Bakkies Botha to captain World XV against South Africa
Thursday 9 July 2015 14:43, UK
South Africa legend Bakkies Botha will skipper a World XV against the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday.
World Cup winner Botha, who won 85 caps for his country before quitting last year, formed a dominant second row partnership with Victor Matfield for many seasons.
Matfield will be on the opposite side at Newlands Stadium, with World XV coach Robbie Deans naming six South Africans in his match-day squad.
"He was leading before being appointed the leader," said Deans. "Bakkies really enjoyed this week, mixing with those he has played against, and has been a big contributor in helping the group come together.
"He has been a huge presence in South African rugby for a long time so it will be a real occasion when he leads the World team out against his country."
Deans has selected English brothers Delon and Steffon Armitage at full-back and openside flanker respectively in a starting line-up that includes eight players from European champions Toulon.
The pack includes former Test stars in prop Carl Hayman and lock Ali Williams from New Zealand and South African prop Gurthro Steenkamp, while Australian pair Luke Burgess and Mike Harris form the half-back partnership.
World XV: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Lachlan Turner, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 David Smith, 10 Mike Harris, 9 Luke Burgess; 1 Gurthro Steenkamp, 2 Craig Burden, 3 Carl Hayman, 4 Ali Williams, 5 Bakkies Botha (c), 6 Jordan Taufua, 7 Steffon Armitage, 8 Luke Whitelock.
Replacements: 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.
