Former DHL Western Province favourite Schalk Brits will return to Newlands along with rising French-based star, Rory Kockott, as 2 of 6 South Africans, four of whom have played test rugby, as part of the Samsung-sponsored World XV squad for their match against Heyneke Meyer’s Springboks at DHL Newlands on 7 June.
All 6 of these South Africans play their rugby abroad and have been released by their clubs for this match.
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The four Test players are hooker Brits (Saracens in England), prop BJ Botha (Munster in Ireland) and locks Alistair Hargreaves (Saracens) and Juandré Kruger (Racing Metro in France).
The non-capped South Africans in the World XV squad both play in France. They are Castres scrumhalf Kockott and Toulouse prop Schalk Ferreira.
Former All Black prop Carl Hayman will join Brits, Botha and Ferreira in the front row of the Nick Mallett-coached team. Behind them in what is shaping up as a very experienced pack will be French No 8 Julien Bonnaire and England loose forward Steffon Armitage.
It’s already been confirmed that three fleet-footed Wallabies, James O’Connor, Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell, as well as All Black speedster Hosea Gear and Les Bleus inside back François Trinh-Duc will be in what looks like a very quick backline.
The rest of the World XV squad will be announced in due course.
Tickets for the match – priced at R250 and R350 – are available from Postnet outlets nationwide, the Western Province ticket office and online from www.ticketpros.co.za.