South Africa return to international rugby action in Cape Town on Saturday where the Barbarians provide the opposition.
South Africa v Barbarians, Saturday 28th June, Cape Town, KO 17:10 (South African time)
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant Referees: Christopher Allison and Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Egon Seconds
Weather Forecast – Cape Town
South Africa:
This is the Springboks first action of 2025. They were last seen in the November internationals in Europe where they reeled off wins over Scotland (32-15), England (29-20) and Wales (45-12).
South Africa also landed the Rugby Championship title in 2024. They started with back to back wins over the Wallabies in Australia ( 30-12 and 33-7) and then beat the All Blacks in two close games on home turf, coming from behind on both occasions to win 18-12 in Cape Town and 31-27 in Johannesburg. Their only defeat came in Argentina where they went down 29-28 to Los Pumas but a round later they beat the same opposition 48-7 in South Africa to clinch the title.
The remainder of the Springboks mid year schedule comprises of test against Italy at Loftus on the 5th July and in PE on the 12th July and they will also face Georgia in Nelspruit on the 19th July. The Boks will bid to defend the rugby Championship title against New, Zealand, Australia and Argentina in August and September.
Barbarians
Robbie Deans takes charge of the Barbarians and Sam Cane will skipper the side. This will be the first time they have taken on the Boks in South Africa and Wembley Stadium in London hosted the most recent head to head which delivered a 31-31 draw in 2016.
In 2024 they beat Fiji 45-32 at Twickenham, in 2023 they went down 49-26 to Wales in Cardiff and in 2022 they turned England over 52-21.
Team News
South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morné 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 Nche.
Replacements: 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
Barbarians: tbc
The Betting
Average early show, subject to change
South Africa -13.5 points at 9/10
Barbarians +13.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
to follow
Bet: to follow
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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