All Blacks Telea, Frizell join Stormers lock Van Heerden in Barbarians squad for Springbok showdown
While former All Black captain Sam Cane was among the initial group announced last week – along with Irish legends Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray – the full 23-man group has a number of classy operators from yesteryear, as well as promising young talent.
One of the eye-catching recruits from coach Robbie Deans is ex-All Black scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow.
Previously of the Chiefs, Kerr-Barlow has starred for French giants La Rochelle in recent years.
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IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Springbok overhaul: Rassie Erasmus rolls the dice for must-win Aussie showdown
Double World Cup winner Handré Pollard must steady the Springbok ship at flyhalf in the second Test against Australia on Saturday in Cape Town. Image: BackpagePix The Springboks' Rugby Championship campaign could be over before it barely started if they fall to the Wallabies for a second weekend in a row. For that reason, head coach Rassie Erasmus decided to ring the changes and select his most experienced available side for the "deciding" match against the Australians in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon (5.10pm kick-off). Erasmus made 10 changes to the starting side that lost 38-22 at Ellis Park, bringing back several double World Cup winners to steady the ship as they anticipate a graft against the high-flying Aussies. Centurion Willie le Roux is back at fullback, while Handré Pollard will provide steadiness at flyhalf. At the same time, Damian de Allende retakes his midfield partnership with captain Jesse Kriel and Cheslin Kolbe slots in on the wing. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ That is a significant boost in experience for the backline, and their game management will be under heavy scrutiny after the faltering in Johannesburg. Up-front, there is a new lock combination in RG Snyman and Ruan Nortjé, behind experienced front -owers. V eterans Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager are set to make an impact as part of the Bomb Squad replacement bench behind the more inexperienced front rankers like hooker Marnus van der Merwe and Boan Venter. Some of the changes were forced due to injuries to regular captain Siya Kolisi, fellow loose forward Pieter-Steph du Toit and wingers Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe. Franco Mostert will step in for Du Toit, and Jean-Luc du Preez starts as No 8. 'We know what we did wrong last weekend, but it's easy knowing that. The difficult part will be to fix it,' Erasmus said, ahead of the Test. Only five players have been retained in the #Springboks starting team from last week as they look to bounce back in Cape Town 👊#ForeverGreenForeverGold — Springboks (@Springboks) August 19, 2025 'If we had all the answers to why things went wrong, it would be fantastic. It's been a while since we lost, and the game ran away from us in seven minutes. "It is not a lekker feeling when it happens. However, going through the first session on Monday, the answers started coming. 'When we did the attack today (Tuesday), more (answers) started coming. "Why we did it? "We were 22 points up and thought this was it, and then you get a shock and two or three concussions. That (the injuries) is not an excuse; it's on us. We lost Siya, Marco, Pieter-Steph and Edwill, and everything compounded. 'Then, all of a sudden, we are 14 points down, and they put the hammer down. As we went through the sessions, the answers came. Things came too easily at Ellis Park, and when it got bad, we could not handle it.' Erasmus says they hope it will be all smiles on Saturday evening with the experienced guys returning; however, they know it will take hard work to get back to winning ways. He added that having the likes of Kolbe, De Allende, Pollard, Le Roux, and Mostert back will provide some much-needed confidence to the side. But the only thing that matters will be getting their campaign back on track. 'Hopefully, it is all smiles on Saturday evening. I am one of the regular guys. When we win, I check social media, but when we lose, I don't. But then my mom sends a message saying, 'my son, I still love you, but don't read what the people are saying'. "It's not nice when we are losing. 'This smile I have is sort of an embarrassed one. It's tough, and we want to get things right. We wish we could've played on Wednesday already. 'We had those mini targets that bind the team together, where we wanted to beat them five times in a row. They had theirs to beat us for the first time in a long time at Ellis Park. They achieved theirs and we must now turn things around.'
The Citizen
3 hours ago
- The Citizen
Bok ‘bomb squad' is back as Erasmus picks Pollard, Le Roux to start
The Springboks have gone back to the 'bomb squad' to help them get back to winning ways against the Wallabies after a surprise defeat against the men from Down Under. The feared 'bomb squad' is back! Following last Saturday's second half implosion by the Springboks – having led 22-0 at one stage against the Wallabies at Ellis Park to lose 38-22 – coach Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to his starting XV and picked a 'bomb squad' with six forwards and two backs for the second Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Cape Town on Saturday. While there are several new faces in the starting team, mainly due to the unavailability of injured players Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe, the bench now also packs a real punch, with the likes of Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Kwagga Smith and Cobus Reinach to give guidance and provide leadership later on. But, young, rising stars Marnus van der Merwe (for Bongi Mbonambi), Boan Venter and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will bring energy and some X-factor to the match as well. In the starting team, Cheslin Kolbe slots in for Arendse, Canan Moodie replaces Van der Merwe, Jean-Luc du Preez comes in at No 8 for Kolisi and Franco Mostert gets the nod at flank for Du Toit. Other changes Other changes see Handre Pollard back at flyhalf, for Manie Libbok, Damian de Allende returns to inside centre to partner Jesse Kriel, who has been named captain for the match in the absence of Kolisi, while experienced fullback Willie le Roux makes his first appearance since running on for his 100th cap against Italy in Gqeberha last month. Aphelele Fassi, who started last weekend, and Damian Willemse, miss out completely this week. In the forwards Thomas du Toit comes in at tighthead prop, while a new second row partnership sees RG Snyman and Ruan Nortje link up. 'We lost four players to injury last weekend, which obviously had an impact on a few of our selections, but we also know where we went wrong against Australia last week, so we made a few changes that we believe will offer us what we need for this game,' explained Erasmus. 'Damian and Cheslin have also recovered from their injuries, and with their experience and knowledge of the Wallabies, it was a logical choice to recall them. 'We are determined to get things right this week. We are pleased with this squad, and we are all aligned on what we have to do to lift our standards this week.' Must win It is a must win match for the Boks, as a second straight loss would leave the fate of the Rugby Championship firmly out of their hands heading on a two match tour of New Zealand. The All Backs are favourites to pick up a second bonus point win over Los Pumas in Argentina, so it is imperative for the Boks to get back to winning ways, so that they can take some momentum into their tour and keep pace with their biggest rivals. Although the Wallabies haven't won in Cape Town since 1992, streaks are meant to be broken as they showed by winning at Ellis Park for the first time in the professional era, and first time since 1963. 'We don't believe in previous records and Australia showed last week that it is insignificant, so we are under no illusions that this match is going to be another proper grind,' said Erasmus. 'They also showed that they can fight until the end, so it will be vital for us to give everything until the final whistle this weekend. This match is essential for us to get our campaign on track, and we all realise the importance of ensuring that we do not make the same mistakes as last week.' Springbok team to face Australia in Cape Town: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel (capt), Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Handre Pollard, Grant Williams, Jean-Luc du Preez, Franco Mostert, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, RG Snyman, Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Bench: Marnus van der Merwe, Boan Venter, Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
TimesLIVE
3 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Rassie makes many changes to Bok squad for second Test against Australia
In response to the disappointing 38-22 loss to Australia at Ellis Park at the weekend, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has made wholesale changes for the second Test in Cape Town on Saturday. On Tuesday, Erasmus announced a team with 10 changes to the starting line-up to be led by centre Jesse Kriel with prop Ox Nche named vice-captain for the first time since his Springbok debut against Wales in Washington DC in 2018. Cheslin Kolbe, Damian de Allende and Bok centurion Willie le Roux are back in the team and the five players who will start for the second week in a row are Nche, Malcolm Marx, Marco van Staden, Grant Williams and Kriel. Kriel has taken over the captaincy from injured Siya Kolisi while Franco Mostert, Canan Moodie, Wilco Louw, Boan Venter, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Kwagga Smith and Cobus Reinach are the other players who will get another run against the visitors. Only five players have been retained in the #Springboks starting team from last week as they look to bounce back in Cape Town 👊 #ForeverGreenForeverGold — Springboks (@Springboks) August 19, 2025 Four players were ruled out of contention due to injury: Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe. The only change to Erasmus' front row was the inclusion of prop Thomas du Toit, who will pack down with Nche and Marx and there is a new lock pairing of RG Snyman and Ruan Nortje. Van Staden will form the loose trio with Mostert and Jean-Luc du Preez. In the backline the experienced duo of Kriel and De Allende reunite in the midfield for the 38th time, while Williams and Handré Pollard will partner at halfback. Kolbe and Canan Moodie are in at wing and Le Roux, who became only the eighth player in South African rugby history to earn 100 Test caps against Georgia last month, completes the backline at fullback. Erasmus named six forwards and two backs on the replacements bench, where Marnus van der Merwe, Venter and Louw will serve as the impact front row with the experienced trio of Etzebeth, De Jager, and Smith. The two backline players on the bench are the versatile Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Focused on the task at hand 🏉 #Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold — Springboks (@Springboks) August 19, 2025 Erasmus attributed the changes to injuries and strategic adjustments for the second Test. 'We lost four players to injury last weekend, which had an impact on a few of our selections, but we also know where we went wrong against Australia last week,' he said. 'So we made a few changes we believe will offer us what we need for this game. Damian and Cheslin have also recovered from their injuries and with their experience and knowledge of the Wallabies it was a logical choice to recall them.' Erasmus said they want to correct the mistakes of the past weekend and explained the inclusion of Venter and Nortje. 'We are determined to get things right this week. Boan got a taste of what it's like to face Australia last week and Ruan did well against them last year, while it will be good for a few other guys to experience playing against one the top teams in the world, especially as we continue to build our squad depth. 'We are pleased with this squad and we are all aligned on what we have to do to lift our standards this week.' Erasmus added he expects another physical battle from the confident Wallabies. 'There's no doubt they'll take a lot of confidence from their victory last week and especially since that marked their first victory at Ellis Park against us in the professional era. 'We are still hurting from that result and the coaches and players are disappointed with the way we played last week. We know we didn't play according to our standards in the second half and we must rectify that. 'We let ourselves and the country down, so we have all the motivation we need to make things right this week.' Springbok team to face Australia in Cape Town: 15. Willie le Roux, 14. Canan Moodie, 13. Jesse Kriel (capt), 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Cheslin Kolbe, 10. Handré Pollard, 9. Grant Williams, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez, 7. Franco Mostert, 6. Marco van Staden, 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. RG Snyman, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Ox Nche
