Cape Town - Their last appearance may have been many years ago, but the Springboks have a sound head-to-head record against the World XV.
The Boks start their year against the Nick Mallett-coached World XV at Newlands on Saturday (17:00 kick-off).
It is expected to be a tough encounter against a team littered with international stars.
The World XV squad has 621 international caps to its name from 9 different countries - Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, England, Ireland, Samoa, Tonga and Georgia - giving it a truly global feel.
The squad also features seven South Africans. They are: scrumhalf Rory Kockott, centre Wynand Olivier, hooker Craig Burden, props Julian Redelinghuys and Schalk Ferreira, and locks Juandré Kruger and Alistair Hargreaves.
Four of these players - Kockott, Burden, Redelinghuys and Ferreira - are set to get their first taste of international rugby.
The Boks have played against a World XV on three occasions and emerged victorious each time.
In 1977, the Springboks won 45-24 at Loftus Versfeld, while in 1989 South Africa won twice - 20-19 (Newlands) and 22-16 (Ellis Park).
World XV squad (South African players in bold):
Backs:
James O’Connor (London Irish, Australia – 44 Test caps), Drew Mitchell (Toulon, Australia – 63), Hosea Gear (Toulouse, New Zealand – 14), Rene Ranger (Montpelier, New Zealand – 6), Matt Giteau (Toulon, Australia – 92), François Trinh-Duc (Montpelier, France – 48), Rory Kockott (Castres, South Africa – uncapped), Jimmy Cowan (Gloucester, New Zealand – 51), Benson Stanley (Clermont, New Zealand - 3), and Wynand Olivier (Montpellier, South Africa - 37)
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), Andrew Hore (New Zealand – 83), Schalk Ferreira (Toulouse, South Africa – uncapped), Sona Taumololo (Perpignan, Tonga – 5), Craig Burden (Toulon, South Africa - uncapped), Carl Hayman (Toulon, New Zealand – 45), and Julian Redelinghuys (Lions, South Africa - uncapped)
The Boks start their year against the Nick Mallett-coached World XV at Newlands on Saturday (17:00 kick-off).
It is expected to be a tough encounter against a team littered with international stars.
The World XV squad has 621 international caps to its name from 9 different countries - Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, England, Ireland, Samoa, Tonga and Georgia - giving it a truly global feel.
The squad also features seven South Africans. They are: scrumhalf Rory Kockott, centre Wynand Olivier, hooker Craig Burden, props Julian Redelinghuys and Schalk Ferreira, and locks Juandré Kruger and Alistair Hargreaves.
Four of these players - Kockott, Burden, Redelinghuys and Ferreira - are set to get their first taste of international rugby.
The Boks have played against a World XV on three occasions and emerged victorious each time.
In 1977, the Springboks won 45-24 at Loftus Versfeld, while in 1989 South Africa won twice - 20-19 (Newlands) and 22-16 (Ellis Park).
World XV squad (South African players in bold):
Backs:
James O’Connor (London Irish, Australia – 44 Test caps), Drew Mitchell (Toulon, Australia – 63), Hosea Gear (Toulouse, New Zealand – 14), Rene Ranger (Montpelier, New Zealand – 6), Matt Giteau (Toulon, Australia – 92), François Trinh-Duc (Montpelier, France – 48), Rory Kockott (Castres, South Africa – uncapped), Jimmy Cowan (Gloucester, New Zealand – 51), Benson Stanley (Clermont, New Zealand - 3), and Wynand Olivier (Montpellier, South Africa - 37)
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), Andrew Hore (New Zealand – 83), Schalk Ferreira (Toulouse, South Africa – uncapped), Sona Taumololo (Perpignan, Tonga – 5), Craig Burden (Toulon, South Africa - uncapped), Carl Hayman (Toulon, New Zealand – 45), and Julian Redelinghuys (Lions, South Africa - uncapped)