Champing at the bit to get going in Gqeberha

The Springboks and SA ‘A’ teams’ matches against the Barbarians and Zimbabwe in Gqeberha on Saturday signal the start of the international season in South Africa, and Andre Esterhuizen and Luan Giliomee can’t wait to get going.

The two versatile players are at different times in their careers but they told the media on Wednesday, after the teams wrapped up their main preparations for the week in Johannesburg, they are very excited about the challenges that await them at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

The national squad departed for Gqeberha on Wednesday afternoon and will complete their on-field preparations for their matches at their captains’ runs on Friday.

Both matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport, with the SA ‘A’ fixture against Zimbabwe kicking off at 12pm, while the Springboks will line up against the Barbarians at 3pm.

“It feels like we finished the season the other day, but we are very excited for this season to begin, and hopefully we can start it on a high” said the 32-year-old Esterhuizen, who will run out at centre for the Boks against the BaaBaas.

“Everyone is pleased to be in the squad environment and we’ve been training hard, so things have been going well.”

Speaking about facing a star-studded Barbarians side, Esterhuizen – who will man the midfield with Jesse Kriel – said the Boks are focused on playing their own game.

“It is a Barbarians match and people think it will be a loose game but the important thing for us is to stick to our processes as we do in every other game,” he said. “We are treating this encounter as a Test match and hopefully we can be successful.”

Esterhuizen will have a new flyhalf on his inside this weekend but the hard-running centre supported Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ decision to hand the No 10 jersey to Quan Horn, who usually runs out at fullback.

“He's a very good player and he has a lot of skill and reads the game well,” said Esterhuizen.

“He’s slotted into the No 10 position very well at training and he’s been working hard, so with the support inside and outside of him, there are players who can help and guide him and I think he’ll be good in that position.”

The 19-year-old Giliomee, who will run out in his third different team in green and gold this year after already representing the Junior Springboks and the Blitzboks, was very excited about the SA ‘A’ game in Gqeberha.

“I’ve been privileged enough to be in a lot of environments this year,” said Giliomee, who was named at fullback for the clash.

“Thankfully I'm still healthy and I can play in this Saturday's game.

“As a team, we’ve set standards for ourselves and obviously we have some goals in mind, but personally I just want to go out there and perform, and hopefully I can transfer the things I've learned in the last two weeks from the players and coaches onto the field.”

The talented youngster, who was named in the SA U20 squad last week for the Junior World Championship in Georgia, said they see Zimbabwe as a serious threat.

“They are going to the Rugby World Cup next year and their preparation has been good, while they are also striving to become a good rugby nation,” he said. “We don't have a lot of footage of them, so we want to focus on ourselves but we have a plan and we’d like to stick to that.”

Springbok starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Edwill van der Merwe; 10 Quan Horn, 9 Grant Williams; 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt); 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Riley Norton; 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Vusi Moyo.

Barbarian FC starting XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Duhan van der Merwe; 10 Tomás Albornoz, 9 TJ Perenara (capt); 8 Miracle Fai’ilagi, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Guido Petti; 5 Alex Moon, 4 Franco Molina; 3 D’Arcy Rae, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Mayko Vivas. Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Liam McConnell, 21 Santiago Arata, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre.

SA ‘A’ starting XV: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Jaco Williams, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Zekhethelo Siyaya; 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Haashim Pead; 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka; 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Vincent Tshituka (capt); 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Boan Venter. Replacements: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Siba Mahashe, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Jurenzo Julius.

SA ‘A’ v Zimbabwe @ Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha (12pm)

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron

Assistant Referees: Sean Muller, Dylen November

Television Match Official: Marius Jonker

South Africa v Barbarians @ Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha (3pm)

Referee: Morne Ferreira

Assistant Referees: Griffin Colby, Hanru van Rooyen

Television Match Official: Marius van der Westhuizen