Both blockbuster matches take place this Saturday, 20 June 2026, at the iconic Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
- 12:00 (SAST) — Curtain Raiser: SA ‘A’ vs. Zimbabwe
- 15:00 (SAST) — Main Event: Springboks vs. Barbarians
Rassie’s Master Plan: Building Depth for the Nations Championship
With a brutal July schedule looming—featuring battles against England, Scotland, and Wales in the opening leg of the Nations Championship—Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is using this double-header to test the depth of South African rugby.
“We want a good start to the season…” — Rassie Erasmus
“We face England, Scotland, and Wales in the opening leg of the Nations Championship in July, and then it’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, so it’s going to be tough. Our objectives for the Barbarians and SA ‘A’ games are to get some players comfortable in the set-up and afford others valuable game time.”
- Erasmus also noted the unique challenge of the weekend, adding: “Both the Barbarians and Zimbabwe are sides one cannot analyse much, and both teams will have quality players. The Sables (Zimbabwe) are also going to the World Cup next year, so it will be a good challenge.”
Squad Update: Lock Stocks Bolstered
The Springboks are already fine-tuning their powerhouse pack. Stormers lock Adre Smith (who boasts over 50 caps for his franchise) has received a late call-up to join the expanded national squad in Johannesburg. He joins provincial teammate Ruben van Heerden, who was brought into the mix last week to ensure the Boks have maximum muscle in the second row.
The squad trains in Johannesburg until Wednesday before making the trip down to Gqeberha ahead of Friday’s captain’s runs.
