VC graduate's Test opportunity
FNB Maties star Juan de Jongh is set to become the Varsity Cup’s first-ever Test Springbok, after being named in South Africa’s matchday 22 for next month’s one-off international against Wales in Cardiff.
De Jongh, who played in the 2008 Varsity Cup Final for the title-winning Maties side, went on tour with the Springboks last year but did not play a Test match.
Now, however, the 22-year-old looks set to win his first Test cap – capping a superb rise through the ranks for him, at provincial and international level.
“It’s wonderful to get the opportunity again,” an understandably elated De Jongh told Sport24.
“It’s a new challenge and this time a Test, which is the real deal. I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”
De Jongh, the Man of the Match on Saturday as the Stormers progressed to their first-ever Super Rugby Final, is not the only uncapped Maties player in the Bok mix, with winger Gio Aplon and flanker Francois Louw also named in the Green & Gold starting line-up.
The Springboks will face Wales at the Millennium Stadium, in Cardiff, on Saturday, June 5.
The Springbok team: 15 Francois Steyn, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Butch James, 11 Odwa Ndungane, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 CJ van der Linde.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Meyer Bosman, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Bjorn Basson.
