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A combination of World Cup winning Springboks, Blitzbok sevens stars and promising Junior Boks prospects have been named in two 25-man squads for the Springbok Showdown test match to be held in Cape Town next week.
South African rugby director Rassie Erasmus and new Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber selected the two teams in a live draft, the first of its kind in South African rugby history.
Both Erasmus, the coach who guided the Springboks to their third World Cup title in Japan last year, and Nienaber are the commissioners of the two teams, which feature a total of 13 players from the Springboks world champion squad. .
The Australian Rugby Show | Episode 19
The Erasmus green team will be led by Springboks assistant Mzwandile Stick, while Nienaber’s gold team will be led by former Southern Kings coach Deon Davids.
“The draft picks exercise was a refreshing way to select the two teams for the game,” Erasmus said.
“Me, Jacques and the coaches really enjoyed the exercise, but the stress of choosing squads on live TV was not good for the nerves … I hope our fans have enjoyed something new in the South African rugby landscape.”
The 50 players selected for the test match were chosen from a pool of 93 national players who were named last week as contenders for the clash.
The group of players were identified from the Super Rugby and PRO14 seasons that were paralyzed due to the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year, as well as those who stood out at last year’s Currie Cup.
There are also a lot of younger players who have been included and who have been involved in the South African Rugby Elite Player Development program in recent years.
According to a South Africa Rugby press release, both squads have been augmented by seven international rookies, of whom will be named in the coming days.
Numerous national stars such as current World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit, World Cup winning winger Sbu Nkosi, Sharks sprinter Aphelele Fassi and Bulls mainstay Lizo Gqoboka were not considered due to an injury.
The two teams will meet in Cape Town on Sunday, where they will prepare separately in their respective ‘bio-bubble environments’ ahead of the October 3 clash in Newlands.
Springbok Green Template:
Accessories: Ox Nche *, Thomas du Toit **, Trevor Nyakane **, Luan de Bruin
Whores: Bongi Mbonambi **, Schalk Erasmus
Locks: JD Schickerling, Hyron Andrews, Oupa Mohoje *
Looseforwards: Siya Kolisi **, Arno Botha8, Duane Vermeulen **, Junior Pokomela, Juarno Augustus
Scrumhalves: Sanele Nohamba, Embrose Papier *
Flyhalves: Elton Jantjies **, Manie Libbok
Centers: Frans Steyn **, Wandisile Simelane, Jeremy Ward
Outer backs: The Great Servant, Yaw Penxe, Gianni Lombard, Malcolm Jaer
Springbok Gold Template:
Accessories: Steven Kitshoff **, Dylan Smith, Frans Malherbe **, Ruan Dreyer
Whores: Scarra Ntubeni *, Dylan Richardson
Locks: Salmaan Moerat, Marvin Orie *, Jason Jenkins *
Looseforwards: Marco van Staden *, Nizaam Carr *, Memorial Notshe *; Vincent Tshituka and James Venter
Scrumhalves: Herschel Jantjies **, Jaden Hendrikse
Flyhalves: Damian Willemse **, Curwin Bosch *
Centers: Rikus Pretorius, Lukhanyo Am **, Werner Kok, Manuel Rass
Outer backs: Sergeal Petersen, Rosko Specman, Warrick Gelant **
** denotes members of the Springbok RWC team
* denotes Springbok limit trial players
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