CC: Wynberg vs SACS

Wynberg Boys’ High School host the South African College High School (SACS) in an FNB Classic Clash on Saturday.

These two schools, two of the oldest in the land, will battle it out for honours in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, a title for so many years held by Diocesan College (Bishops).

Both teams have beaten Rondebosch and Bishops this term but neither has a Boland scalp. Wynberg came close to toppling Paarl Gim a few weeks back. In fact it took a brave tap and go try by SA Under-20 star Handré Pollard to seal a win in injury-time. Wynberg have beaten a Top 20 side though when they beat Grey High in Port Elizabeth.

SACS lost Paarl Gim by a greater margin and lost 32-12 to Grey High; so results-wise Wynberg must be favourites. Wynberg also have home ground advantage which could be a telling factor.

Both teams have two players in the WP Academy team, both SACS’s Academy players flank Luke van der Smith and centre Leighton van Wyk, will start for them while one of Wynberg’s, prop Nathan Gogela, will start on the bench.

Wynberg are a very good side whom coach Gus Leslie has kept together and nurtured for the past three seasons. They would be a very competitive unit without 2011 SA Schools skipper Sikhumbuzo Notshe but with him they are a very good side.

With the modern game so dependent on momentum and with modern defences so well organised, a player who can regularly breach the gainline and at the same time suck in three or four defenders is worth seven to ten points a game.

SACS have no real stars and will rely on hard work and commitment to try and overcome their old foe. The teams will go in search of territory through their flyhalves, Riaan O'Neill for Wynberg and Chris Smith for SACS, who both have good boots. Up front promises to be a titanic battle!

As ever with local derbies it will come down to the team who makes fewer mistakes and who ultimately wants it more on the day.

The teams:

Wynberg: 15 Siya Alam, 14 Darryn Rix, 13 Jarryd Sage, 12 Justin Scott (captain), 11 Josh de Stadler, 10 Riaan O’Neill 9 David Bedingham, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Lee Nicholson, 6 Jake Rigby, 5 Dylan Roberts, 4 Devin Trull, 3 Simon Kannemeyer, 2 Tyler Reichardt, 1 Mike Sullivan.

Coaches: Gus Leslie, Craig Childs, Riaan Barnard

SACS: 15 Keegan Wheeler, 14 Suwi Chibale, 13 Richard Rodgers, 12 Leighton van Wyk, 11 Mzi Dempers, 10 Chris Smith 9 Cameron Calder (captain), 8 Gino Lupini, 7 Luke van der Smit, 6 Miles Hoogwerf, 5 Adam de Carvalho, 4 Dean Basson, 3 Yandisa Maqenukana, 2 Struan Murray, 1 Joel Macquene.

Date: Saturday, 16 June (2012)

Kick-off: 12.15

Venue: Hawthornden Field, Wynberg

Expected weather conditions: No chance of rain, a high of 22°C, dropping to11°C, wind 19km/h SE

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (Western Province Referees' Society)

Wynberg vs SACS Rugby programme:

Hawthornden Field

08.35: U16A

09.40: Colts

10.50: Blues

12.15: First XV

Silverhurst A

08.00: U14B

09.00: U14A

10.00: U16D

11.00: U16C

Silverhurst B

08.00: Seventh XV

09.00: U16B

10.10: Fourth XV

11.15: U15B

Silverhurst C

08.30: U15A

09.35: Fifth XV

10.55: Sixth XV

Oude Wijnberg

08.00: U15C

09.00: U15D

10.00: U14C

11.00: U14D