Springboks team: Five takeaways as focus firmly on Rassie Erasmus’ ‘untested’ playmaker while ‘new-look’ Bomb Squad set to explode
New Springboks fly-half Quan Horn and head coach Rassie Erasmus (inset).
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has named his matchday squad ahead of his team’s encounter against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on Saturday.
Ahead of their eagerly anticipated Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Erasmus has sprung some surprises for this warm-up clash with the famous invitational team.
Here are Planet Rugby’s five takeaways following Tuesday’s South Africa team announcement for the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium fixture.
All eyes on shock fly-half selection
While Erasmus sprung several surprises when announcing his matchday squad, few would argue that the selection of one-Test full-back Quan Horn as the starting fly-half for this encounter was the biggest shock.
With Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu injured, Handre Pollard preparing for the United Rugby Championship (URC) final with the Bulls and Manie Libbok rested, Horn will have big boots to fill as he gets the opportunity to call the shots as the Boks’ chief playmaker.
After making a try-scoring debut for the Springboks off the bench against Portugal, the 24-year-old has not represented the world champions again over the past two seasons.
That means Horn will be determined to make a big impact against the Baa-baas, albeit in a very different position with this being the first time he will wear the number 10 jersey in his professional career.
For several seasons, the untested back has shone on attack for the Lions and Erasmus highlighted his excellent distribution skills as a key reason for him being entrusted with the fly-half duties.
The Barbarians are renowned for their free-flowing style of play, and Horn’s selection could be an indication that the world champions want to take their opponents on at their own game.
Pieter-Steph du Toit in the spotlight upon return from injury
The double World Rugby Player of the Year is set to return to action in this fixture after being sidelined for more than six months following surgery on a shoulder injury sustained while on duty for his Japanese club Toyota Verblitz.
It was a case of deja vu for Du Toit, as he underwent surgery on the other shoulder last year, but made a full recovery and continued to be a vital cog in the Springboks machine as he delivered several outstanding performances for the world champions.
The seasoned campaigner’s excellent form at Test level resulted in him being nominated for the 2025 World Rugby Player of the Year award again, but it was eventually won by his Boks team-mate Malcolm Marx.
Apart from his shoulder issues, Du Toit has suffered several other serious injuries during his career. That includes surgery on both his ankles, two knee operations, a fractured sternum and acute compartment syndrome, which almost resulted in his left leg being amputated in 2020.
However, the 33-year-old has bounced back from all of the aforementioned setbacks and don’t be surprised if he does that again on Saturday and during the rest of the Boks’ 2026 Test season.
New-look Bomb Squad set to explode
Since their 2019 Rugby World Cup triumph, the Springboks’ replacements bench has become a key component of their ongoing success, particularly their back-up forwards who bring plenty of energy to the cause, especially during the latter stages of matches.
Erasmus has, once again, opted for a six/two split amongst the forwards and backs on his bench, but there’s a fresh look to his Bomb Squad.
The likes of Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Bongi Mbonambi and Kwagga Smith are not involved for various reasons, leading to the Stormers sextet of JJ Kotze, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Zachary Porthen, Ben-Jason Dixon, Paul de Villiers and Evan Roos taking over the bench duties.
Springboks team: Faf de Klerk returns as Rassie Erasmus includes five uncapped men v Barbarians
While Mchunu, Porthen, Dixon and Roos all have Test experience, and have done well when called upon for international duty, none of them have won more than 10 Springboks caps and that could be an issue.
But Mchunu and Roos are two excellent ball carriers and will be expected to give the Boks momentum off the bench. The former is also excellent in the scrums, and aspect of the game which Porthen also prides himself on, while Dixon has a high work-rate on defence and is a valuable source of lineout possession.
Newbies Kotze and De Villiers have also impressed for the Stormers during their run to URC semi-finals, with the former solid in the execution of his core duties while the latter is an outstanding breakdown exponent, hard grafter on defence and a willing ball carrier.
Big occasion for uncapped quintet
Although this fixture will not be an official Test, it will be against quality opposition with several experienced internationals in their ranks, and Erasmus deserves credit for making the bold call of fielding Riley Norton, Carlu Sadie, JJ Kotze, Paul de Villiers and Vusi Moyo in his matchday squad.
Norton and Sadie have been named in the world champions’ starting line-up, while the other three players are set to make an impact off the replacements bench.
Much is expected of Norton, who is the captain of the South Africa U20 side that will be in action at the Junior World Championship in Georgia later this month.
He has big boots to fill with the likes of Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager being rested and Snyman injured but will pack down alongside veteran lock Franco Mostert and the 20-year-old should emerge richer from the experience.
Meanwhile, it’s a similar situation for Sadie, who gets the nod at tighthead prop in the absence of the likes of the injured Frans Malherbe, Wilco Louw, who is on URC final duty with the Bulls and Koch, who is being rested.
Sadie has been one of Bordeaux-Begles’ stars during their triumphant Investec Champions Cup campaign and will be keen to transfer his club form to the international arena.
It’s already been mentioned what Stormers forward duo Kotze and De Villiers will bring to the party and they will be determined to do that.
Meanwhile, at 19 years of age, back-up fly-half Vusi Moyo is highly rated and showed his class with some fine performances for the Sharks during the latter rounds of their recent URC campaign.
Blessed with an excellent skill set, he will also be hoping to shine off the bench before he heads off to the Junior World Championship.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
Added responsibility for Cheslin Kolbe
While Horn got the nod as the starting fly-half, he is not a recognised goal-kicker, and with Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Pollard and Libbok not involved in the matchday squad, that responsibility goes to Kolbe, who will start in his usual position on the right wing.
The 32-year-old is renowned around the world as a genuine excitement machine and has proven on several occasions in the past that he can change the course of a match with his brilliant attacking skill set.
And while we are bound to see similar efforts with ball in hand against the Barbarians, it will be interesting to see how the added pressure of the goal-kicking duties affects his overall game.
Kolbe is no stranger to his new role as he has previously taken over the goal-kicking duties at Test level, during Jacques Nienaber’s tenure as Boks head coach, and delivered solid performances – something which he will be hoping to replicate on Saturday.