New Zealand Test centurion Sam Whitelock is set to tackle the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday, as head coach Robbie Deans’ squad for the historic clash takes shape.
He was spotted in a social media post arriving in the Mother City, along with fellow All Blacks Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Mark Tele’a and Hoskins Sotutu, and Uruguayan scrumhalf Santiago Arata and France hooker Camille Chat.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest All Blacks locks of all time, Whitelock holds the record for the most Test caps for New Zealand with 153, and is the second most-capped men’s international player ever.
The 36-year-old also holds the record for the most World Cup appearances (26) and has played in three finals.
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Deans’ team already includes Ireland legends Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray, and Kiwi loose forwards Sam Cane and Shannon Frizell.
The Boks will host the famed invitational outfit at Cape Town Stadium for the first time in the Republic. It’s the ninth meeting between the teams, and the first since a 31-31 draw at Wembley in 2016.
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Photo: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images