The Toyota Cheetahs will see three of their players in action for South Africa A when they face the England Saxons (England A) side in two unofficial test matches on 10 and 17 June in Bloemfontein and George.
The speedy winger, Sergeal Petersen, the Springbok flank, Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje, and the Cheetahs captain, Francois Venter, have all been named in Johan Ackermann’s squad for the matches against the very strong outfit from overseas.
The three had been earmarked for international rugby this season, along with the South African Rugby Player of the Year, Lood de Jager, who has been named in the Springbok squad for the Ireland series.
Petersen scored a stunning try on Saturday afternoon during the Cheetahs 31-24 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town. This has moved him up to 8 Super Rugby tries this season, the second most by a South African this season and just one behind the former Cheetahs wing, Lionel Mapoe, who is now at the Lions.
Mapoe has cracked the nod for the Springbok squad who have gathered in Stellenbosch this week.
Venter has been on the national selectors’ radar since at least last year and has even played for the Barbarians at Twickenham at the end of 2015, which was his first taste of international rugby. He might be a little unlucky not to have been named for the senior side. The series against the experienced English outfit will be an ideal opportunity to impress Springbok coach, Allister Coetzee, even further.
South Africa has no problem with the quality of midfielders at its disposal and the fact that Coetzee needs some experience in the backline, could be one of the major factors in Venter missing out to Mapoe, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel and Jan Serfontein.
Oupa Mohoje made his test debut in 2014 against Scotland and has represented the Springboks on nine occasions with eight of those matches being tests.
Injury has seen the former Shimlas captain missing a large part of the Super Rugby thus far, and had he not missed the majority of the matches, he may well have been in Coetzee’s setup for the series against the tricky and tough Irish.
There has been a rumour, and it must be emphasised that it’s not set in stone, that Mohoje is one of the contenders to skipper the SA A side against the Saxons.
The first match will be played at the Toyota Stadium on 10 June, with the second match taking place at Outeniqua Park in George on 17 June. Both these fixtures kick off at 19:10.
South Africa A squad for England Saxons series – Lukhanyo Am, Francois Brummer, Nizaam Carr, Jean-Luc du Preez, Thomas du Toit, Lizo Gqoboka, Travis Ismaiel, Ntando Kebe, Vincent Koch, Edgar Marutlulle, Malcolm Marx, Howard Mnisi, Oupa Mohoje, Franco Mostert, Coenie Oosthuizen, Sergeal Petersen, JD Schickerling, Courtnall Skosan, RG Snyman, Marcel van der Merwe, Piet van Zyl, Francois Venter, Leolin Zas.
Springbok Squad for Ireland series – Garth April, Ruan Combrinck, Damian de Allende, Lood de Jager, Faf de Klerk, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Nic Groom, Elton Jantjies, Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi, Jaco Kriel, Jesse Kriel, Patrick Lambie, Willie le Roux, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Lionel Mapoe, Bongi Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira, Lwazi Mvovo, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Scarra Ntubeni, Trevor Nyakane, Rudy Paige, JP Pietersen, Julian Redelinghuys, Jan Serfontein, Adriaan Strauss, Duane Vermeulen, Warren Whiteley. – MORGAN PIEK
