VIDEO: Springboks put Barbarians on Test notice

It might look like all fun and games, but for the Springboks, this weekend’s match against the Barbarians is serious business.

A visit from the Barbarians usually comes at the end of a long, strenuous season, providing a festival spirit with conservatism thrown out the window.

However, this time the exhibition match will precede the Springboks’ July series, making it proper preparation for the matches against Italy and Georgia.

The Springbok team will have a few new faces in the line-up, but attack coach Tony Brown revealed that the Springboks will approach the fixture with the seriousness of a Test match.

Saturday will mark the first encounter between the Springboks and Barbarians since 2016, and it’s the first time ever the teams will cross paths on South African soil.

“The match is certainly a different challenge from what we normally would have,” the former All Black flyhalf, Brown, told reporters in Cape Town.

“The Barbarians have often knocked over some great sides over the years, so for us, the challenge is massive.

“It is exactly what we want for our first match of the year.

“We are preparing our players like it’s a Test match, and it won’t be Barbarians versus Barbarians – it will be Springboks versus Barbarians.

“So everything we do will be around how we play the game, how we play Test match rugby, and how we want to win the game.”

* Article continues below…

Brown admitted the Barbarians are unpredictable, which does complicate preparations.

“Barbarians is a famous side worldwide, and everyone knows how they play, what they try to do, and the style they aim to uphold.

“We are pretty aware of what’s coming – unpredictable rugby that is hard to prepare for.

“But if our awareness is high and we’re clear on what we’re trying to do, we can prepare as well as we can.”

The Barbarians head to Cape Town with some experienced campaigners, one of them being All Blacks captain Sam Cane.

The loose forward played alongside Cheslin Kolbe at Sungoliath in Japan.

Aside from Cane, other players like Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Cian Healy, and Shannon Frizell will also be eager to get one over the Springboks.

“There will certainly be some men who would like to perform against the Springboks,” said Kolbe, South Africa’s Men’s Player of the Year for 2024.

“I haven’t played against them [Barbarians], but from what I’ve seen, they are a team that just chucks everything out on the field. But they also have players with a lot of experience, and who will bring calmness among the chaos.

“But it will be important for us to focus and prepare as well as we can.”

The Springbok squad to face the Barbarians will be named on Tuesday.