The Springboks demolished the Barbarians 80-31 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday 20 June 2026, with Edwill van der Merwe scoring a hat-trick to claim Man of the Match. Image: /Gallo Images
The Springboks opened their 2026 international season in style with an emphatic 80-31 victory over the Barbarians. The Springboks Barbarians result came at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday 20 June 2026. Furthermore, winger Edwill van der Merwe scored a hat-trick to claim the official Man of the Match award. As a result, South Africa sent a powerful warning to the rest of the rugby world ahead of their Nations Championship campaign.
Springboks Barbarians Result: A Try-Scoring Spectacle
The world champions were rampant with ball in hand throughout the match. They ran in 12 tries in a dazzling attacking display at a sold-out Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Edwill van der Merwe led the way with a hat-trick of tries. Furthermore, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese, Riley Norton, Cheslin Kolbe, JJ Kotze, Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen and Zachary Porthen all crossed the line. As a result, nine different players got their names on the scoresheet in a complete team performance.
However, the performance was not without rough edges. Two yellow cards and some defensive lapses meant the scoreline could have been even more emphatic. Fullback Aphelele Fassi had a mixed afternoon, picking up a yellow card after half-time despite contributing to two tries in build-up play. Furthermore, the Barbarians, fielding what looked like a hastily assembled side, were unable to live with the Springboks once South Africa entered the red zone. As a result, questions are already being asked about whether the Barbarians concept remains viable in the modern professional game.
A Statement Result for Rassie Erasmus
Head coach Rassie Erasmus used the match as a tune-up ahead of South Africa’s Nations Championship campaign against England, Scotland and Wales on home soil in July. The Springboks currently sit top of the world rankings with a rating of 93.94, comfortably ahead of New Zealand and Ireland. Furthermore, this is the second consecutive year South Africa has opened their international season against the Barbarians, having beaten them 54-7 at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium in 2025. As a result, the trend of starting the season with a comprehensive Barbarians victory continued in Gqeberha.
What Comes Next for the Springboks
The Springboks now turn their attention to the Nations Championship. They face England at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday 4 July 2026. Furthermore, they face Scotland at Loftus Versfeld on 11 July and Wales at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on 18 July. As a result, South African rugby fans have a blockbuster month of rugby to look forward to as the world champions defend their status against the best of the Northern Hemisphere.
South Africa A also played on Saturday, facing Zimbabwe at the same Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium venue earlier in the day as part of a bumper afternoon of rugby in Gqeberha.
For more on the Springboks’ 2026 season visit springboks.rugby.
Editors Note All match statistics and results referenced in this article are based on official SA Rugby records as at 20 June 2026.