In front of a buzzing crowd in Cape Town, the Springboks made a powerful statement with a commanding 54–7 victory over a Barbarians outfit that simply couldn’t keep up. While unofficial in status, the match served as a vital tune-up for the Rugby Championship and the looming end-of-year tour to Europe.
It may have been just a warm-up on paper, but South Africa approached it like a Test. Ruthless, composed, and packed with both flair and forward dominance, the Boks looked sharp across the park — and that’s with several big names still watching from the stands.
Cheslin Kolbe was simply untouchable, Vincent Tshituka announced himself on the international stage, and a few bold experiments from the coaches (looking at you, André Esterhuizen at flank) seemed to hint at tactical surprises to come.
Here’s how the men in green and gold rated:
1. Ox Nché – 7/10
Gave the Barbarians tighthead a proper workout. A few scrums got messy, but nothing alarming.
2. Malcolm Marx – 8/10
Vintage Marx. Stole ball at the breakdown, hit his lineouts, and brought brute strength to the mauls.
3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye– 6/10
A steady if unspectacular outing. Did his job, though lacked the bite to dominate.
4. Jean Kleyn – 6/10
Quiet but reliable. Owned his lineout channel and worked hard around the fringes.
5. Lood de Jager – 8/10
Back in the Bok jersey after a long layoff, and looked like he never left. Scored a try and bossed the air.
6. Marco van Staden – 6.5/10
Physical, relentless, and clearly eager to impress in Kolisi’s absence. A strong shift.
7. Vincent Tshituka – 8/10
Two tries on (unofficial) debut and a barrel of strong carries. This was a breakout night.
8. Jean-Luc du Preez – 7/10
Started with real intent before a head injury scare. Returned briefly and looked solid.
9. Morné van den Berg – 5/10
Out of sync. Passing was slow, kicking lacked conviction.
10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – 6/10
Had his moments, but made basic errors not typical of him. Will want another go.
11. Kurt-Lee Arendse – 9/10
Lit up the game. Made defenders miss at will. But for one or two knock-ons, this was perfect.
12. Damian de Allende – 8/10
Hammered into tackles, carried hard, and dotted down. Exactly what you’d expect from the veteran.
13. Jesse Kriel (c) – 7/10
A shaky start, but credit where it’s due — grew into the game and led by example. Solid first stint as skipper.
14. Cheslin Kolbe – 10/10
Masterclass. score a try, big hits, dazzling footwork. Man of the Match and then some.
15. Aphelele Fassi – 6/10
Didn’t assert himself as much as hoped, but still showed glimpses of his attacking threat.
THE BENCH
16. Marnus van der Merwe – 6/10
Missed a few lineouts but balanced that with some strong ball-carrying late on.
17. Jan-Hendrik Wessels – 6.5/10
Crashing runs and a try gave him a highlight, but scrum time was mixed.
18. Neethling Fouche – 5.5/10
Struggled to settle in the scrum. Needs another chance to grow into the role.
19. Franco Mostert – 7/10
Steady, reliable, physical. Mr. Dependable once again.
20. Kwagga Smith – 6/10
Didn’t set the game alight, but his work rate in defense remains unmatched.
21. Cobus Reinach – 7/10
Quickened the pace immediately. Arguably the more effective of the two scrumhalves.
22. Manie Libbok – 7/10
All conversions slotted, some cheeky passes thrown. Looked sharp off the bench.
23. André Esterhuizen – 7.5/10
Wait — Esterhuizen at flank? Yes, and he handled it brilliantly. Strong carries, no fuss. Is this a new Rassie wildcard tactic?
COACH’S CORNER: RASSIE’S LABORATORY
Let’s be honest — beating the Barbarians won’t send shockwaves around the rugby world. But Rassie Erasmus will be quietly pleased. From depth-building to tactical flexibility, this game gave the selectors exactly what they needed.
Expect a different lineup against Italy, but don’t be surprised if a few of tonight’s stars — like Tshituka, du Preez — become regular features in the matchday 23.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Next up: Italy. Then it’s full steam into the Rugby Championship where South Africa will face the big dogs — New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina. But based on this showing, there’s fire in the belly and confidence in the ranks.
The Springboks are warming up — and fast.
What does each rating mean?
10 – World-Class: A flawless, unforgettable performance. Dominated every aspect of the game.
9 – Outstanding: Nearly perfect. Played a crucial role and made a big impact.
8 – Excellent: A top-tier display with strong contributions throughout.
7 – Very Good: Reliable and effective. Did the basics well with a few standout moments.
6 – Solid: Decent shift. No fireworks, but they held their own.
5 – Below Average: Mixed performance. Some good, some shaky.
4 – Disappointing: Struggled to influence the game. Too many errors or missed opportunities.
3 – Poor: Lacked composure and execution. Clearly off their game.
2 – Very Poor: Frequently exposed. A performance to forget.
1 – Nightmare: Completely out of sorts. Arguably cost the team.