Springboks open season with emphatic 54-7 win against Barbarians

The Springboks opened their 2025 season with a comfortable 54-7 win against the invitational Barbarians at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

The Boks scored eight tries to the one by the BaaBaas in an emphatic performance by the world champions from 2019 and 2023. The try-scorers were Malcolm Marx, Cheslin Kolbe, Vincent Tshituka (2), Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Lood de Jager and Damian de Allende.

The Boks were captained by Jesse Kriel after regular skipper Siya Kolisi was ruled out of the match with an injury on Friday.

There were four uncapped players in the Boks’ match-day 23, namely starters Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Vincent Tshituka, while Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouche played off the bench.

The BaaBaas were be captained by former Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony.

The Boks dominated all areas of the game against a completely outplayed Barbarians team. Lood de Jager and Kolbe were the standout performers for the Boks.

Rassie Erasmus’ team next play Italy next week, in the first of two Tests, before they take on Georgia.

Below is how The Citizen covered the match.

LIVE UPDATES: Boks v Barbarians

Live updates of the match in Cape Town will appear below. For the latest posts please refresh.

TEAMS:

Boks: Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel (capt), Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Jean-Luc du Preez, Vincent Tshituka, Marco van Staden, Lood de Jager, Jean Kleyn, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche. Bench: Marnus van der Merwe, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Neethling Fouche, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok, Andre Esterhuizen

Barbarians: Melvyn Jaminet, Mark Tele’a, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins, Josh Jacomb, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane, Peter O’Mahoney (capt), David Ribbans, Ruben van Heerden, Paul Alo-Emile, Camille Chat, Cian Healy. Bench: Ricky Ricatelli, Hassane Kolingar, Will Collier, Josh Beehre, Hoskins Sotutu, Santiago Arata, Joe Marchant, Lachlan Boshier

Issued on The Citizen (South Africa) by Jacques Van Der Westhuyzen | https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/rugby/springboks-v-barbarians-live-updates-28-june-2025/