Boks kick off international season with clash against Barbarians in Cape Town
CAPE TOWN - The highly anticipated clash between the Springboks and the Barbarians has kicked of at the DHL Stadium in Green Point, Cape Town.
The match marks the start of the Springboks' five-month international season.
Saturday evening's game against the British-based invitational rugby union club, renowned for bringing together top players from various clubs and countries, serves as the curtain-raiser for the Boks' busy season.
The Boks' last victory over the Barbarians date back to December 2000 in Cardiff, where they secured a 41-31 win.
EWN spoke to Bok fans, all brimming with excitement to watch the thrilling encounter.
"My score prediction for this game will be Springboks 32, Barbarians, 14," said one fan.
"I'm sure the excitement is felt across the entire country, I'm just a little concerned with the wet weather that we're experiencing in Cape Town today, Go Springboks," said another.
"Glad rugby season is finally back, confident because you know we're playing on home turf, reigning world champions so I know the opposition is intimidated."
This Sprinboks-Barbarians clash is the first of two significant rugby fixtures to be hosted in Cape Town.
The Boks are also expected to do battle with Australia at DHL stadium on 23 August as part of their defence of the Rugby Championship.

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The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Joburg camp laid foundation for Boks' hammering of BaaBaas, says Kriel
Despite not being at their best the Springboks overwhelmed the Barbarians 54-7 in their season opener in Cape Town. Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in action during their season opening game against the Barbarians in Cape Town on Saturday night. Picture: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images Stand-in Springbok captain Jesse Kriel heaped praise on the intensity of the team's training camp in Johannesburg, that set the foundation for their thumping 54-7 season-opening win over the Barbarians in Cape Town on Saturday night. The Boks weren't even at their best, but easily dispatched the famed invitational side, chock full of experienced veterans, to get their 2025 international campaign off to a solid start. Kriel, who was handed the captaincy reins on Friday after the Bok management decided not to risk playing Siya Kolisi who was nursing a stiff neck, explained that they were fully prepared, even for the poor weather conditions that they had to face during the match. 'I am unbelievably proud of the boys and the way we played the conditions. The rain was coming down pretty heavy at some stages, so I am really proud of the game drivers for keeping us in the right areas and the boys for playing the conditions so well,' said Kriel after the match. 'A lot of credit must go to the whole management staff and the work put into the alignment camps. With all the players scattered around the world, they help everyone be aligned when they come into (pre-season) camp. So we get straight to work. 'We had a great two weeks of prep up in Joburg. I think it's some of the toughest training I've been through in a Springbok camp. So the boys really worked hard up in Joburg and I think it showed in the game. 'We got a few answers to what we wanted and I think we are looking good going into next week. Obviously we go back to the drawing board and start prepping for Italy.' Pulled off plan Utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who started at flyhalf in the game and put in an entertaining 44 minute showing before being replaced by Manie Libbok, said the team had pulled off their plan to perfection. 'It was great, there was a great atmosphere (in the stadium). We kind of stuck to what we wanted to do in terms of our structures, so it was a successful day,' explained Feinberg-Mngomezulu. 'It was a good match. It required some discipline to stick to our contestable kicking game and do our stuff. So it was a good experience, and they brought their traditional rugby, which was an awesome experience.' Hulking Lions prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye made his first appearance in the green and gold in the match, starting at tighthead, put in a solid shift during his 44 minutes on the field, and although it wasn't an official Test cap, he still admitted that it had been a special week. 'It was very special. The whole week I've been thinking about how wearing a Springbok jersey is something I have wanted my whole life, so to be able to do that in Cape Town was very special. The guys didn't put a lot of pressure on me and I was just able to focus on my job,' said Ntlabakanye.


The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
How serious is Siya Kolisi's injury?
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The Herald
an hour ago
- The Herald
Springboks batter BaaBaas in Cape Town
No 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, another long-time absentee from the Boks ranks, was full of honest endeavour. Perhaps predictably given the conditions, flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu delivered a mixed bag. Scrumhalf Morne van den Berg's intelligent use of the boot caged the Barbarians inside their own territory, while replacement Cobus Reinach injected energy and purpose after the break. Kurt-Lee Arendse was typically hawkish in eyeing opportunity, Kolbe played as if fit with all-weather tyres, while Fassi was full of the lustre that has characterised his season. Kolbe was electrifying in the second half. The visitors' scrum infractions started to mount in the first half as trimmed-down tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye made his presence felt in Bok colours. The Boks, however, did not maintain their grip in that facet and the tourists grew stronger as the first half wore on. Melvyn Jaminet opened the visitors' score in the 65th minute — but by then the tourists' baabaalas was well in the making. Scorers Springboks (19) 54 - Tries: Malcolm Marx, Cheslin Kolbe, Vincent Tshituka (2), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Lood de Jager, Damian de Allende. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Manie Libbok (5). Barbarians (0) 7 - Try: Melvyn Jaminet. Conversion: Jaminet.