A flying Edwill van der Merwe celebrated a hat-trick of tries. (Photo: Charmaine Visser)
The Springbok three-point machine roared with opinion in Gqeberha on Saturday afternoon to overwhelm the Barbarians 80-31.
Yes, there were one or two defensive blunders, but 12 tries is the perfect start to a busy (and tough) international season.
Edwill van der Merwe achieved a hat-trick of tries and he might have had a fourth if Aphelele Fassi had not run high for TJ Perenara.
In addition, the promising Riley Norton was able to celebrate his first try in a Springbok jersey, while Quan Horn and Vusi Moyo passed the relay test.
Horn admittedly missed a few times on defense, but he showed that he can keep the scoreboard going with his creative play.
The first Springbok hattrick of the season goes to Edwill van der Merwe ????????????
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— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 20, 2026
Cheslin Kolbe lined up behind the kick cone and he was in the spot with nine of his set-piece attempts, while he also served as scrum-half when Grant Williams was sent off with a yellow card.
In the second half, new Bomb Squad members such as Paul de Villiers and Ntuthuko Mchunu also showed their mettle against the BaaBaas.
Yes, it wasn’t a ten-out-of-ten performance, but people, it’s nice to see the Boks at full speed with the ball in hand.
The Barbarians played with drive and passion (they make rugby look plain fun), but they are not England or New Zealand now. Still, the Boks’ foundation for success is well laid – one try at a time.
Let the international season begin!
Springboks: Tries: Edwill van der Merwe (3), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese, Riley Norton, Cheslin Kolbe, JJ Kotze, Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel, André Esterhuizen and Zachary Porthen. Goal kicks: Cheslin Kolbe (9) and Vusi Moyo.
Barbarians: Three: Andrew Kellaway (2), Virimi Vakatawa, Franco Molina and TJ Perenara. Goals: Tomas Albornoz (3).
Back with a ???????????????? ????????????
Faf de Klerk is over the try line in no time ????????
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— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 20, 2026
