Erasmus hands two uncapped players Springbok starts against Barbarians in 2026 opener

Riley Norton and Carlu Sadie will earn their first Springbok caps when South Africa face the Barbarians at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday, with head coach Rassie Erasmus naming both uncapped players in his starting XV for the team’s first outing of 2026.

Norton, 20, captained the Junior Springboks to the World Rugby Under-20 Championship title last month and goes straight into the second row. He is joined in the starting lineup by Bordeaux-Bèglès tighthead prop Carlu Sadie, who was part of the club’s Investec Champions Cup-winning squad this season.

Siya Kolisi will captain the side, providing a familiar anchor of leadership around what is otherwise a relatively inexperienced matchday squad. At full-back, the one-cap Quan Horn gets the nod after injuries disrupted Erasmus’s original plans — Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is unavailable through injury, while Handré Pollard is occupied with the United Rugby Championship final.

Faf de Klerk is the most notable returning figure among the replacements, but the bench is otherwise light on Test experience. Uncapped trio JJ Kotze, Paul de Villiers and Vusi Moyo have all been named among the substitutes.

Preceding the main fixture, South Africa A will face Zimbabwe in a separate match led by Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick. That side is captained by Sharks flanker Vincent Tshituka, who shifts to the second row for the occasion. World Cup winner Lukhanyo Am is included at inside centre, lending some senior presence to what Erasmus has framed as a developmental exercise.

In a separate development, Sale Sharks lock Hyron Andrews is set to return to South Africa to join the Lions after the Johannesburg franchise secured qualification for next season’s Champions Cup.