The Springboks look set to launch into 2025 with a supersized pack of forwards as Rassie Erasmus takes aim at a historic clash against the Barbarians in Cape Town on Saturday.
As the Baa Baas prepare to play on South African soil for the first time, the world champions are in camp with a squad of 45 players and, according to Rapport, Erasmus will opt to field a pack that includes a debut for 150kg tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye and a recall for 115kg utility forward Jean-Luc du Preez.
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Lions prop Ntlabakanye impressed Erasmus during the 2024-25 season, starting 21 successive matches across all competitions. The 26-year-old caught the eye with his appetite for defence, boasting an 80% tackle-success rate and providing some of the most impactful hits in the Vodacom URC.
With the likes of Juarno Augustus and Cameron Hanekom not available to wear the No 8 jersey, Du Preez is expected to feature for the Boks for the first time since 2023, and he’ll have his work cut out for him against the Barbarians’ star-studded combination of Sam Cane, Peter O’ Mahony and Shannon Frizell.
Du Preez will reportedly be joined in the back row by another Bok rookie in Vincent Tshituka, with skipper Siya Kolisi at openside flanker.
While Erasmus may do some experiments in the pack, he’s likely to choose a strong backline from the established players in his squad like Jessie Kriel, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Cheslin Kolbe.
Erasmus is also expected to give Lions scrumhalf Morne van den Berg a start. The two-Test halfback made his debut against Portugal last season.
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