South Africa are in action for the first time this year as the world champions welcome the Barbarians to Cape Town.

Rassie Erasmus has named a strong Springboks side, sprinkling in a few new faces among a spine of the team containing plenty of double World Cup-winners. Jesse Kriel captains the hosts after injury struck Siya Kolisi as they begin an intriguing period in which there will be plenty of chances for Erasmus to rotate, with Italy and Georgia their visitors in this British and Irish Lions year – after a highly successful 2024 followed another World Cup win at the end of 2023, South Africa will hope to continue their success.

The arrival of the Baa-Baas always brings a festival feel to proceedings, though there is plenty of talent lurking with the invitational side’s squad. Irish icons Peter O’Mahony and Cian Healy will make their final bows after announcing retirements, while former All Blacks captain Sam Cane has had a tussle or two with the Springboks in the past and may just have a point to prove.

Follow all of the latest from DHL Stadium with our live blog below:

South Africa v Barbarians

The teams run out onto the pitch in Cape Town. We’re not far off the Barbarians getting their first ever match in South Africa underway.

Ireland legend Peter O’Mahony leads out the Barbarians in his final-ever professional rugby appearance.

Meanwhile, Jesse Kriel captains the Springboks for the very first time. A special day for the 31-year-old centre.

South Africa v Barbarians

Here’s a reminder how the sides line up this afternoon

South Africa XV: 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye; 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Lood de Jager; 6 Marco van Staden, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez; 9 Morne van den Berg, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu; 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel (capt.), 14 Cheslin Kolbe; 15 Aphelele Fassi

Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith; 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen

Barbarians XV: 1 Cian Healy, 2 Camille Chat, 3 Paul Alo-Emile; 4 Ruben van Heerden, 5 David Ribbans; 6 Peter O’Mahony (capt.), 7 Sam Cane, 8 Shannon Frizell; 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 10 Josh Jacomb; 11 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 14 Mark Telea; 15 Melvyn Jaminet

Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Hassane Kolingar, 18 Will Collier, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Hoskins Sotutu,; 21 Santiago Arata, 22 Joe Marchant; 23 Lachlan Boshier

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu looks to avoid sophomore slump

It was a year of two halves for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in 2024, the Test newbie making an eye-catching start to his international career to seemingly seize the No 10 shirt through the Rugby Championship but then picking up an untimely injury – and seemingly frustrating Rassie Erasmus by not revealing the full extent of the issue. He thus missed the entirety of the November tour, which was a shame, but is back in a Springboks shirt today. With Handre Pollard still to come into the squad and Manie Libbok on the bench, there are options aplenty for Erasmus, though Feinberg-Mngomezulu perhaps has the highest ceiling as the South Africa coach looks ahead to the next World Cup.

English exiles feature for Barbarians

In a different world, or under different eligibility criteria, David Ribbans and Joe Marchant would be in Argentina right now with England – but while playing in the Top 14, the duo are unavailable to Steve Borthwick. The England boss has missed them, too, Marchant having really established himself during the 2023 World Cup before moving to Stade Francais and Ribbans providing the sort of tight five heft the side has occasionally lacked when George Martin has been absent over the last couple of years.

There are rumours that Marchant may be seeking a Premiership return sooner rather than later, though it is thought he still has a year to run on his deal in Paris. He’ll feature off the bench a little later.

Slimmed down Asenathi Ntlabakanye gets chance to impress

South Africa are hardly short of tightheads but there will be plenty pleased to see Asenathi Ntlabakanye get a go today. Even by prop standards, the Lions front-rower is giant – but he’s put in the work on Springboks scrum coach Daan Human’s farm to shed a few pounds and get into a little bit better shape. Ntalabakanye is more mobile than he might initially look, and you don’t particularly want to stray down his channel too often:

Another tangle with the Springboks for Sam Cane

Sam Cane has had his fair share of battles with South Africa, the former New Zealand captain sent off, of course, in the World Cup final in Paris 18 months or so ago. The stakes are rather lower here but he’ll perhaps be keen to right a few wrongs.

Cane and Peter O’Mahony have a bit of history, too, the Irishman once quipping dismissively about the All Blacks No 7’s ability mid-game with an unfavourable comparison to the past occupier of that jersey, Richie McCaw. I think they’ve kissed and made up as they prepare to take the flanks today.

Team news – Barbarians

The retiring Peter O’Mahony skippers the Barbarians line-up, with fellow old Irish stager Cian Healy joining him in saying farewell. Ex-All Blacks captain Sam Cane joins O’Mahony in the back row and has plenty of Kiwis for company in a side full of New Zealanders young and old.

Mark Telea is an eye-catching inclusion after his omission from Scott Robertson’s latest squad while there is also a significant contingent taken from the Top 14, including lock David Ribbans and centre Joe Marchant, both part of England’s 2023 World Cup squad before moves to France left them ineligible. It’s a six/two bench for the BaaBaas.

Barbarians XV: 1 Cian Healy, 2 Camille Chat, 3 Paul Alo-Emile; 4 Ruben van Heerden, 5 David Ribbans; 6 Peter O’Mahony (capt.), 7 Sam Cane, 8 Shannon Frizell; 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 10 Josh Jacomb; 11 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 14 Mark Telea; 15 Melvyn Jaminet.

Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Hassane Kolingar, 18 Will Collier, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Hoskins Sotutu,; 21 Santiago Arata, 22 Joe Marchant; 23 Lachlan Boshier.

Team news – South Africa

Rassie Erasmus has given chances to four uncapped players amidst plenty of experience in a strong South Africa side. Giant tighthead Asenathi Ntlabakanye and explosive flanker Vincent Tshituka both start as they pull on Springboks shirts for the first time, with front-rowers Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouche also set to be used off the bench.

There are familiar faces elsewhere: Jesse Kriel captains the side after injury struck Siya Kolisi in the week, while Cheslin Kolbe, Damian de Allende and Malcolm Marx are among the other stars on show.

South Africa XV: 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye; 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Lood de Jager; 6 Marco van Staden, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez; 9 Morne van den Berg, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu; 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel (capt.), 14 Cheslin Kolbe; 15 Aphelele Fassi.

Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith; 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen.

The Barbarians are rugby’s biggest anachronism – don’t ever take them away

The Barbarians are a slightly curious beast, a relic of a bygone age of amateurism perhaps out of place in the modern rugby world. But, as Luke Baker argues, that’s all part of their charm: