Van der Merwe hat-trick headlines 12-try Barbarians rout in Port Elizabeth

The Springboks opened their 2026 international season with an 80-31 victory over the Barbarians at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday. Edwill van der Merwe claimed a hat-trick as the hosts ran in 12 tries, though the invitational side proved far more competitive than in last year's 54-7 defeat in Cape Town. The first half delivered non-stop entertainment before South Africa pulled clear in the final quarter.

The Springboks kicked off their 2026 campaign with a high-scoring 80-31 triumph over the Barbarians in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, with left wing Edwill van der Merwe completing a hat-trick in a 12-try performance that doubled last season's tally against the same opposition.

Van der Merwe crossed twice in the opening 40 minutes as both sides embraced the traditional Barbarians ethos, sharing 10 tries in a first half that tested defensive systems on both sides. Siya Kolisi released the wing for the opening score inside four minutes, and the hosts capitalised on yellow cards to TJ Perenara and Miracle Fai'ilagi to build a 35-7 advantage. Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese and Riley Norton added further tries before the Barbarians hit back through Virimi Vakatawa, Franco Molina, Andrew Kellaway and Perenara to reduce the deficit.

Momentum shifts in final quarter

The contest lost intensity in the third quarter before a late Springbok surge delivered 40 second-half points to match their first-half return. Van der Merwe completed his treble while Cheslin Kolbe, JJ Kotze, Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen and Zach Porthen crossed the whitewash. The invitational side, captained by Perenara and featuring Tomas Albornoz at flyhalf alongside the powerful midfield pairing of Alex Nankivell and Vakatawa, posed far greater threat than the team that succumbed 54-7 in Cape Town 12 months earlier, though contrasting weather conditions played their part in the shift.

Kolbe assumed goal-kicking duties but appeared to sustain a muscle injury during his first conversion attempt, a concern that may influence selection for the upcoming fixtures. Quan Horn started at flyhalf in an experimental selection, while the established back-row trio of Kolisi, Du Toit and Wiese underlined their continued value in the post-World Cup cycle.

Rassie Erasmus indicated after the match that the performance delivered many of the answers he sought, though the potential loss of another lock could prove a costly setback. The nature of that injury concern and its impact on forward depth will become clearer as the Springboks prepare for sterner examinations ahead.