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Captain Bakkies Botha (Jul/Aug 2015) Coaches Robbie Deans, Bernard Laporte | ||
The World XV is a rugby union team, typically composed of invited players from various countries across the world. Various World XVs have been arranged from time to time, often to take part in celebration and testimonial games, usually against national teams, but these have not been considered test matches by most nations.
Contents
History
Traditionally, the World XV side plays in various locations, often as the away team. They have played all the "big 3" southern hemisphere nations (Australia, New Zealand and South Africa), first playing South Africa in Pretoria on 27 August 1977. The World side included Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams, Willie John McBride, and Sandy Carmichael. A crowd of 65,000 watched as Morné du Plessis' South Africans led by 22-14 at half-time to eventually defeat the World XV by 45-24. During the match Argentinian flyhalf Hugo Porta came on as a replacement. Flank Theuns Stofberg added two tries to one each by Gerrie Germishuys, Hermanus Potgieter , Dawie Snyman, and Barry Wolmarans (on debut) for the Springboks. Four days later the World XV played Western Province at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. This time Porta started alongside Williams, McBride, and Carmichael, with Alan Sutherland facing off against Du Plessis. At 3.30pm coloured player Errol Tobias, representing the South African Federation, was on the reserve bench for the World XV, as he had been for the 2pm match between a Presidents' X and Western Province B. In 1980 and 1983, they played Argentina, where in the first match, that match was played at Ferrocaril Oeste, Buenos Aires. Argentina went into half time ahead by 16 points to nil and despite an excellent display in the second half by the World XV Argentina were able to secure a 36-22 win. The second match, went to Atlanta Stadium, Buenos Aires, where Argentina secured a second victory 28-20.
In 1989 a World XV, sanctioned by the IRB and funded by South African Breweries, played two tests against South Africa in celebration of the centenary of the South African Rugby Board (SARB). The Springboks won both, by 20-19 at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town and the second by 22-16 on September 2 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
In 1992, they toured New Zealand, playing three matches against the All Blacks in New Zealand. The first encounter between the two sides, ended in a 24–14 win for the World XV, the first time the side has won against a national team. However, New Zealand won the second match 54–26, World XV' biggest defeat, and the third match 26–15. The tour was to mark the centenary of the New Zealand Rugby Union in 1992. In May and June 2006 a World XV, sponsored by South African company Steinhoff Holdings and coached by Bob Dwyer, played three games - against Saracens in London, then against South Africa at Ellis Park and Western Province XV at Newlands. The latter match was a testimonial for former South Africa captain Corné Krige, who led the Western Province side. In December 2006, again coached by Dwyer, a Steinhoff-backed World XV played a South Africa XV at Walkers Stadium in Leicester, losing 32-7, in what was the first ever match a World XV side has played a national side at a neutral venue. This game was to mark the centenary of South Africa's overseas tours.
In 2008, World XV played one of the Six Nations Championship sides for the first time. They played a Wales XV side, which acted as a testimonial match for Welsh legend Shane Williams. In total there were 19 tries scored in the match, which was played at the Millennium Stadium, with Williams scoring the match winner as Wales won 65–57. Later in 2008, the World XV played a Coronation Tongan XV side, in a game to celebrate the coronation of Tonga's King, George Tupou V. Tonga won the match 60–26, beating the Colin Charvis captained side that included players from Australia, England, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and Wales.
In 2014, the World XV side led by Matt Giteau returned to South Africa for the first time since 2006, where the Springboks won 45–24. Coached by Nick Mallett, the team featured players such as James O'Connor, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Hosea Gear, François Trinh-Duc, BJ Botha, Carl Hayman, Steffon Armitage and Julien Bonnaire.
Squad for Japan match 2015
The World XV was coached by Robbie Deans for the match against Japan on 15 August 2015. They won the match 45 - 20, which was their greatest victory to date.
Note: Italics denotes the traditional uncapped player(s) - Bold denotes player(s) that have represented the World XV in previous matches Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.
Original World XV
Head Coach: Syd Millar