Springboks prepare for Test-like clash against Barbarians in Cape Town

The Springboks are treating the mid-year matches as four Tests, not a warm-up match and three Tests, as they start their international season against the Barbarians on Saturday in Cape Town.

While the duel with the invitational side holds no status, Bok assistant coach Tony Brown says they won’t fall into an unstructured game and are focused on staying within their game plan to start the year on a good footing.

That means the Baabaas can expect a forwards-centred clash against the world champions and looking at the predicted wet weather, the conditions might favour the hosts at the DHL Stadium (5.10 pm kick-off).

Brown, who was at the helm of the Boks’ evolution on the attack last season, is hopeful the forwards can lay the platform to allow backs like Cheslin Kolbe to show their flair. However, they won’t chuck the ball around blindly from the first whistle.

For the South Africans, it’s important to start this crucial season by laying a solid foundation in their first match of 2025.

“We see it as a Test match and we will play the game that way,” Brown said on Monday.

“The Barbarians are a famous side worldwide. Everyone knows how they play, what they try to do and the style they must uphold as a Barbarians team. We are aware of what’s coming. It is unpredictable rugby that you can’t really prepare for.

“But if your awareness is high in what they are trying to do, we can prepare as well as we can. It is definitely a different challenge from what we normally would have (at the start of the season). They have always knocked over plenty of great sides over the years.

“The challenge is massive and that is exactly what we want for our first ‘Test’ of the year. It won’t be Barbarians vs Barbarians; it will be Springboks vs Barbarians. Everything we do will be about how we play Test rugby and how we are going to win the game.”

Apart from Saturday’s duel, the world champions will play 13 other Tests this year as they step up their preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. This season will be critical for them as they continue to shift through talented youngsters to see how they will fit into the plans for the tournament Down Under.

However, it is also a watershed year for some of the double World Cup winners in the side to see if they will have the legs to make it to the next edition where the Boks will look to make it three trophies in a row.

According to Brown, the excitement levels are high ahead of the start of the season.

“Last year was a great experience for me. After two weeks of training (in Johannesburg) I feel we are ahead of where we were last year around how we want to play the game on defence and attack. The players understand what we expect of them. I am excited to get started.

“The (upcoming) games and results will show us where we are at as a team.”