CC: Eldoraigne vs Zwartkop in Centurion

When Hoërskool Eldoraigne moves across to near-neighbours Hoërskool Zwartkop on Saturday it will be for another enthusiastic  FNB Classic Clash.

Eldoraigne have won the last four Classic Clashes and are hot favourites to win this year as well - not that one can ever be sure of a derby forecast.

This season Eldoraigne have had the tougher fixtures and have reasonably done well with them. Their have not had hidings against the likes of Centurion, HTS Middelburg, Marlow and Menlopark but playing such opposition would certainly improve their own skills and experience.

On the other hand in their most recent match Zwartkop were beaten 64-5 by Garsfontein.

Last year Eldo just beat the Zwarries 17-16.

The visitors have four players back from that victorious team while Zwarries have six back.

Back for Eldo are fullback Ronald Peters, wing Ruan van Loggerenberg,  who is the headboy of the school, scrumhalf Bernard de Villiers and flank Derek Snow. Altogether they have 11 players who played in the first team last year.

Back for Zwarries are flyhalf  Rihan Jacobs, who is the headboy of the school, scrumhalf  Viandré Delport, who is the captain this year, flank Barend Potgieter, lock Stefan Stronagh and props Gerhard Liebenberg and  Freddie Burger. In all they have 13 players back who were in last year's 1st XV, including the whole of their pack and both halfbacks. One of the bench players this year, JD Makkink, was on the bench for last year's match as well.

This suggests that this is not a match to bet on! Talk to Eldoraigne and they are expecting a really tough match between two well-matched teams full of determination. It could just be a thriller.

Teams

Eldoraigne: 15 Ronald Peters, 14 Johan Fourie, 13 Hendri Stoltz, 12 Marnus Venter, 11 Ruan van Loggerenberg, 10 Ernest Nel, 9 Bernard de Villiers (vice-captain), 8 Henry Collinet (captain), 7 Derek Snow, 6 Martin Coetzee, 5 Devon van der Merwe, 4 JP Grobler, 3 Johann van Niekerk, 2 Daniël van der Walt, 1 Waldo Weideman
Replacements: 16 Albert Louw, 17 Ruan Wessels, 18 JP Barnard, 19 Martyn Joubert, 20  Jacques Lourens, 21 Divan Nel, 22 Stefan Bronkhorst, 23 Ruben Opperman

Coaches:  Dave du Plessis, Piet Sterk

Zwartkop: 15 Marnus Dercksen, 14 Igno Venter, 13 Juan de Beer, 12 Jean Grobler, 11 Douglas Botes, 10 Rihan Jacobs, 9 Viandré Delport (captain), 8 Daniel van der Spuy, 7 Barend Potgieter, 6 Micheal Ritter, 5 Stefan Stronach, 4 Anthony Coleman, 3 Gerhard Liebenberg, 2 JP Jonker, 1 Freddie Burger
Replacements: 16 Xolani Valashiya, 17 Ryan Niezen, 18 Johandri Wiese, i9 JD Makkink, 20 Wayne Grundeling, 21 Zane Bredenkamp, 22 Kelsey Tait

Coaches: Fielies Coetzee, Adam Barnard

Date: Saturday, 19 May 2012
Kick-off: 12.10
Venue: Hoërskool Zwartkop
Expected weather conditions: Clear with a high oif 24°C, dropping to a chilly 8°C.