South African Starting XV for Carling Currie Cup match revealed

The names of fifteen players in the starting team for the upcoming Carling Currie Cup Champions match between a select South African side and the Kenya Simbas have been revealed with Vodacom Bulls hooker Schalk Erasmus leading the way with the most votes from rugby supporters across South Africa.

Back in October, rugby fans down under were presented with an opportunity to select the team that will represent the country by voting in for players from all seven provincial teams campaigning in the Carling Currie Cup.

In the Champions Match that will be played on Saturday, 6 November at Loftus Versfeld, Erasmus is followed closely by his Bulls team-mate Simphiwe Matanzima (prop) who managed to collect the second most votes for his inclusion in this weekend’s unique rugby spectacular at the home of the Carling Currie Cup champions.

Despite players from all seven provincial teams campaigning in the 2021 Carling Currie Cup being eligible for selection, it comes as no surprise that the squad – which also feature an extended replacements’ bench – is stacked with players from Bulls, the Pretoria-based side who have been the dominant force in local rugby the last few seasons.

The Bulls have no less than nine players in the squad of 30 players. The rest of the squad consists of six players from the Toyota Cheetahs, five DHL Western Province representatives and four from the Cell C Sharks. The remaining players were picked from the New Nation Pumas and Tafel Lager Griquas (two each) and the Sigma Lions (one).

The Carling Champions Match is a celebration of a sport loved by millions of South Africans and a thrilling showcase that comes on the same day the Springboks will start their Castle Lager Outgoing Tour.

CARLING CHAMPIONS MATCH TEAM

Props: Simphiwe Matanzima (Vodacom Bulls), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Cell C Sharks)

Hooker: Schalk Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls)

Locks: Reniel Hugo (Cell C Sharks), PJ Steenkamp (Sigma Lions)

Loose forwards: Arno Botha (Vodacom Bulls), Phumzile Maqondwana (New Nation Pumas), Nama Xaba (DHL Western Province)

Scrumhalf: Keagan Johannes (Vodacom Bulls)

Flyhalf: Brandon Thomson (Toyota Cheetahs)

Centres: Howard Mnisi (Toyota Cheetahs), Chris Smit (Toyota Cheetahs)

Wings: Stravino Jacobs (Vodacom Bulls), Werner Kok (Cell C Sharks)

Fullback: Sibongile Novuka (Vodacom Bulls)

Replacements (from):

Hooker: Chad Solomon (DHL Western Province)

Props: Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Aranos Coetzee (Toyota Cheetahs)

Lock: Reinhardt Ludwig (Vodacom Bulls)

Loose forwards: WJ Steenkamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marcel Theunissen (DHL Western Province)

Scrumhalves: Ginter Smuts (New Nation Pumas), Paul de Wet (DHL Western Province)

Flyhalf: George Whitehead (Tafel Lager Griquas)

Centres: Stedman Gans (Vodacom Bulls), Marius Louw (Cell C Sharks)

Wings: Tian Meyer (Toyota Cheetahs), Leolin Zas (DHL Western Province)Fullback: Ashlon Davids (Tafel Lager Griquas)