Kolbe, Brown emphasise Test-match intensity ahead of Barbarians clash

As the Springboks gear up to face the Barbarians, assistant coach Tony Brown and star winger Cheslin Kolbe have made it clear they are approaching the high-profile fixture with full Test-match intensity and focus.

After winning the Rugby World Cup for the second time in a row in 2023, the Boks went on to win 11 of their 13 Tests in 2024, and Brown said the coaches felt they were in a better place this year in terms of the team grasping what they want to achieve compared to this time last year.

Saturday's match at Cape Town's DHL Stadium marks the first encounter between the Springboks and Barbarians since 2016, and it's the first time ever the teams will meet on South African soil, but Brown was quick to downplay any suggestion that the Boks were treating this like an exhibition game.

"It's definitely a different challenge to that which we've faced in the past because they have toppled some top teams, so it will be an ideal test for us at the start of the season," said the New Zealander.

"For us, this is like a Test match, and this means we need to perform to the best of our ability, and our coaching structures have to be right, so that we can live up to the standards we would like to see from our team."

Zoning in on what they expected from the Barbarians, Brown said: "They are renowned for their attacking rugby, and they are very unpredictable, so we have to be prepared for that and prepare as well as possible for the match."

Cheslin Kolbe, South Africa's Men's Player of the Year for 2024, was equally excited about the occasion.

"I haven't played against them, but from what I've seen, they are a good team with a lot of experienced players, so it will be important for us to stay calm and prepare as well as we can," said Kolbe.

With rain predicted for Saturday, Brown said it could influence the match, but he was comfortable that the Springboks would be able to cope with wet weather if that was indeed the case.

"It's obviously tougher playing attacking rugby in the rain, but we are an adaptable team," said Brown. "It might be tougher for the Barbarians given their style of play, but we feel we know what is expected of our players."

On a lighter note, Kolbe was thrilled to be back with his teammates for the international season and said: "It's great to be back. We haven't seen each other in six or seven months, so it was exciting to assemble as a group again. And then being in Cape Town is a home away from home for me, so it's always great playing in the Mother City."

The Springbok team to face the Barbarians will be announced at 12pm on Tuesday. The players will continue their preparations on Tuesday and Wednesday and take Thursday off to rest and recuperate before wrapping up their on-field preparations for the match on Friday with the captains' run.

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