Ex-Boks boost World XV

BAKKIES Botha will be joined by three more South African test players in the confirmed World XV squad for their match on Saturday July 11 at Newlands against the Springboks.

The World XV squad boasts a combined total of 460 test caps and represents six nations.

Rugby World Cup-winning forwards Botha (Toulon) and Gurthro Steenkamp (Toulouse) will be joined by the Blue Bulls’ JJ Engelbrecht and Flip van der Merwe, as well as former Sharks hooker Craig Burden (Toulon), in the 23-man squad which will be coached by former Wallaby and Crusaders mentor Robbie Deans.

The match will be the Springboks’ first of the year before a shortened Rugby Championship.

It will be a stern test for Heyneke Meyer’s team as they start their preparations for the Rugby World Cup later this year in England.

The inclusion of players such as Botha, Van der Merwe and Steenkamp, who appeared for the Boks against the World XV a year ago, will mean Meyer’s team will have their work cut out as their opponents are familiar with South Africa’s calls, plays and structures.

In total, 10 members of the squad are from Toulon, who completed a hat-trick of European Cup victories when they beat Clermont 24-18 in last month’s final.

Deans, who will share the coaching duties with France’s Bernard Laporte, wants to give Meyer’s men a real examination before they take on the Wallabies in Brisbane the following week.

“As a coach you relish the chance to work with talented players and this World XV has the experience and quality to come together quickly and really test South Africa,” Deans said.