Cheslin Kolbe excited for first taste of rugby against Barbarians in Cape Town
Image: BackpagePix
Having not played against the Barbarians before, Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe is excited about the prospect of facing them this Saturday in Cape Town.
There is no doubt that the flyer and his skillset would fit a Baabaas team like a glove should he play for them, but he will oppose the invitational side, known for their flair game, as part of the world champions at the DHL Stadium in the Mother City (5.10pm kick-off).
Conditions might not suit a running affair in the Cape winter, but the Boks believe they can adapt to what is asked of them to start the 2025 international season with a victory over their 'unknown' opponents.
#Springboks winger Cheslin Kolbe on their pre-season camp in Johannesburg and being taken to a 'dark place' by the Bok management as their prepare for the international season pic.twitter.com/nuJWMzbm4c — Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) June 23, 2025
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'I haven't played against the Baabaas before, but just watching them, they are a team that chucks the ball around on the field,' Kolbe said on Monday. "But they have quite a lot of experienced heads in their squad.
"I'm sure it's for a reason, to keep a bit of calmness amongst the chaos. By nature, we are competitive no matter the team we play for. I am sure it will be a good week for them. We must just stay focused and in our environment to prepare as well as we can for what is to come this weekend.'
#Springboks attack coach Tony Brown and Cheslin Kolbe discussing the intricacies of preparing for a team like the Barbarians ahead of Saturday's clash. pic.twitter.com/F26JtyWNlW — Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) June 23, 2025
According to Kolbe, the Boks vs Babaas clash looks like an exciting spectacle after he watched the two sides face each other in 2016, but he is not too bummed that they will treat it as a Test match. It means there will be little room for them to deviate from their game plan, as the Boks will look to set an early-season benchmark with their World Cup-winning blueprint.
He added that they were properly put through their paces by head coach Rassie Erasmus and the returning Felix Jones during their pre-season camp in Johannesburg over the last two weeks.
Kolbe, however, said it will aid the team looking at what awaits them for the rest of the year.
'It's great to be back in camp. We hadn't seen each other in six or seven months, so it was exciting to get together again. Being in Cape Town is a home away from home for me, so it's always great playing in the Mother City.'
He's had some matches in the Japanese League One competition against his fellow Boks but added that the domestic season primed him for what is waiting on the international scene.
The winger played against the likes of Kurt-Lee Arende, Kwagga Smith, Franco Mostert, Malcolm Marx, Damian de Allende, Lood de Jager, and Franco Mostert. Arendse's Dynaboars, Marx's Kubota Spears, and the trio of De Allende, De Jager and Mostert playing for the Wild Knights got the better of Kolbe's Suntory Sungoliath, the last match being a thrilling playoff game.
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