South Africa face the Barbarians at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with Junior Bok captain Riley Norton and prop Carlu Sadie among five uncapped players in the matchday squad.
South Africa take on the Barbarians at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium with a squad containing 18 capped internationals and five uncapped players across the matchday 23.
The starting XV includes two players yet to earn their first Test caps: lock Riley Norton, who captains the Junior Springboks, and prop Carlu Sadie. The three uncapped players among the replacements are hooker JJ Kotze, loose forward Paul de Villiers, and SA U20 flyhalf Vusi Moyo.
The Springboks wrap up a week of Johannesburg training on Thursday and reassemble Sunday for Test-week preparations ahead of their Nations Championship opener against England at Ellis Park on July 4.
Contepomi argues the Boks' real danger lies in their evolving balance between forward dominance and expansive attack — and flags sustained possession as the best way to exploit their defence.
Warrick Gelant, the only Springbok in the Barbarians squad for the June 20 clash against South Africa in Gqeberha, says he will not treat the match as a Bok trial, insisting the experience with the invitational side stands on its own merits.
Van der Merwe opens up on a brutal season of injury and form loss, and how a Townsend phone call — offering him the Barbarians gig against the Boks — has him targeting a Scotland recall for the Nations Championship.
Mallett argues Robertson's Barbarians role is about recovery, not reinvention — and expects the Boks to win comfortably in Gqeberha.