The first Springboks team of the year has just been announced by Rassie Erasmus. Four players will make their debuts.
Four players are set to make their Springboks debuts against the Barbarians on Saturday, 28 July 2025.
Asenathi Ntlanakanye (Lions), Vincent Tshitshuka (Sharks), Neethling Fouche (Stormers) and Marnus van der merwe (Scarlets) will make their debuts.
DEBUTS FOR SHARKS, STORMERS, LIONS AND SCARLET STARS
Ntlabakanye is set to take the world by storm. The 150kg prop will pack down alongside Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche in the Springboks front row.
The Lions prop has made a mark on opponents with big carries and even bigger hits.
Meanwhile, Vincent has beaten his brother Emmanuel to the punch when it comes to his Bok call-up. The explosive and elusive Sharks loose forward starts alongside captain, Siya Kolisi and Jean-Luc Du Preez who packs down at number eight.
Van der Merwe and Fouche are the newest members of the coveted Bok Bomb Squad. The Scarlets hooker earned a surprise call-up to the training squad. Now, he is set to make his Springboks debut.
Finally, Fouche has been in the mix for a while now but has up until now he has never made it to a Bok match-day squad. However, that has is going to change with the powerful Stormers prop set to make his Bok debut on Saturday.
SPRINGBOKS TEAM TO FACE BARBARIANS
15 Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 11 caps, 35 points (7t)
14 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 40 caps, 111 points (18t, 3c, 5p)
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 79 caps, 90 points (18t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 87 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 24 caps, 90 points (18t)
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 8 caps, 52 points (14c, 8p)
9 Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions) – 2 caps, 0 points
8 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks) – 14 caps 10 points (2t)
7 Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – uncapped
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 92 caps, 60 points (12t)
5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 66 caps, 25 points (5t)
4 Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 7 caps, 0 points
3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Emirates Lions) – uncapped
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 76 caps, 105 points (21t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 39 caps, 0 points
Replacements:
16 Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets) – uncapped
17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 5 points (1t)
18 Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers) – uncapped
19 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 78 caps, 20 points (4t)
20 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 51 caps, 45 points (9t)
21 Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 39 caps, 70 pts (14t)
22 Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 19 caps, 98 pts (1t, 30c, 11p)
23 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 0 points
WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON RASSIE’S FIRST BOK SIDE OF THE 2025 SEASON? WHAT DO YOU LIKE AND WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
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