Siya Kolisi and Vincent Tshituka have both stressed the competitive nature of Saturday's international double-header at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where the Springboks face the Barbarians at 15h00 and SA 'A' take on Zimbabwe at 12h00, with both matches live on SuperSport.
Kolisi was emphatic that the Barbarians fixture carries full Test weight in the squad's preparations. "For us, it's never a festival game, we see it as a Test match. We're representing South Africa, and some guys are getting an opportunity, so we want to ensure that everything we've worked on during the off-season is put into place," he said. With Nations Championship squad selection on the horizon, Kolisi noted the stakes are clear: "A lot of us are playing for positions in the Nations Championship squad."
On the Springbok forward pack's role, Kolisi was direct: "There's a lot of magic in the backline, and our job as a forward pack is to give them the best platform to express themselves. We've got a lot of experienced guys in the pack, and many players are hungry for an opportunity."
Tshituka, handed the SA 'A' captaincy for the occasion, described it as "an honour of the highest order" and will take the field alongside his brother Emmanuel. He was guarded in his assessment of Zimbabwe, who secured their place at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, warning against complacency. "There are a lot of guys in their squad who will be highly motivated and will be playing for opportunities and contracts. They'll definitely come out with that motivation, knowing they are going to the Rugby World Cup — there's a lot on the line for them."
Tshituka also flagged the quality of the younger players in the SA 'A' setup, describing their ability to learn quickly as particularly impressive.
For Kolisi, Saturday carries additional personal significance, with the Eastern Cape his home province. "It's always special coming to Gqeberha," he said.