Graaff-Reinet Classic Clash

Asherville and Spandau, lively rivals at the Collie Koeberg Stadium in the lovely Karroo town of Graaff-Reinet, meet in an FNB Classic Clash on Saturday.

Graaff-Reinet is called the Jewel of the Karroo and this is a jewel of a rugby match. There is a 'great buzz' of excitement in Graaff-Reinet as the match approached and a day of sport that starts at 09.00 and lasts till evening. Some 20 000 people are expected at this popular event.

The two teams match up pretty evenly, as they did last year when a last-minute try by prop Lucardo Jacobs gave Spandau an 8-7 victory.

Both teams have players back who were in that cliffhanger last year. Spandau have fullback Juandré Davids,  hooker Beandré Barbers and prop Mazel Kiewiets. Kiewiets is the only player form the two schools to have been to Craven Week. He was there in 2011 for Eastern Province Country Districts. This year he is Under-19.

Asherville have eight players back from last year's starting team - Marco Elias, Sastri Prins, Riaan Pietersen, Dimitri Julies, Adriaan Visagie, Elrico Koopman, Enrico Jaftha and  Renshort Horn.

The teams:

Asherville: 15 Basliano Swartz, 14 Elwandro Waterboer, 13 Marco Elias, 12 Anthony Bokbaard, 11 Piet Plaatjies, 10 Kevin Simons, 9 Sastri Prins (captain), 8 Morné Lucas, 7 Riaan Pietersen, 6 Dimitri Julies (vice-capt), 5 Heinrich Myburgh, 4 Adriaan Visagie,  3 Michael Makabin, 2 Elrico Koopman, 1 Renshort Horn.

Replacements: 16 Emil Welman, 17 Chanton Witbooi, 18 Brendon Jantjies, 19 Gaywin Lewis, 20 Ensley Jansen, 21 Quintoleen Nortjé, 22 Gurswin Lewis

Coaches: Michael Hector, S Koeberg

Spandau: 15 Juandré Davids, 14 Christopher Dyeli, 13 Phineas Jonker, 12 Chuname Smith, 11 Gouaun Japhta, 10 Cresswell Nappies, 9 Eric Job, 8 Benjamin Reid, 7 Cirwin Baartman, 6 Mandilakhe Booysen, 5 Thys Tamboekie, 4 Bronwyn Simonds,  3 Mazel Kiewiets, 2 Beondré Barbers, 1 Cunnel Stafford.

Replacements: 16 Alfred Frolick, 17 Charlton Bokbaard, 18 Harold Joseph, 19 Charlton Ludick, 20 Bevan Koeberg, 21 Phillip April, 22 Lorenzo Michaels

Coaches: A Arries, A Davids, S Nkoko

Date: Saturday, 4 August 2012

1st XV kick-off: 15.30

Venue: Collie Koeberg Sports Stadium, Graaff-Reinet

Expected weather conditions: Partly overcast with a high of 20°C, dropping to 9°C and a light breeze