Just when you think you’ve predicted his next move, Rassie Erasmus pulls off a classic tactical curveball. With a massive flyhalf vacuum hitting the squad ahead of the 2026 season-opener against the iconic Barbarians, the mastermind Springbok coach has named Lions fullback Quan Horn as his starting No. 10.
A brutal cocktail of circumstances forced Erasmus’s hand: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu remains sidelined with an injury, Manie Libbok is being actively rested following an intense domestic season in Japan, and Handré Pollard is fully tied up with his United Rugby Championship (URC) final commitments.
Instead of playing it safe, South Africa is about to witness the birth of a new utility weapon. If this high-reward experiment pays off, the Springboks will have unearthed an invaluable dual-threat playmaker perfectly engineered to unlock the team’s infamous 6-2 bench split.
The Ultimate Backing from the Bomb Squad
Stepping into the Springbok engine room is daunting for any one-cap player, let alone out of position. However, powerhouse center André Esterhuizen insists the squad has complete faith in the young fullback’s tactical evolution.
“He’s a very good player; he has a lot of skill and reads the game well,” Esterhuizen said. “He’s slotted into the No. 10 position very well at training, and he’s been working hard. With the support inside and outside of him, there are players who can help and guide him. I think he’ll be great.”
In Rassie’s Words: The Logic Behind the ‘Horns’
Erasmus made it clear that this isn’t a desperate scramble—it’s an intentional scouting mission designed for long-term depth.
“We know he can play 15, but if he can play 10 and 15, hopefully in the future that will help with a 6-2 split,” Erasmus explained. “Manie has played a lot of rugby recently, and we want to manage him properly. We also need to see Handré get through the URC final without injury. All of us as coaches really see something in him when it comes to 10.”
Team Lineups: Springboks vs. Barbarians
The matchday squads promise a spectacular, open-running festival of rugby, featuring a mouthwatering clash between the Van Der Merwe brothers on opposite wings!
| Position | Springboks | Barbarians |
| Fullback | 15. Aphelele Fassi | 15. Warrick Gelant |
| Right Wing | 14. Cheslin Kolbe | 14. Andrew Kellaway |
| Outside Center | 13. Jesse Kriel | 13. Virimi Vakatawa |
| Inside Center | 12. André Esterhuizen | 12. Alex Nankivell |
| Left Wing | 11. Edwill van der Merwe | 11. Duhan van der Merwe |
| Flyhalf | 10. Quan Horn | 10. Tomás Albornoz |
| Scrumhalf | 9. Grant Williams | 9. TJ Perenara (c) |
| Eighthman | 8. Jasper Wiese | 8. Miracle Fai’ilagi |
| Flankers | 7. P.S. du Toit, 6. S. Kolisi (c) | 7. L. Boshier, 6. G. Petti |
| Locks | 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Riley Norton | 5. Alex Moon, 4. Franco Molina |
| Front Row | 3. C. Sadie, 2. A. Venter, 1. O. Nché | 3. D. Rae, 2. E. Dee, 1. M. Vivas |
- Springbok Bench: 16. JJ Kotze, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Zachary Porthen, 19. Ben-Jason Dixon, 20. Paul de Villiers, 21. Evan Roos, 22. Faf de Klerk, 23. Vusi Moyo.
- Barbarians Bench: 16. Leonel Oviedo, 17. Oli Kebble, 18. Pedro Delgado, 19. Izack Rodda, 20. Liam McConnell, 21. Santiago Arata, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Tuidraki Samusamuvodre.
