The Springboks kicked off their 2025 rugby season with a dominant 54-7 win over Barbarians FC at DHL Stadium in Cape Town. Full match recap and highlights.

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The South Africa Springboks opened their 2025 international campaign with a 54-7 win over Barbarians FC at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Springboks took control early, leading 19-0 at halftime. They added six tries in the second half.

Cheslin Kolbe was a standout in the match, playing a huge role in tries from Vincent Tshituka and Lood de Jager.

All eight Springboks substitutes featured after the break, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Manie Libbok all making their marks.

Damian de Allende scored in the closing minutes of the match.

Barbarians, featuring Sam Cane and Peter O’Mahony in their final professional appearances, got on the board late with a try from Melvyn Jaminet.

South Africa faces Italy next week to begin its official test season.

Recap the live updates, scores and highlights from the Springboks vs. Barbarians match, or subscribe to watch the game replay.

Boks Notch Commanding Win Over Barbarians

Final: South Africa 54, Barbarians 7

Damian de Allende scores at the death for the Springboks, adding another seven points.

But the result was all but decided by halftime, as the Springboks dominated the invitational squad Barbarians at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

In what was Sam Cane’s and Peter O’Mahony’s final professional rugby match, the SA squad shone through, scoring 54 total points.

Early tries from Cheslin Kolbe and Vincent Tshituka set the table for a brawny second half, in which the Springboks scored six tries.

Wessels, Arendse, de Jager and de Allende all scored tries, and Tshituka scored his second, backed by an incredible half from Kolbe, who looked like by the the best player on the field.

Watch Damian de Allende Score At Death

Watch Vincent Tshituka Second Try

Watch Melvyn Jaminet Try

Watch Lood de Jager Try

Vincent Tshituka Scores Again! – 69′

South Africa 47, Barbarians 7

A lot of credit goes to Cheslin Kolbe, who has been absolutely unstoppable today, but Tshituka takes it across the line.

The Boks continue to pile up points.

Manie Libbok makes the conversion.

Barbarians Score!  – 65′

South Africa 40, Barbarians 7

Melvyn Jaminet scores the first points for the Baabaas today as he pushes through Springboks tackles.

Jaminet makes the conversion.

Lood de Jager Scores! Boks Dominating – 60′

South Africa 40, Barbarians 0

The Springboks have not lightened up, and they continue to play on the front foot.

Lood de Jager gets the try this time, with help from Cheslin Kolbe, who pushed through for a strong line break.

Kurt-Lee Arendse With Brilliant Try – 58′

South Africa 33, Barbarians 0

Damian de Allende chipped it ahead and Kurt-Lee Arendse met it perfectly to take it across the line. Strong work from the Boks.

Libbok makes the conversion.

Watch Jan-Hendrik Wessels Try

Lachlan Boshier Shown Yellow Card – 53′

South Africa 26, Barbarians 0

Boshier is sent to the sin bin for head contact.

Crafty From Rassie Erasmus? – 53′

Jan-Hendrik Wessels Scores!

South Africa 26, Barbarians 0

Wessels comes on as a substitute and scores within a few minutes of taking the field.

Manie Libbok makes the conversion.

Boks are pitching a shutout.

Springboks Replacements Come On – 45′

South Africa 19, Barbarians 0

• Marnus van der Merwe on, Malcolm Marx off

• Jan-Hendrik Wessels on, Ox Nche off

• Neethling Fouche on, Asenathi Ntlabakanye off

• Cobus Reinach on, Morne van den Berg off

• Kwagga Smith on, Jean-Luc du Preez off

• Manie Libbok on, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu off

• Andre Esterhuizen on, Marco van Staden off

• Franco Mostert on, Jean Kleyn off

Josh Jacomb Linebreak Ends In Turnover – 41′

South Africa 19, Barbarians 0

Josh Jacomb pushing through a play gave Barbarians its best chance at scoring this game, but an errant pass ended the opportunity.

Second Half Begins – 40′

South Africa 19, Barbarians 0

South Africa kicks off to the Baabaas, and the second half is underway.

Springboks Vs. Barbarians Halftime Stats

South Africa 19, Barbarians 0

Possession:

Territory:

Tackles:

Lineouts:

Turnovers Won:

Turnovers Lost:

Halftime At DHL Stadium

South Africa 19, Barbarians 0

Barbarians came close to scoring at the end of the half, but a knock-on brought halftime.

South Africa has a healthy lead on the Baabaas.

Boks Maintaining Control – 33′

South Africa 19, Barbarians 0

Barbarians FC has made a few good plays, but mistakes have stopped the team in its tracks.

They are not quite a cohesive team yet, but there clearly is talent on the field for the Baabaas.

Watch Vincent Tshituka Try

Watch Cheslin Kolbe Try

Springboks Score! – 22′

South Africa 19, Barbarians 0

Vincent Tshituka pushes forward from the maul and scores. That is Vincent Tshituka’s first try as a Springbok.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu makes the conversion.

Baabaas Settling In – 21′

South Africa 12, Barbarians 0

After two quick scores by the Springboks, Barbarians FC has settled in a bit and found its footing.

Boks clearly taking this game seriously, as is to be expected against an iconic group like Barbarians FC.

Watch Jean Kleyn Try

Cheslin Kolbe Scores! – 10′

South Africa 12, Barbarians 0

Springboks take advantage of another razor-sharp Fassi chip, as Kolbe sprints ahead and gets the try.

A dominant start from the Springboks.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu makes the conversion.

Springboks Score! – 6′

South Africa 5, Barbarians 0

South Africa doesn’t take long to get the board.

Jean Kleyn gets the try.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu misses the conversion.

Springboks Lineout At 5m – 5′

South Africa 0, Barbarians 0

Fassi chips ahead, and the Baabaas have no chance but to hold it behind their try line.

Springboks Start Their Attack – 2′

South Africa 0, Barbarians 0

After a few penalties, the Boks start their attack and then turn over the ball to Barbarians.

A lot of starts and stops to begin with. Barbarians has a line-out near the 22m line.

Any early Boks scrum absolutely dominated the Baabaas, with Ox Nche overpowering.

Game Begins – 0′

South Africa 0, Barbarians 0

The international rugby test season is underway (despite this game being between an invitational team and a national team).

The Qatar Airways Cup is up for grabs today. It’s a full house at DHL Stadium.

Let’s go.

Teams Taking The Field

Jesse Kriel is captaining the Springboks today, as Siya Kolisi is a scratch.

The Springboks have not beaten Barbarians FC since 2000.

Five Minutes Until Gametime

Are you as stoked as I am for this game? If you’re reading this, yes, yes you are.

30 Minutes Until Gametime

Barbarians Prepping In Shadow Of DHL

What Is The Barbarians Rugby Team?

• Invitation-only squads blending legends and rising stars

• Multi-national by design, no contracts, no home ground

• Built on attacking flair, fun, and sportsmanship over results

• Players wear their club socks under the iconic black-and-white jersey

Short, social build-ups with a spirit rooted in rugby’s amateur tradition

Boks Arrive At DHL Stadium

Siya Kolisi To Miss Barbarians Match

South Africa Springboks Vs. Barbarians Kick Off Time

The match between South Africa Springboks and Barbarians kicks off at 11 a.m. ET on June 28.

South Africa Springboks Lineup

1. Ox Nche

2. Malcolm Marx

3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye

4. Jean Kleyn

5. Lood de Jager

6. Marco van Staden

7. Vincent Tshituka

8. Jean-Luc du Preez

9. Morne van den Berg

10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

11. Kurt-Lee Arendse

12. Damian de Allende

13. Jesse Kriel

14. Cheslin Kolbe

15. Aphelele Fassi

Substitutes: 16. Marnus van der Merwe, 17. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18. Neethling Fouche, 19. Franco Mostert, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. Manie Libbok, 23. Andre Esterhuizen

Barbarians Lineup

1. Cian Healy

2. Camille Chat

3. Paul Alo-Emile

4. Ruben van Heerden

5. David Ribbans

6. Peter O’Mahony

7. Sam Cane

8. Shannon Frizell

9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow

10. Josh Jacomb

11. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

12. Peter Umaga-Jensen

13. Leicester Fainga’anuku

14. Mark Tele’a

15. Melvyn Jaminet

Substitutes: 16. Ricky Riccitelli, 17. Hassane Kolingar, 18. Will Collier, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Hoskins Sotutu, 21. Santiago Arata, 22. Joe Marchant, 23. Lachlan Boshier

South Africa Springboks Fixtures 2025

June 28

July 5

July 12

July 19

Aug. 16

Aug. 23

Sept. 6

Sept. 13

Sept. 27

Oct. 4

Nov. 8

• 3:10 p.m. ET: France vs. South Africa

Nov. 15

• 7:40 a.m. ET: Italy vs. South Africa

Nov. 22

• 12:40 p.m. ET: Ireland vs. South Africa

Nov. 29

• 10:10 a.m. ET: Wales vs. South Africa

Nov. 1

Nov. 8

Nov. 15

Nov. 22

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Springboks Game Today

The South Africa Springboks take on Barbarians FC on Sunday, June 28 at 11:00 a.m. ET.

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