Starting XV for Carling Champions Match revealed, 2022 Currie Cup to kick off in January

The names of the 15 players in the starting team for the exciting Carling Champions Match – which was selected by fans of the Carling Currie Cup teams – were revealed on Thursday, with Bulls hooker Schalk Erasmus leading the way with the most votes from rugby supporters across South Africa.

The Champions Match will be played on Saturday, 6 November at Loftus Versfeld, where the selected team, to be coached by Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White, will face Kenya.

The match against Kenya is on 6 November at Loftus Versfeld. No less than nine Bulls players feature in the squad of 30 players after winning the title.

The 2022 Currie Cup is set to kick off on 15 January and be concluded with a final on 25 June.

The team for the Carling Champions Match is:

Props: Simphiwe Matanzima (Vodacom Bulls), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Cell C Sharks)

Hooker: Schalk Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls)

Locks: Reniel Hugo (Cell C Sharks), PJ Steenkamp (Sigma Lions)

Loose forwards: Arno Botha (Vodacom Bulls), Phumzile Maqondwana (New Nation Pumas), Nama Xaba (DHL Western Province)

Scrumhalf: Keagan Johannes (Vodacom Bulls)

Flyhalf: Brandon Thomson (Toyota Cheetahs)

Centres: Howard Mnisi (Toyota Cheetahs), Chris Smit (Toyota Cheetahs)

Wings: Stravino Jacobs (Vodacom Bulls), Werner Kok (Cell C Sharks)

Fullback: Sibongile Novuka (Vodacom Bulls)

Replacements (from):

Hooker: Chad Solomon (DHL Western Province)

Props: Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Aranos Coetzee (Toyota Cheetahs)

Lock: Reinhardt Ludwig (Vodacom Bulls)

Loose forwards: WJ Steenkamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marcel Theunissen (DHL Western Province)

Scrumhalves: Ginter Smuts (New Nation Pumas), Paul de Wet (DHL Western Province)

Flyhalf: George Whitehead (Tafel Lager Griquas)

Centres: Stedman Gans (Vodacom Bulls), Marius Louw (Cell C Sharks)

Wings: Tian Meyer (Toyota Cheetahs), Leolin Zas (DHL Western Province)

Fullback: Ashlon Davids (Tafel Lager Griquas)