The top-ranked Springboks launch their 2026 international campaign against the Barbarians on Saturday, with head coach Rassie Erasmus warning his squad of the gruelling 14-match schedule ahead.
“We are under no illusions about the challenges that lie ahead,” said the mastermind who famously transformed the Springboks from what he called the “laughing stock” of rugby into back-to-back world champions.
The former South Africa loose forward inherited a side ranked seventh in the world in 2018 — a team that had lost to then-European lightweights Italy and were playing in front of half-empty stadiums. Under Erasmus, the Springboks captured the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup tournaments, won the last two editions of the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship, and climbed to the summit of the world rankings.
Erasmus has chosen just six of his established first-choice XV for the non-cap exhibition fixture against the Baa-Baas, including double World Cup-winning captain and loose forward Siya Kolisi.
The match serves as the curtain-raiser for a massive season that includes the inaugural Nations Championship, starting with home fixtures in July against England, Scotland and Wales. In August, arch-rivals New Zealand arrive for a historic first full tour of the republic in 30 years. The blockbuster tour features three Tests in South Africa, one in the United States, and four other fixtures.
One-off Tests away to Argentina and Australia will flank the All Blacks’ visit, before a November northern hemisphere tour takes the Boks to Italy, France and Ireland, ahead of the Nations Championship finals at Twickenham.
Squad depth is a concept Erasmus stresses often. Last year he aimed for “at least three options in each position”; he now talks of cultivating “five or six contenders”. While that might seem an excessively high number, the build-up to the Barbarians clash justifies his approach.
Scrum-halves Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg and Jaden Hendrikse are all sidelined through injury, while Embrose Papier is unavailable due to the Bulls’ United Rugby Championship final clash against Leinster.
Spreading the Net Wide
Thanks to Erasmus spreading his selection net so wide, there is no crisis regarding the number nine jersey. Grant Williams starts at scrum-half, with double World Cup winner Faf de Klerk providing experienced cover on the bench.
South Africa will field their premier back-row combination of Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese, while loosehead prop Ox Nche is the fourth first-choice starter named among the forwards. In the backline, world-class wing Cheslin Kolbe and outside centre Jesse Kriel both start. The absence of injured flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu hands versatile fullback Quan Horn a golden opportunity to direct play at flyhalf.
Two uncapped forwards — tighthead prop Carlu Sadie from European champions Bordeaux-Bègles and rising lock Riley Norton — are among those given a chance to shine, earning strong encouragement from their skipper.
“It does not matter whether you have played 100 Tests or not even one. It is all about embracing the Springbok culture,” Kolisi told reporters. “There are so many good players seeking to fill each position. Everyone wants to be in the matchday 23 and that creates tremendous internal competition.”
Kolisi added that the Springboks’ recent historic achievements are now irrelevant as a new cycle begins.
“Since the 2023 World Cup final, we have won 23 of 27 internationals, and congratulations to everyone connected with the Springboks for that achievement. But that is the past. Now, our focus is entirely on the future. Rassie has instilled a winning mentality and we must maintain it.”
South Africa also began last season against the Barbarians, romping to a 54-7 victory on a sodden Cape Town pitch. Another comfortable win for the world champions is widely expected in the windy city.
With the world’s top nations preparing for the July 4 Nations Championship launch, Barbarians co-coaches Scott Robertson and Felipe Contepomi faced restricted selection options. They did, however, secure the services of exciting Argentina fly-half Tomás Albornoz and giant South African-born Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe to provide some trademark Baa-Baas attacking flair.
AFP
