Publications
Partners
Cape Town - World XV coach Robbie Deans believes his charges have what it takes to test the Springboks at Newlands on Saturday.
Former Springbok Bakkies Botha was named captain for the match against his former team-mates.
The veteran lock leads an experienced side containing former Springboks JJ Engelbrecht (Blue Bulls) and Gurthro Steenkamp (Toulouse), with Flip van der Merwe (Blue Bulls) among the replacements.
The World XV squad also boasts two former All Blacks stalwarts, lock Ali Williams and prop Carl Hayman. Also in the match-day 23 are 10 players from European club champions Toulon, including the Armitage brothers, fullback Delon and flank Steffon, who have played for England.
"As a coach you relish the chance to work with talented players and this World XV has the experience and quality to really test South Africa," Deans told reporters on Thursday.
"We need to match the intensity and physicality as well as the skills levels of one of the leading World Cup contenders."
Deans spoke to News24 Live. WATCH:
Kick-off for Saturday's clash at Newlands is scheduled for 17:00.
Teams:
Springboks:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Oupa Mohoje, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jean de Villiers
World XV:
15 Delon Armitage, 14 Lachlan Turner, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 David Smith, 10 Mike Harris, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Bakkies Botha (captain), 4 Ali Williams, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp
Substitutes: 16 David Roumieu, 17 Alexandre Menini, 18 Petrus du Plessis, 19 Flip Van der Merwe, 20 Louis-Benoit Madaule, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Andrew Horrell, 23 Rudi Wulf
