CC: The Sasolburg clash

On Saturday there is an FNB Classic Clash between Hoërskool Sasolburg and HTS Sasolburg at DP de Villiers Stadium in Sasolburg.

It is the 33rd match between the two schools, the fifth time as a Classic Clash between the two schools.

HTS won in 2008 and Hoërskool in 209 and 2010 and HTS again in 2011.

In the past HTS were regarded as the stronger of the two schools but in recent times Hoërskool has certainly been catching up and probably start favourites for 2012 - not that is in anyway a certainty.

HTS, called the Spanners, would base their hopes on their pack. But Hoërskool has more experience. None of the Spanners played in the Classic Clash last year while six of last year's winning team back - fullback Neville Robertson, centres Rico Croucamp and Armand Storm, halfbacks Arnandé Botes and Tienie Gouws loose forward Donovan Pretorius who, for the second year, is the captain of the team.

The teams:

HTS Sasolburg: 15 N Makakeng, 14 A Griessel, 13 R Botes, 12 M Mtimkulu, 11 P van Rensburg, 10 O de Beer, 9 J Coetzee, 8 H Wepener, 7 D Botha, 6 P Mokoena, 5 F Greeff, 4 T Engelbrecht, 3 J Lodewyk, 2 D Cilliers, 1 W du Plessis.

Replacements: 16 M Gaigher, 17 T Thaele, 18 M Mulaudzi, 19 J Gouws, 20 R Cilliers, 21 T Thaba, 22 J Coetzer, 23 T Sediane.

Coaches: Schikkie Geldenhuys, Giel Meyer

Hoërskool Sasolburg: 15 Neville Robertson, 14 Ivan Baker, 13 Rico Croucamp, 12 Armand Storm, 11 Dewald Hanekom, 10 Arnandé Botes, 9 Tienie Gouws, 8 Stefan Meyer, 7 Rudolph van Deventer, 6 Donovan Pretorius, 5 Kyle Brazier, 4 Ruan Viljoen, 3 Jacques Viljoen, 2 Danie du Plessis, 1 Teboho Mokhothu.

Replacements: 16 Dian Janse van Vuuren, 17 Philip Liebetrau, 18 Romeo Tshabalala, 19 Henco Wiese, 20 Cornel Boers, 21 Jabulani Sibaya, 22 Rohan Lombaard.

Coaches: W Storm, Dennis Brazier

Date: Saturday, 26 May, 2012

Kick-off: 14.30

Venue: DP de Villiers Stadium

Expected weather conditions: Mostly cloudy with a high of 22°C, dropping to 5°C