**South Africa Clash with the Barbarians in Star-Studded Rugby Encounter: Start Time, TV, and Team News**
Rugby enthusiasts are in for a real treat this Saturday as two giants of the sport, South Africa and the Barbarians, face off in Cape Town. The eagerly anticipated fixture promises to deliver a captivating contest, featuring an array of the world’s biggest rugby names, and will be broadcast live for fans across the UK.
The Barbarians, renowned for their flair and tradition of fielding a multi-national selection, will see several legends of the game donning their black-and-white jerseys. Notably, former All Blacks captain Sam Cane lines up alongside Irish stalwart Peter O’Mahony, who leads the team as captain in what is expected to be his farewell appearance. Also earning a place in the starting XV is Ireland’s own Cian Healy, who, like O’Mahony, will be bidding adieu to international rugby with this special match.
Robbie Deans, the experienced New Zealander and ex-Australia head coach, will oversee the Barbarians. Now director of rugby at Japan’s Saitama Wild Knights, Deans brings his tactical nous to a Barbarians squad brimming with attacking potential and leadership pedigree.
As for opponents South Africa, the clash in Cape Town marks the beginning of a packed international schedule. After their outing against the Barbarians, the world champions will switch focus to a double-header against Italy in July, before hosting Georgia, all as part of the northern hemisphere segment of their summer series. Attention will then turn to The Rugby Championship, where the Springboks will resume rivalries with New Zealand, Argentina, and Australia.
Springbok assistant coach Tony Brown highlighted the significance of the Barbarians contest for his squad, treating it as an effective Test match in their preparation. “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,” Brown stated.
He went on to stress the Springboks’ commitment: “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.”
Kick-off for this high-profile fixture is scheduled for 4:10pm (UK time) on Saturday, 28 June. The setting is the impressive DHL Stadium in Cape Town, a fitting venue for such an occasion.
For fans wanting to tune in live, Sky Sports Action will provide full coverage of the encounter. Subscribers are also able to stream the match via Sky Go on mobile devices, tablets, or desktops, ensuring supporters don’t miss a minute of the action, wherever they are.
Team news has generated considerable excitement among followers of the sport. The Barbarians’ starting line-up is headlined by: Melvyn Jaminet at full-back; the explosive Mark Tele’a and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins on the wings; midfielders Leicester Fainga’anuku and Peter Umaga-Jensen; a half-back partnership of Josh Jacomb and Tawera Kerr-Barlow; and a formidable pack featuring the likes of Cian Healy, Camille Chat, Paul Alo-Emile, Ruben van Heerden, David Ribbans, Peter O’Mahony (captain), Sam Cane, and Shannon Frizell. Their bench boasts further international quality, including Joe Marchant and Lachlan Boshier.
South Africa’s XV comprises Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel (captain), Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Jean Kleyn, Lood de Jager, Marco van Staden, Vincent Tshituka, and Jean-Luc du Preez. Their replacements offer depth, with the likes of Manie Libbok and Andre Esterhuizen available to make an impact from the bench.
With so much talent on show and players seeking to make lasting memories, this clash between South Africa and the Barbarians is set to captivate rugby audiences worldwide, delivering not just a showcase of skill, but also tributes to some of the game’s modern legends.