Springboks take calculated risk against Baabaas as Lood de Jager finally makes his international return

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus sprung a few surprises with the uncapped players for the clash with the Barbarians on Saturday but selected an experienced side to try and lay a strong season-opening platform in Cape Town.

While they will approach the game at the DHL Stadium (5.10pm start) with a Test-match mentality, four uncapped players — two in the starting XV and two off the bench — will make their debut. The team also consists of four other players with less than 10 caps.

However, the rest of the side is stacked with World Cup winners. Judging by the experience they’ve gone with, 'the world champions should have no trouble putting the Baabaas away'.

The invitational side, finally to an almost full complement, assembled in Cape Town on Tuesday ahead of the duel.

Although not an official Test, Sharks loose forward Vincent Tshituka and Lions prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye will experience the Green-and-Gold for the first time.

Replacement tighthead Neethling Fouché and replacement hooker Marnus van der Merwe are the uncapped guys on the bench.

Erasmus explained on Thursday that they opted to bleed some new players, but with the strong blend of experience, they want to ensure they have a foundation as they head into the 2025 Test season in July.

Regular captain Siya Kolisi will lead the team in the opener.

“It’s a calculated risk in the sense that we know what guys like Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu), Krappies (Morné van den Berg, scrumhalf) and Fassi (Aphelele, fullback) can do when they are on song, but we need those experienced heads around them,” Erasmus said.

“The Barbarians came here to entertain. Sometimes you need a little bit of control on the side for that. With that inexperience at 9, 10 and 15, we felt that it was a calculated decision because we do have calm heads around them.

“We last played eight months ago and we’ve seen what happened to the British and Irish Lions recently against Argentina when they put a team together. Credit, though, must go to Argentina for that victory.

"Selecting just an experienced side to win this game would’ve been beside the point. We know we could’ve selected our most in-form side, but what happens in 12 months then (if they do not select inexperienced guys).

“We want a good start and that is why we selected this side. We would love to entertain, but we won’t fuel their fire.”

Erasmus is excited for the uncapped players to make their mark, while the return of Lood de Jager is another good sign for the Springboks.

The veteran lock last played almost two years ago, and he will partner Jean Kleyn in the second row. The Bok mentor confirmed De Jager would run the lineouts and restart his partnership with hooker Malcolm Marx after his long absence.

“Lood is a student of the game when it comes to lineouts. One positive for a 32-year-old body is that if you have such a long spell of injuries and illness, you get a break and you can focus on your personal life with family. But then your body also rests. He didn’t play 30 games in the last two years.

“It is kind of like a car that’s been parked in the garage. You don’t pick up mileage, but you will be a bit rusty. I am very excited for Lood. He thought it was all over (for his Bok career), and he won’t play again. But here he is and hopefully, he gets a good run”

Springbok XV

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. 

Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen.