The World XV have named 5 Rugby World Cup winners in their starting line-up, alongside several more pushing hard for inclusion in this year’s tournament.
Andy Ellis, Andrew Hore, Ali Williams and Adam Thomson lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy for New Zealand in 2011, while captain Bakkies Botha was victorious with South Africa in 2007.
No 8 Pierre Spies is the other former Springbok to feature in the side to tackle Japan at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Saturday.
The above-mentioned players are joined by an Australian contingent who will be out to impress coach Michael Cheika as he finalises his squad ahead of next month’s global contest in England.
The likes of James O’Connor, Christian Lealiifano, Nick Cummins, Sean McMahon and uncapped wing Taqele Naiyaravoro are all involved against a Japan team ranked No 15 in the world under the guidance of Eddie Jones.
World XV coach Robbie Deans wants the veterans to finish their careers on a high while enhancing the chances of their team-mates to compete on rugby’s biggest stage.
“We’ve got a limited amount of time to prepare against a side who have been together for a long time but these are high quality players who have an opportunity to enhance their reputations,” said Deans, who coaches Japanese Top League side Panasonic Wild Knights.
“There are players who have won World Cups at the end of their careers and players pushing for places in very competitive national squads with the clock ticking. For both groups there is something at stake.
“Japan have a settled side and will bring a lot of energy to the match before they head to the World Cup. It should be a great game and we want to give them a really thorough test.”
Botha led the World XV against South Africa last month and with 85 international appearances is the most experienced Test player in a starting line-up boasting 617 caps.
World XV team: 15 James O’Connor (Reds & Australia), 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro (Glasgow Warriors), 13 Ben Tapuai (Western Force & Australia), 12 Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies & Australia), 11 Nick Cummins (Western Force & Australia), 10 Berrick Barnes (Panasonic Wild Knights & Australia), 9 Andy Ellis (Kobelco Steelers & New Zealand), 8 Pierre Spies (Kintetsu Liners, Montpellier & South Africa), 7 Liam Gill (Reds & Australia), 6 Adam Thomson (Reds & New Zealand), 5 Ali Williams (Unattached & New Zealand), 4 Bakkies Botha (Unattached & South Africa, Captain), 3 Carl Hayman (Unattached & New Zealand), 2 Andrew Hore (Unattached & New Zealand), 1 Benn Robinson (Waratahs & Australia)
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu (Waratahs), 17 Ben Alexander (Brumbies & Australia), 18 Petrus du Plessis (Saracens), 19 Luke Jones (Melbourne Rebels & Australia), 20 Sean McMahon (Melbourne Rebels & Australia), 21 Luke Burgess (Zebre & Australia), 22 Mike Harris (Melbourne Rebels & Australia), 23 Dom Shipperley (Melbourne Rebels & Australia).
Should be a win for the World team, look way too physical for Japan who will probably want to keep the game moving at a quick pace to try and tire the World team players out, not sure how fit many of those players will be.
Interesting to note Taqele Naiyaravoro is listed as a Glasgow Warriors player. There has been so much speculation about whether he will turn up or not and as far as I know he has not been in training with Glasgow yet, with all the uncertainty about whether he will play for Aus that has not been helped by Cheika not giving him a go in the Rugby Championship, or will he still end up in Fiji World Cup squad as a ‘2nd prize’ for him. Hopefully things get settled soon on this front and we see him turning out for Glasgow in the coming season as he seems a good strong player.
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