Transparency, transformation and a terrific seduction that screams world champions was all on show in the Springboks’ first week of the international season in Cape Town.
Yesterday’s non-international against the famed Barbarians FC at the Cape Town Stadium was all international in terms of the Boks’ team selections, preparations, media narrative and, most certainly, when it came to the match 23 of the sport’s most celebrated invitational club side.
There were 13 Kiwis on show at the stadium, which underlines the strength of New Zealand rugby. None of those 13 were picked for the All Blacks.
Robbie Deans, of Canterbury and Crusaders playing and coaching folklore, and Sam Whitelock — the most capped Test All Blacks in history, with 153 Test matches — were at the wheel of a team that only arrived in full in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus, having taken charge of the Barbarians against Argentina on one occasion, fully appreciates the power of a team that can get it right against any internationally settled combination.
Erasmus invited 12 South Africans, and it was this cohesion and familiarity that allowed the Barbarians to fight back from 28-7 down to win the match 38-35 in the final minute. Elton Jantjies’s snap drop goal proved decisive in the 79th minute.
Most famous doubles
Former Springbok player and coach Nick Mallett also led the Barbarians to the most famous of doubles, in beating the Springboks 26-20 at Twickenham and the All Blacks 25-19, also at Twickenham.
Mallett invited loads of Australians and New Zealanders for the win against the Boks, and loaded his invite wish list with Springboks for the 25-18 win against the All Blacks. Bryan Habana scored a hat-trick.
Breyton Paulse is also familiar with hat-tricks in these matches; the former Bok winger scoring three for South Africa against the Barbarians in the 41-31 win at Cardiff in 2000.
It is quite a remarkable statistic that, prior to kick-off yesterday, this was the last time the Springboks had beaten the Barbarians, having lost and drawn their last two fixtures.
The Barbarians have a special lure but, in this country, it is only about one team, and it is the one that wears green and gold, and four stars that represent four World Cup titles.
Prioritising transformation
Erasmus, on all fronts, did not disappoint. Transformation has always been his priority, dovetailed with winning matches, series and titles. Since 2018, he has won everything on offer for his back-to-back world champions and current Rugby Championship holders and winners of the 2021 British & Irish Lions series.
Historical form got a first bite of the 2025 Springboks selection cake, but consistent form in the United Rugby Championship and other global competitions, that include so many eligible South African players, meant four newbies were among the match 23 in Cape Town yesterday.
Erasmus, true to his belief in a transformed Bok squad, gave insight into his management style. His sharing was consistent with flyhalf Handre Pollard telling a British podcast audience that Erasmus was very different from other coaches, in that his priority was getting the best performance from a player — not being their friend.
There has never been an interest in Erasmus needing affirmation of a blood bond between himself and players or an expectation to be on any wedding invite list.
He confirmed in chats with the media that he steered clear of embracing or nurturing one-on-one friendships with the players, and that he did not invest emotionally in a player’s life away from the field.
Erasmus said getting that close could cloud issues in selection, and it could only be divisive in a squad context where every player knows he is there to win matches and titles for the Springboks.
Rugby performance is all that matters to Erasmus, and the collective of this will always come in the form of the most transformed Bok squads in the game’s history.
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