De Jongh: The first Varsity Cup Bok
Maties and Western Province centre Juan de Jongh is set to become the first Varsity Cup player turned Springbok when he takes to the field for South Africa against Leicester Tigers on Friday evening.
De Jongh, arguably the find of the 2009 Currie Cup, has been named in the No.13 shirt - alongside RWC Bok Wynand Olivier - for this 'dirt-trackers' fixture against the reigning English Premiership champions.
The tough-tackling and hard-running Maties ace - who started the 2008 Varsity Cup Final against UCT - is one of five uncapped players in the Bok XV, with another five greenhorns on the replacements bench.
The likes of Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, Danie Rossouw, Jannie du Plessis and Gurthrö Steenkamp - all of whom are World Cup winners - will add plenty of experience to this experimental Bok side, but all eyes will be on newbie De Jongh to see if he can continue to his rapid rise through the SA rugby ranks.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, on Saturday, announced a 37-man squad for two 'friendlies' and three Tests this month, with seven players from this Leicester fixture set to feature on the Bok bench against France on November 13.
The South African team: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (captain), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Riaan Viljoen.
Date: Friday, November 6
Kick-off: 7.45pm (9.45pm SA time)
Venue: Welford Road, Leicester