Saracens have included six South Africans and a Namibian in their starting XV to play the Sharks in London on Saturday, with another Saffa on the bench.
Steve Borthwick is captain and is partnered by England's SA-born second-rower Mouritz Botha. In the front row, England's SA-born tighthead prop Matt Stevens starts, and is joined by former Springbok hooker Schalk Brits and loosehead Richard Barrington.
Former Bulls and Namibia flanker Jacques Burger returns to the side to start in the No 7 shirt. He is joined by former Western Province loose forward Justin Melck and the experienced former Golden Lions No 8 Ernst Joubert in the back row.
At halfback, former Bok scrumhalf Neil de Kock is partnered by the English Premiership's record point-scorer Charlie Hodgson, while in the midfield, Argentina's Marcelo Bosch is joined by Fijian flyer Michael Tagicakibau to form an all-international centre partnership.
David Strettle starts on the left wing and is partnered by 2011 Premiership final match-winner James Short. USA fullback Chris Wyles makes up the starting XV.
South African tighthead prop Petrus du Plessis is on the bench.
The match kicks off at 4:15pm SA time and will be broadcast on SuperSport.
Saracens – 15 Chris Wyles, 14 James Short, 13 Michael Tagicakibau, 12 Marcelo Bosch, 11 David Strettle, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Justin Melck, 5 Mouritz Botha, 4 Steve Borthwick (c), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Richard Barrington.
Subs: 16 Scott Spurling, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Petrus du Plessis, 19 Tom Jubb, 20 Takashi Kikutani, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Sam Stanley.
VIDEO: Sharks excited for Saracens battle
Photo: Scott Heavey/Getty Images
