Boks target fast start to set the tone for 2026

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said on Thursday the matches between the Boks and Barbarians and the SA ‘A’ team versus Zimbabwe were vital to set the tone for the season as the team prepare for the Nations Championship and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in the coming months.

The Boks’ match against the BaaBaas (3pm) will be preceded by a clash between the SA ‘A’ team and Zimbabwe (12pm) at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on 20 June.

A large Springbok contingent assembled in Johannesburg on Sunday night to begin their preparations for the season and Erasmus was confident about the work the players have been putting in this week.

The Bok coach also praised Dave Wessels (GM of High Performance at SA Rugby) and Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foot for the good work they have done to prepare the SA U20 players for international rugby both on and off the field.

“We are fortunate to have individuals such as Dave and Kevin, who have helped us tremendously and for the work they have done with the bunch of young players coming through,” said Erasmus.

“A lot of them will get a chance against Zimbabwe and some may play against the Barbarians as we look to rest some players who have had a big workload this season.”

Commenting on what the objectives of those two matches will be for the coaching staff, Erasmus said: “We would like a good start to the season and like all teams, our objective is always to try to win matches. We face England, Scotland and Wales in the opening leg of the Nations Championship in July and then it’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, so it’s going to be tough.

“We have the same objectives for the Barbarians and SA ‘A’ games, and those are to get some players comfortable in the set-up and afford others valuable game time and also to implement some of the aspects of the game we have been working on.

“Both the Barbarians and Zimbabwe are sides one cannot analyse much and both teams will have quality players. The Sables are also going to the World Cup next year, so it will be a good challenge.”

Zooming into how the teams will train in the lead-up to the double-header, Erasmus said: “We’ll train together as a group until late next week and then have separate sessions with the teams next Thursday and at the captains’ runs.

“The SA ‘A’ team will also have operational, medical and technical staff but Mzwandile (Stick – SA ‘A’ head coach) and Deon Davids (assistant coach) will also be fully involved with the Springboks too.”

Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, who returned to the fold for the first time since facing Georgia in July last year, was thrilled to be back in the Bok squad and to return to South Africa, where he will join the Toyota Cheetahs from Japan.

“It has always been my goal to give my best for my club and to prove myself to be at the Boks and I’m excited to be back in South Africa,” said De Klerk.

“There is obviously much less travel now, knowing that I’m going home to my family here, so I’ll continue to give my best and try to help the other players as much as I can.”

Erasmus also took the opportunity to wish Bafana Bafana well for their opening FIFA World Cup fixture against Mexico on Thursday night: “We are all excited about Bafana Bafana, and we’ve built up a good relationship with Hugo Broos (Bafana Bafana coach), so we wish them all the best and we’ll definitely watch the game tonight.”

Springbok squad (in alphabetical order)

Forwards: Phepsi Buthelezi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Paul de Villiers (DHL Stormers), Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Bathobele Hlekani (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Hanro Jacobs (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), JJ Kotze (DHL Stormers), Danie Kruger (DHL Stormers), Sibabalwa Mahashe (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Ntuthuko Mchunu (DHL Stormers), Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Riley Norton (DHL Stormers), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Oliver Reid (DHL Stormers), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Carlu Sadie ( Bordeaux Bègles), Emmanuel Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Liam van Wyk (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).

Backs: Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Stormers) Lukhanyo Am (DynaBoars), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Luan Giliomee (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Jurenzo Julius (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Imad Khan (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Markus Muller (DHL Stormers), Haashim Pead (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Zekhethelo Siyaya (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Nico Steyn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

Springbok fixtures 2026

International

Saturday 20 June: Springboks v Barbarians and SA ‘A’ v Zimbabwe (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha)

Nations Championship

Saturday 4 July: Springboks v England (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

Saturday 11 July: Springboks v Scotland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

Saturday 18 July: Springboks v Wales (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry

Saturday 22 August: Springboks v All Blacks (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

Saturday 29 August: Springboks v All Blacks (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)

Saturday 5 September: Springboks v All Blacks (FNB Stadium, Johannesburg)

Saturday 12 September: Springboks v All Blacks (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA)

Once-off Test

Sunday 27 September: Wallabies v Springboks (Optus Stadium, Perth)

Nations Championship

Saturday 7 November: Italy v Springboks (Venue TBC)

Friday 13 November: France v Springboks (Stade de France, Paris)

Saturday 21 November: Ireland v Springboks (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)

Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November: Finals Weekend (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London)