Rassie Erasmus has named a formidable 23-man Springbok squad to face the Barbarians this Saturday in Cape Town, signalling the official start of South Africa’s international season. With Siya Kolisi leading from the flank and Lood de Jager making his much-anticipated return to the second row, the team blends experience with fresh talent.
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Four Uncapped Players Get the Nod
Erasmus has handed Test debuts to four players: props Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Neethling Fouche, flanker Vincent Tshituka, and hooker Marnus van der Merwe, with the first two named in the starting XV. “They’ve slotted into our systems really well,” said Erasmus. This strategic injection of fresh talent offers valuable depth ahead of the busy European Tests and Castle Lager series.
Springbok Starting XV
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, 8p)
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
