On their Old Boys Day, Selborne College of East London play Queen's College of Queenstown in an FNB Classic Clash at Selborne on Saturday. It is a match Selborne would be expected to win and yet such ancient derbies often produce surprises.

Selborne have a powerful side this year - a massive pack to start with. They had 11 of the 22 Border side that went to Craven Week. They included the whole front five. Queen's had four in the side. But at Craven Week the Border side were at their best when Josh Stander of Queen's was at flyhalf. For some reason he was largely kept away from the position. Nobody from Border made the SA Schools side. Their outstanding player throughout was Johan Meyer but he was up against the brilliant Golden Lions eighthman, Ruan Steenkamp who was chosen the captain of SA Schools.

On the FNB Top 20 this year Selborne have never been lower than fourth and mostly been second or third. The highest Queen's have been is 11th.

In addition Selborne beat Queen's 19-13 up in Queenstown earlier this year.

One would tend to bet on Selborne. Any side that beats Monument and draws with Grey College is a strong side.

The weather is a serious consideration as cold and wet attack the whole of the country, so that Queen's woke up on Monday morning to the rare sight of their school and town under snow. Selborne were to have played Wellington College from Berkshire on Monday but the match was cancelled because the Selborne fields were waterlogged. If the field is heavy, as it has every right to be, then the powerful Selborne pack should have things their own way. They did not have things their own way at Cape Schools Week when Wynberg and Boland Landbou moved the ball wide.

When the day was wet and dank in 2005, the teams drew 6-6 in East London after Queen's had won 14-3 in Queenstown.

Against Common Opponents

vs Port Rex: Selborne won 53-0, Queen's 61-0 and 28-0
vs Hudson Park: Selborne won 22-5, Queen's 52-5
vs Dale: Selborne won 27-9; Queen's lost 7-3
vs Boland Landbou: Selborne lost 19-18; Queen's won 14-7
vs St Andrew's: Selborne match cancelled because of the weather; Queen's won 28-15

Representative players

Selborne

Border Craven Week players: Border: Joshua van Rooyen, Dylan De Wilzen, Emihle Baneti, Cameron Opperman, Siphesihle Punguzwa , Andrew Love, Jason Orpen, Ryan Germishuys, who weighs over 120kg, Siphatho Qinisile, Yakha Qinela and Freddy Lubbe.

Queen's

Border Craven Week players: Johan Meyer, Siyasanga Makohliso, JP Smith and Josh Stander.

Teams

Selborne College: 15 Joshua van Rooyen, 14 Kane Amos-Brown, 13 Uzuzhake Ngantweni, 12, Dylan de Wilzen, 11 Emihle Baneti, 10 Geoff Lundersted, 9 Cameron Opperman (vice-captain), 8 Khwezi Mona, 7 Freddy Lubbe, 6 Siphesihle Punguzwa, 5 Jason Orpen, 4 Andrew Love, 3 Ryan Germishuys, 2 Siphatho Qinisile (captain), 1 Yakha Qinela

Queen's College: 15 Khaka Matwa, 14 Khaya Malotana, 13 Kyle Brown, 12 Lazola Ndata, 11 Chumani Mase, 10 Joshua Stander (vice-captain), 9 Juan-Phillip Smith, 8 Johan Meyer, 7 Andisa Ntsila, 6 Athi Gaqa, 5 Siyasanga Makohliso (captain), 4 Kevin Kaba, 3 Mongezi Manzi, 2 Kegan Emms, 1 Mandilake Ponco
Replacements: 16 Khanya Mzilikazi, 17 Siya Mbebe, 18 Bubele Ranelo, 18 Dylan Gibbens, 20 Simon Bolze, 21 Lilitha Jonas, 22 Luyolo Gqeba

Date: 30 July 2011
Kick-off: 15.00
Venue: Selborne College
Expected weather conditions: Clear with a pleasant high of 18°C, dropping to 10°C
Referee: Raymond Buys (Border Referees' Society)