabasa, 12 Tyler Murray, 11 Tambwe Madosha, 10 Ethan Anderson, 9 Matthew Van Huysteen, 8 Ethan Frasca, 7 Jonathan Stafford, 6 Lesiba Molopa, 5 Che Carpede, 4 Warrick Lang, 3 Liam Clay, 2 Darnell Osuagwu, 1 Nkosikhona Masuku
Replacements: 16 Makasizwe Hlatshwayo, 17 Refilwe Pooe, 18 Neo Bosman, 19 Patrick Ndebele, 20 Christopher Seymour, 21 Wonga Matubtuba, 22 Cole Rock, 23 Ronald Tselane
Date: 19 March, 2016, the feast of St Joseph
1st XV Kick-off: 14.00 (TV live)
Venue: Burger Field at St John's College, Houghton
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy but without rain after days of much rain. A lovely autumn day on the Highveld with a high of 27°C, dropping to 16°C.
Referee: Renier Vermeulen (Golden Lions Referees' Society)
