There will be three more FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Springboks on Saturday with Handré Pollard, Marcel van der Merwe and Teboho 'Oupa' Mohoje' set to makes their debut's for the national side against Scotland.
Former FNB UP-Tuks star Pollard, who was recently named the IRB World Junior Player of the Year after leading the Junior Springboks to the runners-up spot at the Junior World Championships in New Zealand, will start at flyhalf whilst Mohoje has been named on the bench.
Pollard has been earmarked for greatness since he guided the Junior Boks to the JWC title on home soil when he was still in school in 2012, and has gone on to represent the Bulls and Blue Bulls since featuring for UP-Tuks in their victorious Varsity Cup campaign last year.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said Pollard had always been part of his plans for the June Tests, but that his selection as SA Under-20 captain meant he could only join the squad this week.
"Handré is a very talented player and has a big opportunity this week, but he'll have Fourie du Preez's experience next to him, while he's played a lot with Jan Serfontein before. It's great to have the current and a former World Junior Player of the Year in the same backline," he said.
Former FNB UFS-Shimlas skipper Mohoje will become the first player to play Varsity Cup and Test rugby in the same year.
The all-action blindside flank, who can also play lock, was captain of UFS-Shimlas in 2013 and continued to play for them as they narrowly missed out on a Varsity Cup play-off spot this year.
Following the Varsity Cup, Mohoje was quickly drafted into the Cheetahs side and impressed with a few dynamic displays to be called up to the extended Springbok squad for the June internationals.
"'Oupa' still played Varsity Cup and Vodacom Cup rugby earlier this season before he got an opportunity to play Super Rugby for the Cheetahs because of injuries. He took his chance and now he's on the cusp of making his Test debut," said Meyer.
Tighthead prop van der Merwe also played for UFS-Shimlas back in 2010 and went on to play Currie Cup for the Cheetahs before being signed by the Bulls.
He has enjoyed a break-out season with the Pretoria-based Super Rugby franchise this year and will also take his place on the bench this weekend as back-up for the experienced Jannie du Plessis.
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen. Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Zane Kirchner.
