Springbok Watch: Players in the Spotlight v Barbarians

Asenathi Ntlabakanye

With Frans Malherbe ruled out of the season through injury, Rassie Erasmus will explore alternatives at tighthead, with Ntlabakanye getting the first crack as one of four uncapped players in the matchday 23 to face the famous invitational team.

Once regarded by many as nothing more than an overweight throwback to the amateur days of rugby, the 26-year-old has proven himself as the real deal at the Lions in the last couple of seasons.

Ntlabakanye has an impressive motor for a 140kg behemoth, regularly putting in industrious 60-minute shifts for his franchise. In addition to his power in the scrums and strength with ball in hand, he also has a knack for making huge hits on defence and has shaken off 18kg ahead of making his Bok bow.

Lood de Jager

It’s been almost two years since the last time the World Cup-winning lock ran out for the Boks. It was on July 15, 2023, that De Jager last featured for South Africa. It was a losing effort in Auckland, where the All Blacks triumphed 35-20 thanks to a fast start.

Now, after overcoming a string of injury battles, the 66-Test veteran will finally make his Bok comeback. The 32-year-old has enjoyed a low-key yet solid season for his Japanese club the Wild Knights and is itching to remind South African supporters of his class.

Vincent Tshituka

The other uncapped player in the starting line-up, Tshituka has been rewarded for his stellar form for the Sharks.

The Congolese-born loose forward, who’s also capable of playing lock, has been in the Springbok conversation for some time but only became eligible for selection when he received his South African ID last August.

An explosive athlete, Tshituka first made a name for himself as a standout for the Lions but has taken his game to new heights in Durban, where he recently scooped the Sharks’ Player of the Season award.

Expect to see him everywhere on Saturday, including in the lineouts, where he’s a master of stealing balls on the opposition’s throw-in.

Jean-Luc du Preez

Cameron Hanekom appeared to have the inside track to start the season in the Green and Gold No. 8 jersey before the United Rugby Championship Next-Gen Player of the Season suffered a hamstring injury in the Bulls’ 25-13 semi-final win over the Sharks.

Similarly, another contender – Juarno Augustus – picked up an injury during training days before the Northampton Saints’ meeting with Leinster in the Investec Champions Cup final, which has further delayed his first appearance for the Boks.

Du Preez, who won the first of his 14 Test caps in 2016, has made just three starts for the Boks, the last at flank in the 32-29 win over England in 2018, and last featured for his country against Argentina in 2023, so this is a golden opportunity for him to make a statement.

Morne van den Berg

After breaking through last year and making two appearances for the Boks, the first off the bench against Portugal in Bloemfontein and the second as a starter against the Wallabies in Perth, the Lions livewire continued his upward trajectory and was the best of the South African scrumhalves in the recently concluded United Rugby Championship.

The clash against the BaaBaas, who are known for their expansive, attacking style, is right in Van den Berg’s wheelhouse as he’s a natural-born sniper and playmaker. In Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, he has a like-minded halfback partner and the pair has the potential to steal the show.

Other players worthy of special mention are Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouche, who are in line to make their debuts off the bench.