Stormers centres Jean de Villiers and Gcobani Bobo will have their hands full on Sunday when they square up to former Sharks star Brad Barritt and ex-Wallaby Ben Jacobs in the Saracens midfield.
Barritt, who joined Saracens after last season, qualifies to play for England through ancestry.
Stephen Nell writes for die Burger that Sunday’s match at Newlands is therefore a good chance to show off his talents against a Springbok centre pairing of De Villiers and Bobo.
“He’s a player with a lot of talent,” De Villiers said of Barritt.
“It’s never nice to lose players to other countries, but you have to look after yourself.”
Barritt said before his departure for Saracens that he would be interested in playing for England if the opportunity presented itself. He mentioned at the same time he would be prepared to return to play for South Africa if they wanted him.
The latter may be difficult as Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has his pick between the likes of Jean de Villiers and Frans Steyn at inside centre.
While Barritt is only 22, he is part of an experienced backline, which includes a New Zealand halfback pairing of Justin Marshall and Glen Jackson.
Barritt is a physical centre that distributes and tackles well, while Jacobs has a reputation as a strong runner.
The Stormers are at full strength, except for the injured pair of Schalk Burger (ankle) and Conrad Jantjes (groin).
Other injured players are utility forward AJ Venter (hamstring) and props Brock Harris and JC Kritzinger.
Harris can be out of action for up to 10 months with an ankle injury, while a knee injury will sideline Kritzinger for the next week or so.
Percy Montgomery is at fullback and Duane Vermeulen starts on the flank.
Teams:
Stormers:
Percy Montgomery, Tonderai Chavhanga, Gcobani Bobo, Jean de Villiers (captain), Sireli Naqelevuki, Peter Grant, Ricky Januarie, Luke Watson, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Andries Bekker, Adriaan Fondse, Brian Mujati, Schalk Brits, JD Moller.
Substitutes: Deon Fourie, Schalk Ferreira, Wicus Blaauw, Hilton Lobberts, George Earle, Pieter Louw, Bolla Conradie, Joe Pietersen, Dylan des Fountain, Alipate Fatafehi, Nick Koster.
Saracens:
Chris Wyles, Kameli Ratuvou, Ben Jacobs, Brad Barritt, Richard Haughton, Glen Jackson, Justin Marshall, Ben Skirving, Wikus van Heerden, Chris Jack (captain), Tom Ryder, Hugh Vyvyan, Cobus Visagie, Andy Kyriacou, Nick Lloyd.
Substitutes: Don Barrell, Matt Cairns, Kris Chesney, Andy Farrell, Cencus Johnston, Jordan Mitchell, Rodd Penney, Gordon Ross, Dave Seymour, Hayden Smith, Kevin Sorrell, Harry Spencer, Edd Thrower, Alex Walker, Mickey Wilson.
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Kick-off: 16:00
Not a bad Sracens side.
But these warm up games are seldom a spectacle. There is no log points on the line. Players don’t want to get get injured.
Plus some of the Sarries players are only flying in the day before the match after being involved in a match on the Friday.
I’m not expecting much.
@McLovin (Comment 1) :
That bit about them flying in the day before is something i find very strange.
So more than half THIS team fly in the week before and the others flying in the day before becasue they have a EC Cup committment in Europe.
So which is the second string team? The one playing the Stormers or the one playing in the EC Cup?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) : I think a mixture of 1st & 2nd sides. They will top their pool no matter what happens in their last match.
@McLovin (Comment 3) :
oh okay, I didn’t realise that they would top the pool regardless.
This is the side that played in their last match:
1 Matias Aguero
2 Fabio Ongaro
3 Cencus Johnston
4 Steve Borthwick
5 Chris Jack
6 Wikus Van Heerden
7 Andy Saull
8 Ben Skirving
9 Moses Rauluni
10 Glen Jackson
11 Noah Cato
12 Adam Powell
13 Kameli Ratuvou
14 Richard Haughton
15 Chris Wyles
Barritt gaan lekker sy gat sien die naweek!!!
No idea if that’s all their 1st choice players though.
@wpw (Comment 6) :
hi all. Probably a dense question but this games not being shown in SA is it?
@billy (Comment 9) : No idea. But don’t think so.
@billy (Comment 9) : negative
Time for a trivia question.
I’ve asked it before but cannot remeber anyone giving the correct answer.
Against who did the All Blacks first play in all white?
No prize will be given for a correct answer.
Judges decision is final.
@McLovin (Comment 12) :
Western Province
Natal
@Salmonoid (Comment 13) : Nope sorry.
@McLovin (Comment 12) : It was a test match.
@Salmonoid (Comment 13) : Thank you for playing. Please feel free to guess again.
@McLovin (Comment 16) :
Scotland?
@McLovin (Comment 16) : France
@McLovin (Comment 12) : Papua New Guinea?
@molly (Comment 17) : @PJLD (Comment 18) : @robdylan (Comment 19) : Nope.
Can anyone tell me why Nissan dbl cabs are so freagin cheap these days?
@PJLD (Comment 21) : umm – global financial crisis affecting the motor industry? That’s my guess…
@robdylan (Comment 22) : must be…i want one!
@PJLD (Comment 23) :
Will you be changing your look as well???
Safari suit with veldskoene??? lmimc
@PJLD (Comment 23) : Just check fuel consumption china….
@Charlie (Comment 25) : jaaaaaa.that is a bugger.