Erasmus welcomes new blood in Springboks vs Barbarians match
Siya Kolisi will be leading the South African side
©PA
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has unveiled a strong 23-man squad to face the Barbarians at Cape Town Stadium on June 28, with a special focus on integrating fresh talent.
The match, though officially uncapped, will serve as the season opener and is being approached with the intensity of a Test match.
The squad features four uncapped players, with props Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Neethling Fouche, flanker Vincent Tshituka, and hooker Marnus van der Merwe all named. Ntlabakanye and Tshituka have been included in the starting XV, while Fouche and van der Merwe are set to make their impact off the bench.
The selection blends veteran World Cup winners with newcomers. Lock Lood de Jager returns for his first appearance since the 2023 Rugby Championship and will start alongside Jean Kleyn. Captain Siya Kolisi leads a seasoned forward pack that also includes Jean-Luc du Preez, Malcolm Marx, and Ox Nche.
In the backline, full-back Aphelele Fassi will be joined by wings Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, with the midfield pairing of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel offering both stability and firepower.
The half-back combination will feature Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at fly-half and Morne van den Berg at scrum-half.
Erasmus emphasized the importance of this fixture as a platform to test both new and returning players. The squad has been preparing together for two weeks in Johannesburg before heading to Cape Town.
Due to club final commitments, most players from the Bulls have only recently become available. Only Jan-Hendrik Wessels from that group was selected for this match, underlining Erasmus’s intent to give rest where needed and opportunities where earned.
South Africa’s international campaign will continue with back-to-back Tests against Italy on July 5 in Pretoria and July 12 in Gqeberha, followed by a clash against Georgia on July 19 in Nelspruit as part of the Castle Lager Incoming Series.
South Africa XV: 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, 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
Reserves: 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
