Nick Mallett

International stars from around the world, Wallabies Matt Giteau, James O’Connor, Drew Mitchell and All Blacks Hosea Gear, Carl Hayman, Andrew Hore and Jimmy Cowan are all included in the Samsung World XV’s 23-man squad to play South Africa at DHL Newlands on Saturday 7 June.

Joining them will be France’s French Top 14 highest point’s scorer Francois Trinh-Duc and back row forward Alexandre Lapandry.

Five players from Toulon’s double winning European Cup and French Top 14 side will also feature in the squad, including Steffon Armitage from England, who was recently voted European player of the year.

The squad has 621 international caps to their name, from nine countries: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, England, Ireland, Samoa, Tonga, and Georgia giving a truly global feel to the squad.

Taking charge of the squad’s preparations will be former player, National Springbok and Italy coach Nick Mallett, assisted by Alan Solomons.

Nick Mallett commented, “As well as assigning an international flavour to the Samsung World XV squad, it was also decided by the coaching and management team, to give both a number of international and on form non international South African club players, currently excelling overseas and nationally, the opportunity to play in the Test Arena on their beloved home soil against the Springboks.”

He continued, “These Internationals include Alistair Hargreaves (Saracens), Juandré Kruger (Racing Metro), Wynand Olivier (Montpellier). And Non Internationals Rory Kockott (Castres), Craig Burden (Toulon), Schalk Ferreira (Toulouse) and the Lions young prop Julian Redelinghuys.”

The World XV – sponsored by Samsung – is:

Backs

Full Back / Wing: Drew Mitchell (Toulon) Australia 63 caps
Full Back / Wing: James O’Connor (London Irish) Australia 44 caps
Wing: Hosea Gear (Toulouse) New Zealand 14 caps
Centre: Wynand Olivier (Montpellier) South Africa 37 caps
Centre: Benson Stanley (Clermont) New Zealand 3 caps
Centre / Wing: Rene Ranger (Montpellier) New Zealand 6 caps
Fly Half: Francois Trinh Duc (Montpellier) France 49 caps
Fly Half / Centre: Matt Giteau (Toulon) Australia 92 caps
Scrum Half: Rory Kockott (Castres), South Africa 0 caps
Scrum Half: Jimmy Cowan (Gloucester) New Zealand 51 caps

Forwards

Back Row: Alexandre Lapandry (Clermont) France 10 caps
Back Row: Roger Wilson (Ulster) Ireland 1 caps
Back Row: Steffon Armitage (Toulon) England 5 caps
Back Row: Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier) Georgia 57 caps
Second Row: Iosefa (Joe) Tekori (Toulouse) Samoa 27 caps
Second Row: Alistair Hargreaves (Saracens) South Africa 4 caps
Second Row: Juandré Kruger (Racing Metro) South Africa 17 caps
Hooker: Andrew Hore (Highlanders) New Zealand 83 caps
Hooker: Craig Burden (Toulon) South Africa 0 caps
Prop: Fakaanaua (Sona) Taumalolo (Perpignan) Tonga 13 caps
Prop: Julian Redelinghuys (Lions) South Africa 0 caps
Prop: Carl Hayman (Toulon) New Zealand 45 caps
Prop: Schalk Ferreira (Toulouse) South Africa 0 caps

Coaches

Nick Mallet Head Coach
Alan Solomons Assistant Coach
Omar Mouneimne Defence Coach