The SA ‘A’ team will face Zimbabwe in Gqeberha on Saturday at 12:00 (SA Time), and Luan Giliomee said he can’t wait to get going. He told the media on Wednesday, after the teams wrapped up their main preparations for the week in Johannesburg, that he is very excited about the challenges that await him at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Head coach Mzwandile Stick named Giliomee in a youthful, highly anticipated starting XV. He forms an exciting back-three alongside wingers Jaco Williams and Zekhethelo Siyaya.
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, and is not underestimating the Sables. He noted that since Zimbabwe is building toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup, they present 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.”