Wollies host Schoonies in Classic Clash
Hoërskool Schoonspruit will be going some 80km southwest from Klerksdorp to Wolmaransstad for their FNB Classic Clash on Saturday, a match which the schools regard as the highlight on the calendar.
It's a day when schools come out in their cheerful best to sing and cheer and laugh together. It is just the best chance for two schools who enjoy good relationships to get together.
Before last year Schoonies had always won this match but then Wollies broke their duck and could well do so again this year.
Of the Wollies squad in 2012 eight are back, including their halves, CJ Taljaard and Jandré du Plessis. Back, too, is inside centre Ruan Pieterse and right wing Tiaan Whitehorn. That means four of the backline are back. Last year GP Labuschagne was a hooker; this year he's a flank and the locks Johann Lambrechts and Jan-Frederick Labuschagne were on the bench last year.
By way of contrast, Schoonies four back from last year's starting team – Juan Marais, Vuyani Kok, who was a prop last year and this year is a lock, Thabo Sehlabo and Dawmar Davids. They have two who were on the bench last year – scrumhalf Thulani Sibonyoni and hooker JJ Terblans.
The teams have actually met already this year. The play in the Puk 16 Series. Then Wollies won 29-9. They also both played Bekker in the series and both lost – Wollies 55-21 and Schoonies 25-6. Wollies did better than Schoonies in the series, ending third.
Schoonspruit, who are in a building phase, believe that their team is improving after a slow start to the season. Wolmaransstad have a seasoned team. It could make for an interesting meeting.
Teams
Schoonspruit: 15 Dewald Kruger, 14 Marcel Swart, 13 Jaun Marais, 12 Jason Botha, 11 Ruandré Roux, 10 Pieter Ranft, 9 Thulani Sibanyoni, 8 Robert Bezuidenhout, 7 Ugo Louw, 6 Jeandré Coetzee, 5 Vuyani Kok, 4 Riaan Butcher, 3 Eliseu Vieira, 2 Jay-Jay Kruger , 1 Dawmar Davids
Replacements: 16 JJ Terblans, 17 Emile Marais, 18 Marco Barnard, 19 Jasper Fourie, 20 Dewald Strydom, 21 Hendrik Viljoen, 22 Frans Marx, 23 Dillen Spencer
Wolmaransstad: 15 Tiaan van Zyl, 14 Hanré Whitehorn, 13 Diaan Smith, 12 Ruan Pieterse, 11 Tiaan Whitehorn, 10 CJ Taljaard, 9 Jandré du Plessis, 8 Frans de Beer, 7 GP Labuschagne, 6 Jackwin Farmer, 5 Jan-Frederik Labuschagne, 4 Johann Lambrechts, 3 Johan Nel, 2 Elvio Rodrigues, 1 Jürghen Dupper
Replacements: 16 Jean le Roux, 17 Chris Visser, 18 Lesedi Senunuhi, 19 Franco Marx, 20 Louis Winter, 21 Johan Lategan, 22 Herman Steyn, 23 Brendon van der Merwe
Date: 4 May 2013
Kick-off: 13.00
Venue: Hoërskool Wolmaransstad
Expected weather conditions: Good weather for rugby – partly cloudy with a high of 21°C, dropping to 9°C.
