With international rugby on the horizon, the game in South Africa takes on an exciting new twist with the Springbok Showdown giving the country’s top players a chance to go head-to-head.
The one-off exhibition match, which takes place at Newlands in Cape Town, will pit two teams comprising of Springbok regulars, fringe players as well as rising stars yet to earn a cap in the famous green and gold.
Ahead of the exciting encounter, we take a look at the uncapped players who could raise their stocks when Green clashes with Gold at SA’s oldest Test rugby venue.
Springbok Showdown: Uncapped players to look out for
Yaw Penxe (23-years-old): The Southern Kings winger is one of the older players you will see on this list, and will definitely have a point to prove on Saturday.
Following the Eastern Cape-based franchise’s recent demise, Penxe will not only want to put his name in the hat in terms of a future Springbok place, but will also see the encounter as somewhat of an audition for a spot in one of the other teams.
Wandisile Simelane (22): The former Sharks centre endured a frustrating two years or so, following his starring role for the Junior Boks in 2018, and seems to have worked his way to a regular spot in the Lions lineup.
The 22-year-old now has an opportunity to show what he is capable of against some of the biggest names in South African rugby.
JD Schickerling (25): If it was not for South Africa’s riches in the second row, Stormers lock forward JD Schickerling would have probably long donned the green and gold.
In the absence of the likes of Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman and Lood de Jager, the 25-year-old has a chance to raise his stock even further.
Manuel Rass (22): Lions centre Manuel Rass made his Super Rugby debut shortly before the competition was suspended amid the global pandemic, and has been included on the Gold team’s bench for Saturday’s Springbok Showdown.
Vincent Tshituka (22): One of the more promising young players capped by the Lions in this year’s Super Rugby was Vincent Tshituka, who also takes up a spot on the bench in the Gold side.
James Venter (24): Having just moved to the coast, James Venter quickly became a vital cog to the Sharks machine, contributing to their billing as 2020 Super Rugby favourites before the unceremonious end to the competition.
