FNB CC: Drostdy vs Worcester Gim
The lovely Boland town of Worcester in the valley of the Breede amongst mountains at the start of the Karroo is host to the big rugby derby between HTS Drostdy and Worcester Gimnasium on Saturday. It will be a great occasion.
Unflattering nicknames tell us that this is a battle between the Donkeys and the Bosvarke - Drostdy and Worcester Gim in more polite terms.
Listen to the pundits and Worcester Gim have a massive mountain to climb but then in 2011 Drostdy were favourites and won but just 17-9. They had a hard time of it. Of the two sides that me that day in May, Gim have more players back - if experience counts for anything - flyhalf Schalk Hugo, who kicked three penalty goals though he was still Under-16, centres Shandré Issel and Courtney Cupido, scrumhalf Emmeric Rayners, and five forwards - Douglas McIntyre, Arne Wiese and Ernst Claasen as well as hooker Abraham van Zyl and prop Ivan Snyman, who were on the bench.
Drostdy have three of their starting team back - flyhalf Gilbert Abrahams, Izak Burger and prop Wilco Louw. who scored a try, as well as Wessel Vermeulen, Sean Walters, and Jaco van den Bergh who were on the bench.
Drostdy have played more matches and at a higher level and more successfully. They beat Klerksdorp, Oakdale, Charlie Hofmeyr, Helpmekaar and St Benedict's and just lost to Menlopark, Framesby and Outeniqua. Worcester Gim just beat Swartland and just lost to Porterville twice. Drostdy are at present ranked 19th on the FNB Top 20 of schools in South Africa. Worcester Gim are not close to that.
The teams:
Drostdy: 15 Nel Christian, 14 Selwin White, 13 Elbert de Wet, 12 Sean Walters, 11 Jaco van der Berg, 10 Gilbert Abrahams, 9 Christwill September, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 François Pienaar, 6 Izak Burger (captain), 5 Jeandré van Deventer, 4 Hendro Wiggins, 3 Wessel Vermeulen, 2 Marius Paulsen, 1 Wilco Louw.
Replacements: 16 Kelly Farrel, 17 Neil du Preez, 18 Ferdi Wolfaardt, 19 Ziaan Barnard, 20 Yousrie Savahl, 21 Daniël Pienaar, 22 Corné Nel.
Worcester Gim: 15 Clayton Isaacs, 14 Nathan Lakay, 13 Shandré Issel, 12 Courtney Cupido, 11 Nazier de Sousa, 10 Schalk Hugo, 9 Emmeric Rayners (vice-captain), 8 Louis Carstens (captain), 7 Douglas McIntyre, 6 Arne Wiese, 5 Juan-Louis van der Vyver, 4 Ernst Claassen, 3 Carl Heyndenrych, 2 Abraham van Zyl, 1 Eddie Lange.
Replacements: 16 Jurie Matthee, 17 Armin Thiart, 18 Ivan Snyman, 19 Bendré Visser, 20 Dwayne Muggels, 21 Neshwille Simpson, 22 Mujihad Africa, 23 Wayne Fransman.
Date: Saturday, 5 May
Kick-off: 13.30
Venue: HTS Drostdy
Expected weather conditions: A mild autumn day with more sun than clouds, a high of 22°C, dropping to 11°C and a light breeze - good rugby weather.