The winter rugby fever is officially here. South African rugby fans won’t have to wait much longer to see who will pull on the green and gold for the first time this year. Springbok boss Rassie Erasmus and SA ‘A’ head coach Mzwandile Stick are putting the finishing touches on their squads ahead of this Saturday’s blockbuster double-header in Gqeberha.
The countdown to the official team selection has begun.
The Team Announcement Blueprint
Mark your calendars and set your alarms. The wait to find out who makes the cut ends tomorrow.
- Announcement Day: Tuesday, 16 June 2026
- Official Time: 15:00 (SAST)
- What to Expect: Simultaneous squad releases for both the main Springbok team and the SA ‘A’ side.
The wider squad will continue training in Johannesburg until Wednesday afternoon before flying out to the Eastern Cape. Once in Gqeberha, the group will officially split into their respective matchday teams ahead of Friday’s captain’s runs.
Prepping for an Unpredictable Double-Header
This Saturday’s YesPlay Cup matches at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium serve as the ultimate launchpad for a massive season, which includes a daunting July leg in the Nations Championship against England, Scotland, and Wales.
For the coaching staff, this weekend is entirely about testing tactical systems and building structural depth.
“We want to get players comfortable…” — 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.”
Commenting on the unique nature of their opponents, Erasmus added: “Both the Barbarians and Zimbabwe are sides one cannot analyse much, and both teams will have quality players. The Sables are also going to the World Cup next year, so it will be a good challenge.”
Squad Update: Lock Stocks Bolstered
To ensure the Boks have maximum power in the engine room, Stormers lock Adre Smith has officially joined the national camp in Johannesburg. Boasting over 50 caps for the Cape franchise, Smith’s late call-up follows his provincial teammate Ruben van Heerden, who was drafted in last week. The duo adds much-needed muscle to the second row with several players away on club duty or recovering from injuries.
The Crystal Ball: Predicted Lineups
While we wait for Tuesday’s 15:00 deadline, here is a look at the heavily rumored potential matchday lineups for both teams:
Springboks (Possible XV)
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
- Bench: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Andre Esterhuizen, 23 Lukhanyo Am.
South Africa ‘A’ (Possible XV)
15 Quan Horn, 14 Jaco Williams, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Markus Muller, 11 Luan Giliomee, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Vincent Tshituka, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Salmaan Moerat (c), 4 Riley Norton, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Boan Venter.
- Bench: 16 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 17 Oli Reid, 18 Danie Kruger, 19 Bathobele Hlekani, 20 Sibabalwa Mahashe, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Vusi Moyo, 23 Zekhethelo Siyaya.
