The Springboks exploded their 2026 into life with 12 tries before a thrilled Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium crowd of 26 398 in Gqeberha, racking up a 80-31 victory (halftime 40-26) over the touring Barbarians.
The experimental line-up – featuring five uncapped players with two current Junior Boks among them – scored six tries in each half against the storied black and white hoops, who looked to give as good as they got.
The team led by former All Blacks scrum half TJ Perenara scored five of their own – three of them in a ten-minute burst in the first half while Bolk scrumhalf Grant Williams was in the sin bin – to ensure no one thought they had come just to make up the numbers.
They fought valiantly but could not live with the Boks in a second half that ended 40 points to five.
The BaaBaas showed real enterprise to come back from the low point of trailing 35-7 after just 25 minutes as the Boks burst into life, taking advantage of the tourists being reduced to 13 men for eight minutes. Perenara (dangerous tackle) and Miracle Faiilagi (professional foul) were yellow carded in quick succession midway through the half. -www.saru.co.za
- The Springboks exploded their 2026 into life with 12 tries before a thrilled Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium crowd of 26 398 in Gqeberha, racking up a 80-31 victory (halftime 40-26) over the touring Barbarians.
- The experimental line-up – featuring five uncapped players with two current Junior Boks among them – scored six tries in each half against the storied black and white hoops, who looked to give as good as they got.
- The team led by former All Blacks scrum half TJ Perenara scored five of their own – three of them in a ten-minute burst in the first half while Bolk scrumhalf Grant Williams was in the sin bin – to ensure no one thought they had come just to make up the numbers.
- They fought valiantly but could not live with the Boks in a second half that ended 40 points to five.
- The BaaBaas showed real enterprise to come back from the low point of trailing 35-7 after just 25 minutes as the Boks burst into life, taking advantage of the tourists being reduced to 13 men for eight minutes.
