Maritzburg College will travel to Pretoria for their Mutual & Federal Premier Interschools clash against Affies on Saturday.
Affies have had the upper hand in this fixture in since 1996, winning 17 times to College's three. But the side from Pietermaritzburg got one over their inter-provincial rivals at home last year when they recorded a comprehensive 27-point victory.
Like their past results, Affies are also well ahead of Maritzburg on the FNB rankings in eighth position, but coach Jaco Koch believes rankings are inconsequential when the one with a higher rating was on the receiving end of a demolition in the last outing between the sides.
'We know College are a quality outfit. They outclassed us in 2014, now we have some correction to do,' Koch told SARugbymag.co.za. 'Sitting above them in the rankings doesn't necessarily make Affies favourites for this tie. They'll still be brimming with confidence after what transpired last year and that's why we've had to put in extra preparation for this clash.'
While several Affies boys represented the Blue Bulls at the various youth weeks, the rest of the 1st XV squad assembled for training sessions during the June holidays for what Koch calls 'one of the most important games on our calendar'.
In contrast, the four-week holiday period coupled with a few injury niggles have restricted Maritzburg's preparations, according to assistant coach and director of rugby Kevin Smith.
'Schools only reopened on Monday, which isn't ideal, but I'm confident we'll be able to field our strongest available XV and that they will hold their own against an extremely highly-rated Affies team,' said Smith. 'We'll have to rely on our defence if we want to succeed in Pretoria, because they are an all-out attacking side, who like to run with ball in hand.
'Almost the entire Blue Bulls backline at Craven Week consisted of Affies players. We are in for a long day against those boys if we don't front up in defence. It's going to be a good contest.'
This weekend's other big matches see top-ranked Paarl Boys' hosts SACS, Wynberg travel to Paarl Gym, KES play Pretoria Boys' and Framesby welcome Grey High.
Western Cape
Bishops vs Drostdy
Bellville vs Milnerton
Boland Landou vs Rondebosch
Brackenfell vs Hermanus
Durbanville vs Worcester Gym
Paarl Boys' vs SACS
Hugenote vs Charlie Hofmeyr
Paul Roos vs Oakdale
Paarl Gym vs Wynberg
Stellenberg vs DF Malan
Tygerberg vs Hottentots Holland
Gauteng
Affies vs Maritzburg
Jeppe vs Parktown
KES vs Pretoria Boys'
Free State
Grey College vs Jim Fouché
Diamantveld vs Fichardtpark
Hentie Cilliers vs Witteberg
Sentraal vs Potch Volkskool
Voortrekker vs Goudveld
Welkom Gym vs HTS Welkom
Eastern Cape
Brandwag vs Despatch
Cambridge vs Westerling
Daniel Pienaar vs Kingswood
Grens vs Adelaide
Framesby vs Grey High
Selborne vs Hudson Park
Marlow vs St Andrew's
Muir vs Woodridge
Pearson vs Graeme College
Queen's vs Port Rex
Photo: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images
