30 stars confirmed for Carling Champions Match

The second Carling Champions Match is set to be staged in Nelson Mandela Bay this weekend, with two Springboks and four Blitzboks among the 30-man squad set for battle.

Airlink Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse will take charge of the Carling Champions Team against Italy 'A', fresh off the back of their Carling Currie Cup final victory at the weekend, when they beat Windhoek Draught Griquas in Kimberley.

The much-anticipated encounter will take place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday evening, with match build-up to commence from 19h30.

The squad, as voted for by the fans, is littered with Currie Cup stars, including Cornal Hendricks (centre) and Embrose Papier (scrumhalf), who are the two players to have been capped at Springbok level, while Victor Sekekete (lock), Nama Xaba (loose forward), Clayton Blommetjies (fullback) and Robert Ebersohn (centre) add plenty of experience.

The youthful squad is further made up of Blitzboks, such as Angelo Davids, Hendricks, Ebersohn and Blommetjies and three players who were part of last year's Champions Match - Vodacom Bulls duo of Keagan Johannes (scrumhalf) and Simphiwe Matanzima (prop), as well as Xaba.

Fans are now called upon to vote for their captain, via USSD on *120*660* unique code# or via Facebook messenger.

Beyond the on-field, fans attending can also look forward to being entertained with live performances by NaakMusiq, Heavy K, Marc Anthony Kock, Deon and Michelle Mattheus and Thuba Myeki.

Tickets are on sale from TicketPro at just R49, and can also be enjoy by listening to the match live on SABC Sport, via Ukhozi FM, Umhlobo Wenene, Lesedi FM, Thobela FM, Motsweding FM, Radio 2000 and RSG.

Full squad: 15 Clayton Blommetjies (Toyota Cheetahs), 14 Daniel Kasende (Toyota Cheetahs), 13 David Brits (Toyota Cheetahs), 12 Cornal Hendricks (Vodacom Bulls), 11 Angelo Davids (DHL WP), 10 Siya Masuku (Toyota Cheetahs), 9 Keagan Johannes (Vodacom Bulls), 8 Mihlali Mosi (Toyota Cheetahs), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni (Sigma Lions), 6 Nama Xaba (DHL WP), 5 Janko Swanepoel (Vodacom Bulls), 4 Victor Sekekete (Toyota Cheetahs), 3 Robert Hunt (Vodacom Bulls), 2 Marnus van der Merwe (Toyota Cheetahs), 1 Simphiwe Matanzima (Vodacom Bulls).

Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste (Cell C Sharks), 17 Dewald Maritz (Airlink Pumas), 18 Kwenzo Blose (DHL WP), 19 Shane Kirkwood (Airlink Pumas), 20 Willie Engelbrecht (Airlink Pumas), 21 Embrose Papier (Vodacom Bulls), 22 Tristan Leyds (DHL WP), 23 Devon Williams (Airlink Pumas).

Additional players: Eduan Swart (Airlink Pumas), Keke Morabe (DHL WP), Andries Fouche (Airlink Pumas), Sanele Nohamba (Sigma Lions), Theo Boshoff (Windhoek Draught Griquas), Robert Ebersohn (Toyota Cheetahs), Alwayno Visagie (Airlink Pumas).

By Web Admin