Springboks Pick Four Debutants To Face Barbarians In Cape Town Opener
Springboks Pick Four Debutants To Face Barbarians In Cape Town Opener
South Africa named four uncapped players to face the Barbarians in Cape Town, with Lood de Jager returning and Siya Kolisi set to captain the season opener.
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has named four uncapped players in his 23-man squad to face the Barbarians in Saturday’s Qatar Airways Cup match at Cape Town Stadium, marking the beginning of South Africa’s 2025 international season.
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Prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye and flanker Vincent Tshituka have been selected to start, while hooker Marnus van der Merwe and prop Neethling Fouche will make their debuts from the bench.
Erasmus described the fixture as a key opportunity to test combinations and integrate fresh talent ahead of the Castle Lager Incoming Series.
“This may not be an official test match, but we are approaching it as such,” Erasmus said Tuesday. “It’s a chance to see how some of the new players fare alongside more experienced guys, and we’re excited by the depth and energy in this squad.”
The match also will mark the return of lock Lood de Jager, who hasn’t played for the Boks since a lone 2023 appearance against New Zealand. He partners with Jean Kleyn in the second row, with veteran Siya Kolisi leading the team from the flank.
Injuries and scheduling constraints have impacted selection.
Players involved in the Vodacom URC and Gallagher Premiership finals — including RG Snyman and Handré Pollard — only joined the squad last week. Only Bulls forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels made the cut from that group.
Many of the Springboks’ proven combinations return.
The electric back three of Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse will be key, while World Cup-winning centers Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel anchor the midfield.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Morne van den Berg start at fly-half and scrumhalf, respectively.
Erasmus has gone with a 5-3 split on the bench, favoring forward firepower alongside van der Merwe and Fouche, Franco Mostert and Kwagga Smith, rounding out the pack replacements, with Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok and Andre Esterhuizen covering the backs.
The Springboks, who convened in Cape Town on Sunday after a fortnight of training in Johannesburg, will face a Barbarians side filled with international experience but short on preparation time.
Despite the lack of test caps on offer, Erasmus is not underestimating the challenge.
“Many of our players and coaches know the Baabaas well — I’ve coached them myself — so we know they’ll bring flair and physicality," he said. "We’ll need to be sharp."
Saturday’s game marks the first meeting in history between the Springboks and Barbarians on South African soil.
The teams last met in 2016 at Wembley Stadium in a thrilling 31-31 draw. South Africa holds a narrow historical deficit in the matchup, with three wins, four losses and one draw.
Kickoff is set for 17:10 local time (10 a.m. CST), with AJ Jacobs officiating.
The match will be broadcast live on FloRugby.
Following this fixture, South Africa will host Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and July 12, before taking on Georgia in Nelspruit on July 19.
Springboks Team To Face The Barbarians In Cape Town
15 Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 11 caps, 35 points (7t)
14 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 40 caps, 111 points (18t, 3c, 5p)
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 79 caps, 90 points (18t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 87 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 24 caps, 90 points (18t)
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 8 caps, 52 points (14c, 48p)
9 Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions) – 2 caps, 0 points
8 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks) – 14 caps 10 points (2t)
7 Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks) - uncapped
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 92 caps, 60 points (12t)
5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 66 caps, 25 points (5t)
4 Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 7 caps, 0 points
3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Emirates Lions) – uncapped
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 76 caps, 105 points (21t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 39 caps, 0 points
Replacements
16 Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets) - uncapped
17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 5 points (1t)
18 Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers) - uncapped
19 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 78 caps, 20 points (4t)
20 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 51 caps, 45 points (9t)
21 Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 39 caps, 70 pts (14t)
22 Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 19 caps, 98 pts (1t, 30c, 11p)
23 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 0 points
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