Mallet's world side confirmed

Ex Supersport

International stars from around the world, Wallabies Matt Giteau, James O’Connor, Drew Mitchell and All Blacks Hosea Gear, Carl Hayman, Andrew Hore and Jimmy Cowan are all included in the Samsung World XV’s 23-man squad to play South Africa at DHL Newlands on Saturday 7 June.

Joining them will be France’s French Top 14 highest point’s scorer Francois Trinh-Duc and back row forward Alexandre Lapandry.

5 players from Toulon’s double winning European Cup and French Top 14 side will also feature in the squad, including Steffon Armitage from England, who was recently voted European player of the year.

The squad has 621 international caps to their name from nine countries; Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, England, Ireland, Samoa, Tonga, and Georgia giving a truly global feel to the squad.

Taking charge of the squad's preparations will be former player, National Springbok and Italy coach Nick Mallett, assisted by Alan Solomons.

Who will win the battle of the coaches this coming weekend? Heyneke Meyer Nick MallettVoteResult

Nick Mallett commented, “As well as assigning an international flavour to the Samsung World XV squad, it was also decided by the coaching and management team, to give both a number of international and on form non international South African club players, currently excelling overseas and nationally, the opportunity to play in the test Arena on their beloved home soil against the Springboks.”

He continued, “These Internationals include Alistair Hargreaves (Saracens), Juandré Kruger (Racing Metro), Wynand Olivier (Montpellier). And Non Internationals Rory Kockott (Castres), Craig Burden (Toulon), Schalk Ferreira (Toulouse) and the Lions young prop Julian Redelinghuys.”

World XV squad: Drew Mitchell, James O'Connor, Hosea Gear, Wynand Olivier, Benson Stanley, Rene Ranger, Francois Trinh Duc, Matthew Giteau, Rory Kockott, Jimmy Cowan, Alexandre Lapandry, Roger Wilson, Steffon Armitage, Mamuka Gorgodze, Iosefa Tekori, Alistair Hargreaves, Juandré Kruger, Andrew Hore, Craig Burden, Sona Taumalolo, Julian Redelinghuys, Carl Hayman, Schalk Ferreira.

Could some of these Saffa okes force their way into the squad later on. Kockott and Redlinghuys  come to mind.

Will Meyer triumph. If he doesn't wait for the blood curdling howls from snapster, ou maaaikie and wee cc. It will be reminiscent of the nz wailing re their loss to the 13 shatrks men.