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Boks coach Rassie Erasmus
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named four uncapped players in his 23-player match-day squad for Saturday’s match against the Barbarians in Cape Town.
It’s the defending Rugby World Cup Champions’ opening match of the international season.
Tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye and flanker Vincent Tshituka have both been named in the starting lineup.
Hooker Marnus van der Merwe and another tighthead prop, Neethling Fouche, will feature alongside a few Rugby World Cup-winners and seasoned campaigners on the replacements bench.
Another notable inclusion in the starting team is Lood de Jager who’ll partner Jean Kleyn at lock.
De Jager last played for the Springboks in 2023 when he featured against the All Blacks in a Rugby Championship test match in New Zealand.
Many of Erasmus’ combinations are tried and tested. Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse join forces in the back three, with double Rugby World Cup-winners, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, the center pairing.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Morne van den Berg are the halfbacks. Erasmus opted for a loose trio of Jean-Luc du Preez, Tshituka, and captain Siya Kolisi, while Franco Mostert and Kwagga Smith will join up with Van der Merwe, Wessels, and Fouche as the replacement forwards.
The bench is a split of five forwards and three backs with Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok, and Andre Esterhuizen the replacement backs.
Big Lood de Jager is back to face the @Barbarian_FC along with four uncapped players named in the #Springboks squad for Saturday’s season opener in Cape Town 💪#ForeverGreenForeverGold
— Springboks (@Springboks) June 24, 2025
