South Africa return to international rugby action in Cape Town on Saturday where the Barbarians provide the opposition.
POINTS LINE IS 55.5
Posted 28 June 00h26
It has been pouring in Cape Town and according to the latest forecast I have checked it may stop around kickoff. The field will be wet though and the points line is set at 55.5.
I would usually be an overs punter in this game but am going to let the conditions dicate my play and will bak the Barbarians to sore 19 points or less.
There is some under 20.5 on offer at 0.87/1 but I think the chances of exactly 20 points are so slim I will rather take a slightly bigger price and a point less. I can't see penalties being kicked which would mean 4 uncoverted tries to get to 20 points.
BET: 3 units Barbarians under 19.5 points at 9/10 at Hollywoodbets
KOLISI OUT, KRIEL TO CAPTAIN
Posted 27 June 09h42
Kolisi has been ruled out with Van Staden straight in, no betting impact expected
South Africa – updated: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (captain), 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 Marco van Staden, 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.
MONEY COMES FOR THE BOKS
Posted June 27 09h31
There has been steady support for South Africa in the betting markets, with the handicap moving from -13.5 to as high as -15.5.
We are still waiting for the points lines to be released (at least at the bookmakers I’ve checked). Unfortunately, from an entertainment perspective, the weather forecast for Cape Town isn’t promising — rain is expected to persist into Saturday.
Despite the 17:10* kickoff, conditions will be cold. While the wind is not particularly strong, it could still play a role in the match.
I’m going to hold off on getting involved until we see more markets, but I did notice the try scorer markets are out. I’ll take a speculative play on Malcolm Marx to score 2 or more tries at 5/1. Given the conditions, we may not see the free-flowing rugby we were hoping for, and the Boks could revert to their tried-and-tested tactics — with Marx conducting the bus from lineout mauls.
*For some reason I thought this kicked off at 15h00
My weekly betting newsletter will be sent out later today - hop on the mailing list here
BET: 1 unit on Malcolm Marx to score 2 or more tries at 5/1 (at Pokerbet).
EARLY BETTING
Posted June 26 08h29
WSB were out with an early handicap of -13.5 whih is holding firm at this point
Check out the Durban July runners, riders and the latest betting here
The Hollywoodbets Durban July edition of the Punters’ Challenge is the biggest yet with a guaranteed R750 000 up for grabs in addition to the R20 000 000 jackpot which will be awarded to the player/s who can pick all of the winners on the card
The Punters Challenge is a free to play competition. All you need is a Hollywoodbets account which you can open by clicking on banner below and enjoy a 15% deposit bonus from 27th June to 6th July. Then head over to the Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge website to submit your race day selections
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 (updated Siya Kolisi ruled out): 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (captain), 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 Marco van Staden, 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: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 5 David Ribbans, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Hassane Kolingar, 18 Will Collier, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Santiago Arata, 22 Joe Marchant, 23 Lachlan Boshier
The Betting
Average early show, subject to change and updated to be posted at the top of the article
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 will be posted at the top of this preview
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Subscribe to our free weekly betting mailer which will include our best and value bets below.
