Erasmus names Springbok team to take on Barbarians

It is the week that many have been waiting for in South Africa. For the first time in 2025, South Africans will be able to see their double World Cup champions run out onto the field.

It isn't marked as an official Test as the Barbarians are an invitational side, however, this is an opportunity for Rassie Erasmus to give some fresh legs a run. Players that featured in the Premiership and URC final last week was not considered for selection.

Cape Town Stadium promises to have a carnival atmosphere, but you can almost guarantee, this South African side will be told in no uncertain terms to treat it as a test match.

We will also see a few new names in the green and gold, led, as usual, by Siya Kolisi.

Asenathi Ntlabakanye makes his first appearance and starts, one to watch on Saturday and in future. Vincent Tshituka and Morne van den Berg also start for the Boks.

Some players have not featured for some time due to injury, lack of form or simply too much competition, also get a run. That includes Lood de Jager, Jean Kleyn and Jean-Luc du Preez.

On the bench you will find Marnus van der Merwe, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Neethling Fouche, who complete a relatively inexperienced 'bomb squad'.

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 (captain)

5 Lood de Jager

4 Jean Kleyn

3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye

2 Malcolm Marx

1 Ox Niche

Bench:

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

Kickoff is at 17:00 SAST on Saturday, 28 June at the Cape Town Stadium