Wikus to lead Sarries
Wikus van Heerden will captain a Saracens side containing 10 South Africans when they face the Springboks at Wembley.
Nine players with South African connections start, while former Springbok Schalk Brits will be on the bench for Tuesday’s encounter.
Van Heerden forms an all South African loose trio with Justin Melck and Ernst Joubert, while the halfbacks are Neil de Kock and Derick Hougaard. Lock Mouritz Botha and hooker Ethienne Reynecke also start, while South Africans who have now pledged their allegiances to England include Brad Barritt and Michael Horak.
Other internationals in the squad include Fijian centre Kameli Ratuvou and Italian reserve prop Carlos Nieto.
Saracens – 15 Michael Horak, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Michael Tagicakibau, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Justin Melck, 6 Wikus van Heerden (c), 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Richard Skuse, 2 Ethienne Reynecke, 1 Rhys Gill.
Subs: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Carlos Nieto, 18 George Kruis, 19 Andy Saull, 20 Kevin Barrett, 21 Alex Goode, 22 Rodd Penney.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Should be an easy win for the saffas.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
You would think there will be some fairly motivated players for the SA-racens.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
#2 WakaNathan: Definately, but this is not typical of a sarries side. There are normally only 4 South Africans in the starting line-up (Brits, Van Heerdan, Joubert and De Kock, also Barritt but he is now ‘english’).
Sarries have put up all of their saffas as an opportunity to let them play their countrymen, so they should be more motivated. It could also be a marketing ploy to attract expats living in London. Also, Sarries have a big match against Wasps on saturday, so they are resting players for that. Only 8 players here are in the ideal sarries 1st XV (Gill, Vyvyan, Van Heerden, Joubert, De Kock, Barritt, Ratouvu and Cato). Sarries normally have between 8 and 10 english players starting, so they arent totally South African!
An english club with a distinctly South African flavour, which sounds like a good recipe to me!
November 16th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
This will be a good game. I hope the SA dirt tackers do better, infact i hope some of the players play themselves into the A side. The A side players look pap tired and so they should be, helluva a year they have had and most of them should be at home resting.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Saracens to take it by 12!!!
Barrit to be the chief destroyer.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Does the Saracens stadium PA also play “Liefling” when Derick flukes a drop?
November 16th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Strong team except Melck and Reyneke…
November 16th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Hmm, quite nervous about this. Muir probably feels the same.
November 16th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
I wish Wikus would come back to the Lions, we could do with some of his experience and attitude.
November 16th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
#9 Jozi: He is…but only after the super 14
November 16th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
#10 grant10: Thanks Grant, great player who always played his heart out. Stuck with the Lions through some of the darkest days. I sure hope things improve at the Lions and Wikus gets to enjoy some of the good times back in Jo’burg.
November 16th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Oh thats where Justin Melck is!
Hey schalkie and justin you can hitch a lift back home with the boks!
November 16th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
#10 grant10:
So how do you know that. It is only a rumour with no facts except that the Lions are after him. He is contracted for another year, so, yea, you are wrong
November 16th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
#13 Slai: i read about it on Superrugby a while back….Wikus wanted to come back now but saracens said only in May….seems a deal was concluded….i certainly wouldnt lie about anything….if i am incorrect…my abject apologies.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Which SA side to take it???
November 16th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Justin Melck, 6 Wikus van Heerden (c)
No wonder Dicky boy Muir is kakking his pants, he knows deep in his gut this back row is far better than the one he’s brought along.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Is (22) Rodd Penney, Halfpenney’s big brother?
November 16th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
#17 scar: Very funny! No, they are unrelated and different nationalities!
November 16th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
#16 skopskiet: Anyone is always better than the team the selectors choose if we have to go by you
November 16th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
#16 skopskiet: Oh but wait Saracens has old Derek Hougaard and you think he is a palooka,so we must win because of that