CC: Battle of the Saints

St Stithians of Randburg go across to StJohn's of Houghton for this week's FNB Classic Clash, two teams likely to play rugby in a creative and honourable way.

In all there will be 16 rugby matches between the two down on the Burger Field, looking up the koppie to the imposing stone buildings, fortress-like, above.

Neither side has had a great year, St Stithians better than St John's and against stronger opposition. St John's have won four of 12 matches, St Stithians eight of 13. St Stithians opponents included Noord-Kaap, SACS, Kearsney and KES.

Results against common opponents:

Jeppe: St John's lost 14-12; St Stithians won 26-22

St Alban's: St John's lost 43-10; St Stithians won 18-12

St David's: St John's won 41-20, St Stithians 37-15

Parktown: St John's won 26-7, St Stithians 52-28

St Benedicts: St John's lost 14-12; St Stithians won 14-12

Pretoria Boys High: St John's lost 37-15; St Stithians won 17-14

St Stithians won four matches which St John's lost.

Provincial representation

St John's: Thapelo Rapelewana has been chosen for the Golden Lions Craven Week side, NJ Maree for the Golden Lions Welpies (Under-19) and Tobi Ndzimande for the Golden Lions Academy Week side.

St Stithians: Innocent Radebe has been chosen for the Golden Lions Craven Week side.

The teams:

St John's: 15 Wesley Coulentianos, 14 Tobi Ndzimande, 13 Murray Conway, 12 Niels Kuhnemann,11 Dylan Potgieter, 10 Bradley Jardine, 9 Wesley Antonities, 8 Thapelo Rapelewana, 7 Thomas Workman, 6 James Eckersley, 5 NJ Maree (Capt), 4 Devon Stone, 3 Sam Theron, 2 Mitchelle Antonities,1 Pilani Qwabe.

Replacements: 16 Jonty Schwartz, 17 Gerhard Olivier, 18 William Murray, 19 Mathew Temllet, 20 Mark Dzanibe, 21 Paul Ontong, 22 Mango Lephoko.

Coaches: Stefan Lourens, Morné Heunes

St Stithians: 15 Greg Elmes, 14 Aidan Ross, 13 Eddie Samutela, 12 Jonty Bredell (captain), 11 Bandile Semelane, 10 Innocent Radebe, 9 Richard Jordaan, 8 Roald Roodt, 7 Ignaz Richter, 6 Nicholas Stevens, 5 Matthew Partridge, 4 Jaryd Terry, 3 Dustin Kobrowisky, 2 Dillon Bakos (vice-captain), 1 Sean Seymore.

Coaches: I Rickelton, Y Vickery

Date: Saturday, 23 June (2012)

Kick-off: 12.00

Venue: St John's College, Houghton

Expected weather conditions: Sunny with a high of 13°C, dropping to 9°C, a crisp Highveld day in winter.

Rugby programme:

Burger Field

08.00: Under-16A

09.00: Under-14A

10.00: Under-15A

11.00: Second XV

12.00: First XV

Michell Field

08.00: Fourth XV

09.00: Third XV

11.00: Fifth XV

C Field

08.00: Under-15D

09.00: Under-16C

10.00: Under-16B

11.00: Under-14C

D Field

08.00: Under-14B

09.00: Under-15B

10.00: Under-14D

11.00: Under-15C