Fiery Border Bulldogs player Ntando Kebe, now on loan to the Southern Kings, is one of the new faces in the South African ‘A’ team announced by coach Allister Coetzee.
Kebe joins Kings hooker Edgar Marutlulle and Lukhanyo Am as three of the Kings players to make the SA ‘A’ team.
Maratlulle has been rewarded for a series of feisty Super Rugby showings despite the Kings’ struggle this season.
Former Despatch Rugby Club president Willem Oliphant has been named manager of the side who will play games in Bloemfontein and George against the England Saxons team.
Lions’ coach Johan Ackermann has been appointed as head coach of a strong ‘A’ team, featuring six players with Springbok Test experience.
One of Ackermann’s assistant coaches is Chumani Booi, the current Border Bulldogs assistant coach, who is a former provincial star with 20 Super Rugby and 147 provincial matches to his name.
Five of the six players with Test experience in the team are in the pack.
They are Oupa Mohoje, Nizaam Carr, Coenie Oosthuizen, Vincent Koch and Marcel van der Merwe. At the back, Piet van Zyl will provide knowledge of international rugby.
The national selectors also picked seven players who had their first taste of Super Rugby this year. They are Am, Jean-Luc du Preez, Lizo Gqoboka, Kebe, JD Schickerling, RG Snyman and Leolin Zas.
“Many of the players in the SA ‘A’ squad were considered for the Springboks and will obviously come into consideration in the event of injuries,” Coetzee said.
Ackermann, a former Springbok lock, is currently the most experienced South African coach in Super Rugby.
Under his coaching, the Golden Lions went unbeaten through the Currie Cup season in 2015.
The SA ‘A’ team and the England Saxons’ matches are scheduled for June 10 at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, and a week later, on June 17, at Outeniqua Park in George.
Both encounters will kick off at 7:10pm and will be broadcast on SuperSport.
The SA ‘A’ squad is: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks, Southern Kings), Francois Brummer (Bulls), Nizaam Carr (Stormers), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks), Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls), Travis Ismaiel (Bulls), Ntando Kebe (Border Bulldogs/Southern Kings), Vincent Koch (Stormers), Edgar Marutlulle (Southern Kings), Malcolm Marx (Lions), Howard Mnisi (Lions), Oupa Mohoje (Cheetahs), Franco Mostert (Lions), Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks), Sergeal Petersen (Cheetahs), JD Schickerling (Stormers) Courtnall Skosan (Lions), RG Snyman (Bulls), Marcel van der Merwe (Bulls), Piet van Zyl (Bulls), Francois Venter (Cheetahs), Leolin Zas (Stormers).
Bulldog’s Kebe in Bok squad
Kebe joins Kings hooker Edgar Marutlulle and Lukhanyo Am as three of the Kings players to make the SA ‘A’ team.
Maratlulle has been rewarded for a series of feisty Super Rugby showings despite the Kings’ struggle this season.
Former Despatch Rugby Club president Willem Oliphant has been named manager of the side who will play games in Bloemfontein and George against the England Saxons team.
Lions’ coach Johan Ackermann has been appointed as head coach of a strong ‘A’ team, featuring six players with Springbok Test experience.
One of Ackermann’s assistant coaches is Chumani Booi, the current Border Bulldogs assistant coach, who is a former provincial star with 20 Super Rugby and 147 provincial matches to his name.
Five of the six players with Test experience in the team are in the pack.
They are Oupa Mohoje, Nizaam Carr, Coenie Oosthuizen, Vincent Koch and Marcel van der Merwe. At the back, Piet van Zyl will provide knowledge of international rugby.
The national selectors also picked seven players who had their first taste of Super Rugby this year. They are Am, Jean-Luc du Preez, Lizo Gqoboka, Kebe, JD Schickerling, RG Snyman and Leolin Zas.
“Many of the players in the SA ‘A’ squad were considered for the Springboks and will obviously come into consideration in the event of injuries,” Coetzee said.
Ackermann, a former Springbok lock, is currently the most experienced South African coach in Super Rugby.
Under his coaching, the Golden Lions went unbeaten through the Currie Cup season in 2015.
The SA ‘A’ team and the England Saxons’ matches are scheduled for June 10 at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, and a week later, on June 17, at Outeniqua Park in George.
Both encounters will kick off at 7:10pm and will be broadcast on SuperSport.
The SA ‘A’ squad is: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks, Southern Kings), Francois Brummer (Bulls), Nizaam Carr (Stormers), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks), Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls), Travis Ismaiel (Bulls), Ntando Kebe (Border Bulldogs/Southern Kings), Vincent Koch (Stormers), Edgar Marutlulle (Southern Kings), Malcolm Marx (Lions), Howard Mnisi (Lions), Oupa Mohoje (Cheetahs), Franco Mostert (Lions), Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks), Sergeal Petersen (Cheetahs), JD Schickerling (Stormers) Courtnall Skosan (Lions), RG Snyman (Bulls), Marcel van der Merwe (Bulls), Piet van Zyl (Bulls), Francois Venter (Cheetahs), Leolin Zas (Stormers).
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