Home Sport Kolisi and Am named captains for Green vs Gold clash

Kolisi and Am named captains for Green vs Gold clash

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Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, for the Green team, will resume his leadership duties in the national team colours on Saturday for the first time since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup, while Bok teammate Lukhanyo Am will lead the Gold team.

Green team captain Siya Kolisi. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky, BackpagePix

CAPE TOWN – Springbok Green and Gold coaches Mzwandile Stick and Deon Davids on Wednesday named their sides for this weekend’s Castle Lager Springbok Showdown at Newlands stadium in Cape Town.

Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, for the Green team, will resume his leadership duties in the national team colours on Saturday for the first time since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup. Springbok teammate Lukhanyo Am will lead the Gold team in Cape Town.

Gold Team skipper Lukhanyo Am. Picture: Edgar Su, Reuters.

The experienced Springbok duo will lead two teams featuring the best of the best in South Africa; Rugby World Cup winners, seasoned internationals and rising stars determined to showcase their skills with an eye on making a step up to national level.

Green Team coach Mzwandile Stick. Picture: Steve Haag, Gallo Images, Getty Images

Stick was forced to make three changes to his match-day squad for the clash after Oupa Mohoje (utility forward) tested positive for Covid-19, although he is asymptomatic. As a precautionary measure Trevor Nyakane (prop) was withdrawn from the squad after being in close contact with his former Toyota Cheetahs teammate.

Former Junior Springbok utility back Mnombo Zwelendaba was ruled out due to a hip injury.

As a result, three young guns have been called into the Springbok Gold team – Kwenzo Blose (prop), Kade Wolhuter (flyhalf) and JJ van der Mescht (lock). All three players have been named on the bench.

Stick was excited about his team, despite the enforced changes: “We have a good balance in our team if you look at the mix between the youngsters and senior players,” he said.

Gold team coach Deon Davids was equally pleased with his team’s preparations: “The week has gone very well so far, with good enthusiasm at training and a great eagerness to learn and to absorb what is happening in this special environment,” he said.

Gold Team coach Deon Davids. Picture: Deryck Foster, BackpagePix

Davids said with the DHL Stormers relocating to the Cape Town Stadium next year, it would be a special occasion for the Cape-based players in both squads.

“We have a number of DHL Stormers players in our ranks for whom this match will be a very special occasion, playing on the beautiful field of the famous DHL Newlands stadium,” said Davids.

Here are the Green and Gold teams for the Castle Lager Springbok Showdown.

The Springbok Green team (15-1): Gianni Lombard, Yaw Penxe, Wandisile Simelane, Frans Steyn, Malcolm Jaer, Elton Jantjies, Sanele Nohamba, Duane Vermeulen, Arno Botha, Siya Kolisi (captain), Hyron Andrews, JD Schickerling, Luan de Bruin, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Bench: Schalk Erasmus, Kwenzo Blose, Thomas du Toit, JJ van der Mescht, Juarno Augustus, Junior Pokomela, Embrose Papier, Manie Libbok, Jeremy Ward, Kade Wolhuter

The Springbok Gold team (15-1): Warrick Gelant, Rosko Specman, Lukhanyo Am (captain), Rikus Pretorius, Courtnall Skosan, Damian Willemse, Herschel Jantjies, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Nizaam Carr, Marco van Staden, Marvin Orie, Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Dreyer, Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff. Bench: Dylan Richardson, Dylan Smith, Carlü Sadie, Jason Jenkins, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka, Ivan van Zyl, Curwin Bosch, Werner Kok, Manuel Rass

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