Don Armand made his Super Rugby debut for the Stormers in 2012 when he replaced Nizaam Carr in the 75th minute in a victory over Western Force.
On Friday night the pair will be on opposing sides when Armand gets a starting berth in the England Saxons side that takes on Carr’s South Africa A team at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium (kickoff at 7.10pm)
What was perhaps the Harare-born Armand’s highlight of his career in the years he spent at Western Province between 2012 and 2013 came in the Stormers last match of the Australasian tour that year came by a stroke of luck.
Allister Coetzee’s Stormers had lost Bok Duane Vermeulen and Nick Koster to injury‚ and an SOS call was made to Armand‚ who had been playing Varsity Cup rugby for UCT Ikey Tigers that year.
While the former Maritzburg College and Sharks’ Craven Week player may have been warmly embraced by Carr when the substitution was made in Perth‚ it is unlikely to be an occasion of hugs and smiles when the pair line up on opposite sides of the tunnel when the SA A and Saxons make their way onto the park.
Both Johan Ackermann’s charges and Ali Hepher’s Saxons are keen to get the upper hand in the first clash of the two-match tour.
Hepher’s intentions are very clear – a win is what they are gunning for.
“We want to see a team that does not hold back‚” the Saxons coach said.
“[One] that is fearless in the way it puts itself out there‚ but is also very accurate‚ playing smart rugby with or without the ball.”
The Saxons coach has no less than seven England internationals in his starting XV‚ with one more on the bench.
The most capped international‚ Dave Attwood‚ who has played 23 tests for England will captain an experienced side with a mammoth combined total of 60 international caps against Oupa Mohoje’s side that features four Boks.
“We are really pleased with how the group is progressing together. We are developing the players‚ which is key to this tour‚ and we now want to see how they perform on the international stage‚” Hepher said.
While the battle between the old teammates Carr and Armand will be a thrilling battle to watch‚ more rousing will be witnessing what young Sharks flyhalf Garth April will be able to do against the experienced Danny Capriani‚ who has played 14 tests‚ in the combat of pivots.
The SA A team is:
Leolin Zas‚ Travis Ismaiel‚ Francois Venter‚ Howard Mnisi‚ Courtnall Skosan‚ Garth April‚ Nic Groom‚ Nizaam Carr‚ Oupa Mohoje‚ Sikhumbuzo Notshe‚ Stephan Lewies‚ JD Schickerling‚ Vincent Koch‚ Scarra Ntubeni‚ Thomas du Toit. Replacements: Malcolm Marx‚ Lizo Gqoboka‚ Coenie Oosthuizen‚ RG Snyman‚ Jean-Luc du Preez‚ Piet van Zyl‚ Francois Brummer‚ Lukhanyo Am.
The England Saxons side is:
Mike Haley‚ Alex Lewington‚ Nick Tompkins‚ Ollie Devoto‚ Semesa Rokoduguni‚ Danny Capriani‚ Dan Robson; Sam Jones‚ Matt Kvesic‚ Don Armand‚ Charlie Ewels‚ Dave Attwood‚ Kieran Brookes‚ Tommy Taylor‚ Alec Hepburn. Replacements: George McGuigan‚ Ross Harrison‚ Jake Cooper-Woolley‚ Mitch Lees‚ Dave Ewers‚ Micky Young‚ Sam James‚ Christian Wade
Friends become foes as battle lines drawn between SA A and England Saxons
Don Armand made his Super Rugby debut for the Stormers in 2012 when he replaced Nizaam Carr in the 75th minute in a victory over Western Force.
On Friday night the pair will be on opposing sides when Armand gets a starting berth in the England Saxons side that takes on Carr’s South Africa A team at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium (kickoff at 7.10pm)
What was perhaps the Harare-born Armand’s highlight of his career in the years he spent at Western Province between 2012 and 2013 came in the Stormers last match of the Australasian tour that year came by a stroke of luck.
Allister Coetzee’s Stormers had lost Bok Duane Vermeulen and Nick Koster to injury‚ and an SOS call was made to Armand‚ who had been playing Varsity Cup rugby for UCT Ikey Tigers that year.
While the former Maritzburg College and Sharks’ Craven Week player may have been warmly embraced by Carr when the substitution was made in Perth‚ it is unlikely to be an occasion of hugs and smiles when the pair line up on opposite sides of the tunnel when the SA A and Saxons make their way onto the park.
Both Johan Ackermann’s charges and Ali Hepher’s Saxons are keen to get the upper hand in the first clash of the two-match tour.
Hepher’s intentions are very clear – a win is what they are gunning for.
“We want to see a team that does not hold back‚” the Saxons coach said.
“[One] that is fearless in the way it puts itself out there‚ but is also very accurate‚ playing smart rugby with or without the ball.”
The Saxons coach has no less than seven England internationals in his starting XV‚ with one more on the bench.
The most capped international‚ Dave Attwood‚ who has played 23 tests for England will captain an experienced side with a mammoth combined total of 60 international caps against Oupa Mohoje’s side that features four Boks.
“We are really pleased with how the group is progressing together. We are developing the players‚ which is key to this tour‚ and we now want to see how they perform on the international stage‚” Hepher said.
While the battle between the old teammates Carr and Armand will be a thrilling battle to watch‚ more rousing will be witnessing what young Sharks flyhalf Garth April will be able to do against the experienced Danny Capriani‚ who has played 14 tests‚ in the combat of pivots.
The SA A team is:
Leolin Zas‚ Travis Ismaiel‚ Francois Venter‚ Howard Mnisi‚ Courtnall Skosan‚ Garth April‚ Nic Groom‚ Nizaam Carr‚ Oupa Mohoje‚ Sikhumbuzo Notshe‚ Stephan Lewies‚ JD Schickerling‚ Vincent Koch‚ Scarra Ntubeni‚ Thomas du Toit. Replacements: Malcolm Marx‚ Lizo Gqoboka‚ Coenie Oosthuizen‚ RG Snyman‚ Jean-Luc du Preez‚ Piet van Zyl‚ Francois Brummer‚ Lukhanyo Am.
The England Saxons side is:
Mike Haley‚ Alex Lewington‚ Nick Tompkins‚ Ollie Devoto‚ Semesa Rokoduguni‚ Danny Capriani‚ Dan Robson; Sam Jones‚ Matt Kvesic‚ Don Armand‚ Charlie Ewels‚ Dave Attwood‚ Kieran Brookes‚ Tommy Taylor‚ Alec Hepburn. Replacements: George McGuigan‚ Ross Harrison‚ Jake Cooper-Woolley‚ Mitch Lees‚ Dave Ewers‚ Micky Young‚ Sam James‚ Christian Wade
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