4-time Rugby World Cup champions South Africa will kick off their season by internet hosting the Barbarians at Cape City’s DHL Stadium within the Qatar Airways Cup on Saturday.
The match towards invitational facet the Barbarians gives an ideal alternative for mastermind Rassie Erasmus to check out new mixtures, not solely within the entrance row however all around the area for the quantity one-ranked Springboks.
The 2024 season was a roaring success for Erasmus’s Springboks, with 11 wins and two defeats — each towards sides in addition they recorded wins towards (Eire and Argentina). South Africa additionally clinched their first Rugby Championship title since 2019.
Arguably, essentially the most important setback in an virtually good 2024 got here in a match they weren’t concerned in — the neck harm sustained by prop Steven Kitshoff in a September Currie Cup match for Western Province which led to his retirement from rugby early in 2025.
The Barbarians conflict shall be adopted by Assessments towards Italy (July 5 & 12) and Georgia (July 19) earlier than the Rugby Championship.
Key particulars:
Date: Saturday, June 28 at 5:10 PM CAT (3:10 PM GMT, 11:10 AM ET)
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape City
Referee: AJ Jacobs Learn how to watch: The match is out there on SuperSport.
Staff information:
There are 4 uncapped gamers within the Springbok 23 – together with beginning prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye and flanker Vincent Tshituka. On the bench, hooker Marnus van der Merwe and prop Neethling Fouche shall be hoping to put on the inexperienced and gold for the primary time.
Lood de Jager returns to the beginning lineup at lock following persistent harm issues since his final Springbok Check within the 2023 Rugby Championship. Pieter-Steph du Toit has recovered from his harm, however was not named within the matchday 23.
Erasmus has opted for a 5-3 break up, with scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, flyhalf/fullback Manie Libbok and centre Andre Esterhuizen the trio of backs.
The Barbarians have been final in motion in June 2024, beating Fiji 45-32. They’ve but to announce their beginning lineup on the time of writing, however have introduced a robust squad, together with Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden.
Baa-baas coach Robbie Deans has included seven All Blacks. Free forwards Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell and Hoskins Sotutu are joined by scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow, utility again Peter Umaga-Jensen, and wingers Leicester Fainga’anuku and Mark Tele’a.
Springboks:
Beginning backs: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg
Beginning forwards: 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen
Barbarians:
Forwards: Cian Healy, Will Collier, Hassane Kolingar, Paul Alo-Emile, Camille Chat, John “Ricky” Riccitelli, David Ribbans, Ruben van Heerden, Josh Beehre, Hoskins Sotutu, Peter O’Mahony, Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell, Lachlan Boshier
Backs: Tawera Kerr Barlow, Santiago Arata Perrone, Melvyn Jaminet, Josh Jacomb, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Mark Tele’a, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Joe Marchant
Stats:
The groups have confronted each other on eight events, with 4 Barbarians wins, three Springbok wins, and a draw.
South Africa have gained 15 of their final 17 matches.
