9 Toulon stars called up to face Springboks

Nine stars from European Cup champions Toulon have been included in a World rugby squad for a prestige match against South Africa on July 11 in Cape Town.

The invitees include former Springboks lock Bakkies Botha, who quit the Test scene last year, and fellow South African hooker Craig Burden.

Full-back Delon Armitage, winger David Smith, centres Maxime Mermoz and Rudi Wulf, prop Alexandre Menini, lock Ali Williams and loose forward Steffon Armitage have also been called up.

Toulon coach and former French national team handler Bernard Laporte will coach the World XV with ex-Australia boss Robbie Deans.

Flanker Louis-Benoit Madaule, who will skipper the invitation team, and fly-half Maxime Machenaud are other French stars selected, with more squad members to be named later.

Out-of-favour Springboks centre JJ Engelbrecht and former Australia scrum-half Luke Burgess have also been chosen.

The non-cap match kick-starts the South African countdown to the World Cup in England during September and October.

They then play Australia away and New Zealand and Argentina at home in a shortened Rugby Championship, and Argentina away in a non-Championship Test.

Twice world champions South Africa are in the same World Cup pool as Japan, Samoa, Scotland and the United States.
Source: AFP