CC: Down on the Vaal

In an FNB Classic Clash on Saturday, Transvalia meet HTS Vereeniging. It is a match one would expect Transvalia to win but again it is such an enthusiastic derby that there is no pre-match certainty.

Transvalia have had the tougher fixture list and have won six of their 10 matches and done well in defeat at the hands of HTS Middelburg, Monnas and Ermelo while HTS Vereeniging have won just two matches and their defeats include substantial hidings from Garsfontein and Brandwag. They have an uphill struggle.

Till recently the Tekkies were the usual winners of the encounter but recently Valia have dominated. They won 37-6 in 2010 and 26-12 last year when they won all the matches between the two schools.

Valia have just two back from last year's side - scrumhalf Jaco Killian and flank Marcel de Bruin. Tekkies have three back - Pieter Brits, who has moved from wing to centre, JP Campher and flank Marcel de Bruin.

Tekkies have three in the likely team to represent the Valke at Craven Week - prop Dillon van Zyl, lock Delano Steyl and Junius Deysel.

There are two Old Boys matches as well - Under-30 and Over-30. They will be played on Friday, 25 May 2012.

The teams:

HTS Vereeniging: 15 Johan Brits, 14 Pieter Brits, 13 Elden Schoeman, 12 Gerrie Hallgreen, 11 JP Campher, 10 Icky Roos, 9 Rudi Fourie, 8 Christiaan Boshoff, 7 Junius Deysel, 6 Gerhard Vosloo, 5 Delano Steyl, 4 Bennie van der Walt, 3 Eddie Kirby, 2 Jeandré Roux, 1 Dillon van Zyl.

Replacements: 16 Jaunrick Pretorius, 17 JP du Toit, 18 Hannes Judeel, 19 Donavon Coxen, 20 Dwayne Engelbrecht, 21 Dominic Cloete, 22 Kobus Pretorius, 23 JW Olivier, 24 JP Lessing.

Coaches: Hannes Grobbelaar, D Mey

Transvalia: 15 Theunis Janse van Rensburg, 14 Jacquis Malan, 13 Ruan Neethling, 12 Dudley Thompson, 11 Armand de Bruin, 10 Arno Kotze, 9 Jaco Killian, 8 Estehan Visagie, 7 Marcel de Bruin, 6 Brenton Fossati, 5 Heino Venter, 4 Marnus Erasmus, 3 Burger Fouché, 2 Danru Bender, 1 Arnout Malherbe.

Replacements: 16 Ernst Snyman, 17 Danie Janse van Vuuren, 18 Johan Grundling, 19 Julion di Leo, 20 Pieter Brits, 21 Dillon Shipton, 22 Lloyd Greeff.

Coaches: Jaco Kok, R Olivier

Date: Saturday, 26 May, 2012

Kick-off: 12.00

Venue: Hoërskool Transvalia

Expected weather conditions: Mostly cloudy with a high of 22°C, dropping to 6°C