Willemse selected his original extended squad from five Vodacom Cup teams - the Falcons, Griffins, Griquas, Leopards and Pumas - although his starting line up includes players from just two of those outfits.
Just as McGeechan promised to choose his touring party on form, Willemse has done exactly the same when it comes to his final selection.
The Griquas have therefore been rewarded for their Vodacom Cup winning season as Willemse names 11 of their side in his team to take on the Lions.
Wilhelm Koch, who captains Willemse's Leopards, will skipper the invitational side, while five players with Super 14 experience this season are also set to play a key role in proceedings at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.
Fly-half Naas Olivier, scrum-half Sarel Pretorius, wing Bjorn Basson and back row Bees Roux have all played regularly for the Cheetahs in this year's Super 14, with centre Deon van Rensburg having featured for the Golden Lions in the southern hemisphere's premier club competition.
Royal XV: Russell Jeacocks; Egon Seconds, Deon van Rensburg, Hanno Coetzee, Bjorn Basson; Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius; Jonathan Mokuena, Devon Raubenheimer, Wilhelm Koch, Jacques Lombaard, Rudi Mathee, Bees Roux, Rayno Barnes, Albertus Buckle
Replacements: Pellow van der Westhuizen, Stef Roberts, Rynard Landman, RW Kember, Jacques Coetzee, Riaan Viljoen, Jovan Bowles
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