Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett believes the players selected for his World XV squad are in top form for their match against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday 7 June.
The squad of 23 players, comprising of Test stars from New Zealand, France, Australia, Ireland, Samoa, Tonga, Georgia and South Africa, boasts a total of 707 caps between them.
“The group of players who have been selected for this match are not only very experienced, but are all in very good form at the moment,” said Mallett.
howzitmsnsport
The latest additions to the squad of 23 include four All Blacks with 185 Tests worth of experience between them. Experienced hooker Andrew Hore, who has 83 caps for New Zealand, heads the list of Kiwis, followed by scrum-half Jimmy Cowan (51 Tests) and speedsters Sitiveni Sivivatu (45) and Rene Ranger (6).
The Kiwi quartet will be joined in the World XV squad by French Test players Aurelien Rougerie (centre, 71 caps) and Alexandre Lapandry (loose forward, 6 caps), as well as loose forwards Roger Wilson (Ireland, 1 cap) and Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia, 51 caps).
Samoan lock Joe Tekori (26 caps) and Tongan prop Sona Taumalolo (5 caps) will add a Pacific flavour to the team.
The only uncapped members of the squad are Rory Kockott and Schalk Ferreira. The most experienced of the South African contingent in the squad is BJ Botha, who has 25 Springbok caps to his name, followed by Juandré Kruger (17 caps), Schalk Brits (5 caps) and Alistair Hargreaves (4 caps).
“I’m very happy that the final pieces of the jigsaw are now falling into place,” added Mallett.
“Despite the very short preparation time, I’m really looking forward to getting together with this group of very talented players and preparing them for this match.”
“It promises to be a very exciting match, looking at the talent assembled in this strong squad. I’m sure they are all relishing the opportunity to play against the Springboks in South Africa.”
“It’s also a rare chance to see a World XV-style team playing in South Africa, and where better than the oldest Test venue in the country?”
Unfortunately French loose forward Julien Bonnaire, who has 75 Test caps to his name, was forced to withdraw from the squad because of an injury. A replacement will be named in due course.
World XV squad
Backs
James O’Connor (London Irish, Australia – 44 Test caps), Drew Mitchell (Toulon, Australia – 63), Hosea Gear (Toulouse, New Zealand – 14), Sititiveni Sivivatu (Clermont, New Zealand – 45), Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont, France – 71), Rene Ranger (Montpelier, New Zealand – 6), Matt Giteau (Toulon, Australia – 92), François Trinh-Duc (Montpelier, France – 48), Rory Kockott (Castres, South Africa – uncapped) and Jimmy Cowan (Gloucester, New Zealand – 51).
Forwards
Steffon Armitage (Toulon, England – 5 Test caps), Alexandre Lapandry (Clermont, France – 6), Roger Wilson (Ulster, Ireland – 1), Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier, Georgia – 51), Alistair Hargreaves (Saracens, South Africa – 4), Joe Tekori (Toulouse, Samoa – 26), Juandré Kruger (Racing Metro, South Africa – 17), Schalk Brits (Saracens, South Africa – 5), Andrew Hore (New Zealand – 83), Schalk Ferreira (Toulouse, South Africa – uncapped), Sona Taumololo (Perpignan, Tonga – 5), BJ Botha (Munster, South Africa – 25) and Carl Hayman (Toulon, New Zealand – 45).
Long Live The Hore!
😉
Some awesome talent available to Nick Mallet here. Specially in the backs.
.
15. O’Connor.
14. Mitchell
13. Rougerie.
12. Giteau.
11. Ranger.
10. Trinh Duc.
9. Cowan.
At some point during the last 5 or 6 years,
many of these players would have considered among the very best in their positions, in the World.
Forwards not so Esteemed.
But that could be an advantage.
No old broken down hacks.
Cane, “cane, do you ever think you are just talking shiit to yourself”.
cane, “well yes Cane, sometimes I do”.
Cane, “funny that, because I feel the same way”.
cane, “änd who the fcuk are these “bots” anyway.
Cane, “I think that’s like the CIA and those Dudes that monitor our every move, but cannot find the Malayasian Airliner that went down trying to get some crazy Pilot to SA”.
cane, “One crazy mother”.
Cane, “Speaking of crazy, I see The Hore is back”.
cane, “Cool”.
I also see three of them Cane, all yellow
@ Gena_ZA:
You Gena,
are obviously a chicken too smart to cross the road.
.
It’s a jungle out there.
.
.
😉
Cane, has all these years on Keo and RT not taught you anything?
The fastest way to get someone to respond to you is to use the following random words: Sharks, overrated, choke, Frans, fat, Jannie, useless sack of shit, Bismarck, dirty scoundrel, Jake, big mouth
The above can be used in any order
@ nortierd:
And………………………………………………………….Luke.
😉
cane wrote:
Ha ha
If you require an audience with Sir IluvuBakkiesBotha just mention how great McCaw is and how awesome the All Blacks are.
If you want to chat to Skop mention that you are throwing a juicy T-bone on the coals and it must still be pink inside with a slight amount of blood dripping down your chin when biting into it.
If you want to speak to HG, just ask for a review of all the latest coloring books that’s on the market
@ nortierd:
LOL.
.
I actually loved each and every one of those bastards.
Skoppie was my favourite.
HG was like, was like , was like, was like …………….a recuring nightmare.
And, I Love U Bakkies,
was like, the Brother that I never had……………. And was glad I was an only child.
.
;-_)
We are all special in our own way.
@Caner
For sure….some late night good times and belly laughs
It is a freegin strong World XV, this one… they could easily beat the Bokke on the right day for them!
So I think it is settled, Juan Smith will again be a Springbok.
@ cane:
Yep, miss them too
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