The Southern Hemisphere team has been announced.
Gregan leads charity team
February 17, 2005
GEORGE Gregan and Brian O'Driscoll have been named captains for next month's Twickenham tsunami aid match between the southern and northern hemispheres.
Australian skipper Gregan heads a strong southern team which was named overnight, including three Wallabies, four Springboks and four All Blacks.
The team: Chris Latham (Aust), Rupeni Cacaunibuca (Fiji), Jaque Fourie (SA), Tana Umaga (vice-capt, NZ), Sereli Bobo (Fiji), Andrew Mehrtens (NZ), George Gregan (capt, Aust), Jerome Kaino (NZ), Phil Waugh (Aust), Schalk Burger (SA), Ifereimi Rawaqa (Fiji), Victor Matfield (SA), Carl Hoeft (NZ), John Smit (vice-capt, SA), Omar Hasan (Arg).
Coach Rod Macqueen will name his reserves later this week as he waits on the availability of some Samoan and Tongan players for the March 5 match.
Gregan got the nod ahead of All Blacks captain Tana Umaga and Springbok skipper John Smit.
"We are fortunate to have many leaders in the team and the players are very enthusiastic about the match," Macqueen said in a statement.
"We have assembled the best possible team to represent the south in what is sure to be an historic and entertaining match.
"We would like to thank the unions and also CEOs and coaches of the clubs and provinces who have released their players.
"They have recognised the magnitude of this cause and put the tsunami match ahead of their own competitions, for which they should be congratulated."
Gregan is joined in the team by Wallaby teammates Phil Waugh and Chris Latham, while Andrew Mehrtens, Carl Hoeft and exciting prospect Jerome Kaino complete the New Zealand contingent.
Last year's International Player of the Year, Springbok backrower Schalk Burger, Jaque Fourie and Victor Matfield are South Africa's representatives.
Fiji's flying wingers, Rupeni Caucaunibuca and Sereli Bobo, will give the northern defence plenty of problems and are joined by national teammate Ifereimi Rawaqa, while prop Omar Hasan is Argentina's sole contribution to the team.
Northern hemisphere coach Clive Woodward gave a hint on his plans for the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand later this year when he appointed O'Driscoll.
He will be joined in the northern hemisphere team by fellow Irishmen David Humphries, Paul O'Connell and Malcolm O'Kelly.
Chris Cusiter, Simon Taylor and Gordon Bulloch from Scotland have already been named in the north team.
"We have a fantastic group of players that are being invited to play and I am looking forward to choosing the starting XV," said Woodward.
"It is important to get a top quality team to sell out this fixture.
"Well done to Rod Macqueen on those players that he has named to participate in what will be a wonderful occasion for a great cause."
The proceeds from the match will go to the United Nations' World Food Program (WFP) to support its vital work in the long-term rebuilding of the Indian Ocean region devastated by the Boxing Day tsunami.
