Siya Kolisi will captain the Springboks on home soil this weekend after Rassie Erasmus named his first matchday squad of 2026, with fullback-turned-flyhalf Quan Horn handed a surprise start at No.10 and scrum-half Faf de Klerk recalled for the first time since 2025.
The world champions face a star-studded Barbarians side at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday (3pm kick-off), the second half of a double-header that opens with South Africa 'A' meeting Zimbabwe at midday. Both are the opening fixtures of a season Erasmus has flagged as demanding, with the Nations Championship and the year-end series against New Zealand on the horizon.
For Kolisi, the venue carries weight. The Springbok captain was born in nearby Zwide and leads the side in his home city, anchoring a familiar loose trio alongside Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese.
Erasmus has gone close to full strength despite having no Bulls players available — that squad is preparing for the United Rugby Championship final. Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe and Edwill van der Merwe form the back three, with Jesse Kriel and Andre Esterhuizen in midfield and Grant Williams partnering Horn at halfback. The starting XV contains 18 capped internationals; the only two yet to make their Test debuts are Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton at lock and prop Carlu Sadie.
De Klerk, 34, who returns to South Africa next season with the Cheetahs, is named on a six-two bench that also includes uncapped trio JJ Kotze, Paul de Villiers and SA Under-20 flyhalf Vusi Moyo.
"We said from the outset that we wanted to give a few players returning from injury and others who have been playing overseas game time in this match, while at the same time exposing some of the younger players on our radar to top-class international rugby, and we believe this squad reflects those objectives," Erasmus said.
"We have been very impressed with the way the new players have jumped straight into action and grasped our systems and structures, and we are excited to see what they can do alongside some of our regular Springbok players, as we build for what will be a challenging season with the Nations Championship and Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series approaching."
Erasmus expects a typically unpredictable Barbarians outfit. "They have a group of exciting and experienced players in their squad, and they'll come out guns blazing and try to produce an entertaining style of rugby, which will serve as a good test for us," he said.
In the earlier kick-off, assistant coach Mzwandile Stick takes charge of a young SA 'A' side captained by lock Vincent Tshituka, with Lukhanyo Am, Phepsi Buthelezi and Neethling Fouche providing senior ballast against a Zimbabwe team that has qualified for the 2027 World Cup.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what this group of players can do against a determined Zimbabwe outfit, who have qualified for the 2027 World Cup, and will undoubtedly use this opportunity to test themselves against us as they prepare for the international spectacle," Stick said.
"The young players and uncapped guys have really slotted in well in the last week, and one can sense the excitement among them to take the field."
Both squads wrap up their training block in Johannesburg before travelling to Gqeberha, where the matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
