Rassie Erasmus and Springboks need more bite from Barbarians in season-opener in Gqeberha

The Springboks will hope for a sterner examination from the Barbarians this year, if they secure that opening warm-up match in Gqeberha against the famous invitational side.

The clash, set to take place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in June, is expected to serve as the curtain-raiser to the Boks’ season ahead of the incoming Nations Championship series against England (4 July), Scotland (11 July) and Wales (18 July).

While it may be labelled a “warm-up”, head coach Rassie Erasmus will want far more than a comfortable run-out like last year when his side won 54-7. He will hope the Baabaas assemble a strong international contingent to truly put his Boks under pressure, while also creating that festival atmosphere for supporters in the Eastern Cape.

The memory of the 2025 duel with the Barbarians in the Mother City still lingers.

In a rain-soaked encounter in Cape Town, with the visitors struggled to assemble a full squad, the Springboks completely outplayed them. It was a useful game to give several fringe players and Japan-based stars valuable minutes ahead of the double Tests against Italy.

This year’s match will likely serve the same purpose, as the Japanese season ends in May and some players will have been without rugby for over a month by then. However, last year’s contest lacked the physical edge required to properly condition the world champions for what was ahead. It cannot be the same this time.

When the Italians arrived, they raised the intensity significantly in the first Test. They fought back strongly in the second half, unsettling the Boks at the breakdown and in contact. Their sharp work at the tackle area and the rucks placed the South Africans under sustained pressure — precisely the sort of examination the earlier Barbarians fixture had failed to provide.

That experience will not have been forgotten in the Bok camp.

If the Barbarians fixture goes ahead in Gqeberha, Erasmus and his squad will be looking for a genuine contest in almost every department — most importantly at the breakdown, on defence, and at set-piece time. The Springboks have built their recent success on dominance in those areas, and any rustiness will be exploited by stronger opponents.

After seeing their winning streak ended by Scotland in the Six Nations this past weekend, England will arrive in Johannesburg eager to reassert themselves. With just a year to go before the World Cup, they will have little to lose and are expected to play with freedom and ambition.

For the reigning world champions, being undercooked in critical areas such as the breakdown and defence could prove costly. A properly contested outing against the Barbarians could make all the difference between a slow start to the season and a statement performance when England come calling.

Meanwhile, Australia on Monday announced Perth as the venue for their 2026 Test against the Boks on September 27.

With the Greatest Rivalry in July and August series replacing the Rugby Championship this season, it will be the only Test between the two sides. That could open the door for Erasmus and his management to send an experimental squad Down Under ahead of the World Cup, giving greater exposure to fringe players.

* Leighton Koopman is Independent Media's senior rugby reporter and host of the Last World on Rugby podcast on our YouTube channel The Clutch