Western Force in the World XV

[James]

It seems that Ryan Cross (13) and Drew Mitchell (11) are both in the World XV against the Springboks. That'll be good to watch.

[The InnFORCEr]

and Scott Stantiforth

[Sagerian]

It's being televised gang so keep an eye on channel 7

[James]

and Scott Stantiforth

I believe he's pulled out. The starting XV are as follows: World XV: 15 Matt Perry, 14 Clinton Schifcofske, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Andy Farrell, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Thomas Castaignède, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio, 7 Jonny O'Connor, 6 Michael Owen, 5 Alister Campbell, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Cobus Visagie, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Dave Hewett.
Replacements: 16 Vernet Basualdo, 17 Nic Henderson, 18 Takuro Miuchi, 19 David Croft, 20 Gareth Cooper, 21 Pablo Gomez Cora, 22 Thinus Delport.

[The InnFORCEr]

when you are right your right....I stand corrected.

[Burgs]

Shame, it would have been great to have a sneak preview of a Stanners-Cross combination.

[James]

Yeah, it would be much better especially since Stanners would provide better quality ball than Andy Farrell who, from what I have heard, is a big flop.

[shasta]

Yeah, it would be much better especially since Stanners would provide better quality ball than Andy Farrell who, from what I have heard, is a big flop.

To be fair he's had an unlucky run with injury since converting. But I think the whole excercise was a publicity stunt from the start, given his age and background.

He was an absolute star as a loose forward in RL but why would anyone think that would make him a good 12 in Rugby???

[Burgs]

The match will be broadcast in the wee hours of Monday morning (Sunday night) at 1:50am on both Seven and GWN for those of us who are dedicated enough to World Rugby or for those of you with a VCR/DVD Recorder!
Should be a cracker of a match and a milestone for our own Ryan Cross.

World XV:

1 Dave Hewett, Edinburgh Gunners, Scotland, 22 Caps
2 Fabio Ongaro, Saracens, Italy, 44 Caps
3 Cobus Visagie, Saracens, South Africa, 29 Caps
4 Simon Shaw, London Wasps, England, 28 Caps
5 Alister Campbell, ACT Brumbies, Australia, 3 Caps
6 Michael Owen, Newport Gwent Dragons, Wales, 34 Caps
7 Jonny O'Connor, London Wasps, Ireland, 12 Caps
8 Lawrence Dallaglio ©, London Wasps, England, 77 Caps
9 Justin Marshall, Ospreys, New Zealand, 81 caps
10 Thomas Castaignède, Saracens, France, 52 Caps
11 Drew Mitchell, Western Force, Australia 10 Caps
12 Andy Farrell, Saracens, Great Britain/England Rugby League
13 Ryan Cross, Western Force, Australia Rugby League
14 Clinton Schifcofske, Queensland Reds, Australia Rugby League
15 Matt Perry, Bath, England, 36 Caps
16 Vernet Basualdo, Asociacion Alumni, Argentina, 3 Caps
17 Nic Henderson, ACT Brumbies, Australia, 3 caps
18 Takuro Miuchi, NEC Rockets, Japan, 30 Caps
19 David Croft, Queensland Reds, Australia, 5 Caps
20 Gareth Cooper, Newport Gwent Dragons, Wales, 32 Caps
21 Pablo Gomez Cora, Lomas Athletic, URBA, Argentina, 4 Caps
22 Thinus Delport, Worcester Warriors, South Africa, 18 Caps

Springbok XV:

1 Deon Carstens
2 Chiliboy Ralepelle ©
3 CJ van der Linde
4 Johan Ackermann
5 Albert van den Berg
6 Wikus van Heerden
7 Gerrie Britz
8 Danie Rossouw
9 Ruan Pienaar
10 Francois Steyn
11 JP Pietersen
12 De Wet Barry
13 Wynand Olivier
14 Jaco Pretorius
15 Bevin Fortuin
16 Gary Botha ©
17 Lawrence Sephaka
18 Selborne Boome
19 Hilton Lobberts
20 Ricky Januarie
21 Meyer Bosman
22 Jongi Nokwe

Notes from SA Rugby:

SA Under-21 captain Chiliboy Ralepelle will make history on Sunday when he runs onto the field as captain of the Springbok XV against the World XV at Leicester, England, on December 3.

The 20-year-old will be the first Black player to captain a Springbok side, and also the youngest captain ever.

Gary Botha, who captained the Absa Currie Cup Vodacom Blue Bulls team this season, is expected to join the proceedings later in the game, and receive the captain’s armband from Ralepelle. Botha, who was part of the World Championship-winning 2002 SA Under-21 team that played under coach Jake White, will also be making his debut as Springbok captain.

The non-Test match will be the last Springbok game for the season.

Some interesting facts, going into Sunday’s game:

For the first time since December 2000, the Springboks will play a non-Test match away from home. The last such match was against a Barbarians team at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. On that day the Springboks won 41-31. Albert van den Berg is the only Springbok in Sunday’s line-up who played on that day against the Barbarians.

On only three previous occasions have the Springboks played against a World Invitation XV, which were given “Test status”.

In 1977 South Africa won 45-24 against Willie-John McBride’s team and in 1989 South Africa won the two-test series against Pierre Berbizier’s team. The scores 20-19 in the first and 22-16 in the second.

Sunday’s game is part of the commemoration of the first time that the South African team played as the Springboks. On 27 September, 1906, the South African team played against East Midland Counties in Northampton and won 37-0. The second game on that tour was played two days later at Sunday’s venue, Leicester. The opponent was Midland Counties and the Springboks were victorious with 29-0.

[The Lone Hydrangea]

[QUOTE=Burgs]The match will be broadcast in the wee hours of Monday morning (Sunday night) at 1:50am on both Seven and GWN for those of us who are dedicated enough to World Rugby or for those of you with a VCR/DVD Recorder!
Should be a cracker of a match and a milestone for our own Ryan Cross.

World XV:

1 Dave Hewett, Edinburgh Gunners, Scotland, 22 Caps
2 Fabio Ongaro, Saracens, Italy, 44 Caps
3 Cobus Visagie, Saracens, South Africa, 29 Caps
4 Simon Shaw, London Wasps, England, 28 Caps
5 Alister Campbell, ACT Brumbies, Australia, 3 Caps
6 Michael Owen, Newport Gwent Dragons, Wales, 34 Caps
7 Jonny O'Connor, London Wasps, Ireland, 12 Caps
8 Lawrence Dallaglio ©, London Wasps, England, 77 Caps
9 Justin Marshall, Ospreys, New Zealand, 81 caps
10 Thomas Castaignède, Saracens, France, 52 Caps
11 Drew Mitchell, Western Force, Australia 10 Caps
12 Andy Farrell, Saracens, Great Britain/England Rugby League
13 Ryan Cross, Western Force, Australia Rugby League
14 Clinton Schifcofske, Queensland Reds, Australia Rugby League
15 Matt Perry, Bath, England, 36 Caps
16 Vernet Basualdo, Asociacion Alumni, Argentina, 3 Caps
17 Nic Henderson, ACT Brumbies, Australia, 3 caps
18 Takuro Miuchi, NEC Rockets, Japan, 30 Caps
19 David Croft, Queensland Reds, Australia, 5 Caps
20 Gareth Cooper, Newport Gwent Dragons, Wales, 32 Caps
21 Pablo Gomez Cora, Lomas Athletic, URBA, Argentina, 4 Caps
22 Thinus Delport, Worcester Warriors, South Africa, 18 Caps

Springbok XV:

1 Deon Carstens
2 Chiliboy Ralepelle ©
3 CJ van der Linde
4 Johan Ackermann
5 Albert van den Berg
6 Wikus van Heerden
7 Gerrie Britz
8 Danie Rossouw
9 Ruan Pienaar
10 Francois Steyn
11 JP Pietersen
12 De Wet Barry
13 Wynand Olivier
14 Jaco Pretorius
15 Bevin Fortuin
16 Gary Botha ©
17 Lawrence Sephaka
18 Selborne Boome
19 Hilton Lobberts
20 Ricky Januarie
21 Meyer Bosman
22 Jongi Nokwe

Notes from SA Rugby:

[I]SA Under-21 captain Chiliboy Ralepelle will make history on Sunday when he runs onto the field as captain of the Springbok XV against the World XV at Leicester, England, on December 3.

The 20-year-old will be the first Black player to captain a Springbok side, and also the youngest captain ever.

Gary Botha, who captained the Absa Currie Cup Vodacom Blue Bulls team this season, is expected to join the proceedings later in the game, and receive the captain’s armband from Ralepelle. Botha, who was part of the World Championship-winning 2002 SA Under-21 team that played under coach Jake White, will also be making his debut as Springbok captain.

The non-Test match will be the last Springbok game for the season.

Interesting facts for a few of TWF crew? Good stuff.

[Shaun]

Wow Steyn playing at number 10?!?!? To me he is a great fullback ready to take claim to the number 15 jersey! anyways it does not seem a full South African team, should be a good game though...

[Burgs]

That's correct Shaun, it isn't a full South Africn team, it is called a "Springboks XV", a bit like a "Presidents XV" or the like. It is a non Cap fixture, ie not Test status as it is more of an exhibition.
So don't fret, the sanctity of your Test Captaincy Cap has been preserved

[travelling_gerry]

Well I stayed up to the wee hours to have a look...

Springbok XV 32 d World XV 7.

The World XV only scored late in the match with the combination of of the players Cross with a deft pass to Mitchell to score in the corner.

My summing up of the boys :-

Cross - shaky start with the South African backs getting outside of him in defence to score their first try. Thereafter he looked very good and wasnt afraid to get into the ruck/maul and even got a turnover in one maul. Was VERY dangerous with his passes when caught in the tackle and on 3 occasions was able to get the ball away. I think we might see an exciting season from him with the

Mitchell - again a nervous start but finished solid. A bit sus at the defence line and his early kicks were short or failed to go out but came home well. He looks to combine VERY well with Cross.

night all....

[James]

I must admit it wasn't a very interesting match. Lord knows why the Springboks have had two of these World XV matches this year. I suppose if nothing else a series of unplanned/unstructured attacks by the WXV supports the old rush defense.

[Burgs]

Yeah Gerry, pretty much what I saw too, all be it through bleary eyes!
Crossy will definately have to up his defensive work to be a startr for the Force.
I think Mitch's cover work in the second half was pretty good and the left foot hook to clear the twenty two was pretty special.
A pretty grotty match all up, was very impressed with Steyn's though and would expect to see more of him there in the New Year.
Fortuin managed to annoy me just as much in a different coloured jersey, Chilliboy had a great half and the Boks lineout and Locks in open play were awesome.
Worth waiting up for but probably not worth watching a second time.