Cheslin Kolbe came home to Cape Town to remind all of South Africa he is the best rugby player currently on the planet. What a treat to watch the wing magician dazzle in the Springboks 54-7 win against the Barbarians at the DHL Stadium, writes Mark Keohane.
The win was the Springboks first win against the Barbarians since 2000, and the biggest in their nine-match history, which now reads four wins each and one draw.
The Barbarians, strung together and only having arrived in Cape Town on Tuesday, came to dance. The Springboks, settled and potent, came to dominate. And in front of a roaring and soaked crowd in excess of 45 000 in Cape Town, it was the world champions who lit the fuse and exploded into something brutal, beautiful and unforgettable.
Fifty-four points to seven. It wasn’t just a beating. It was a reminder. A statement. A flex of power from a team that has no business being anything but No 1 in the world.
At the heart of this Springbok spectacle was Cheslin Kolbe, rugby’s closest thing to a magician in motion. He didn’t just score; he scorched. The best player in the world right now? Without question. Nobody combines agility, instinct, physical defiance and rugby intelligence quite like Kolbe. He danced through defenders as if they were training cones, tormented the Barbarians backline, and inspired every little kid to think big, dream big and play even bigger.
Kolbe has always had that X-factor. On Saturday, he added a capital F for fire. The obvious five-pointer was a given, but the countless line breaks, fearless aerial takes, and an energy that pulsed through his teammates is what completes his game. He was untouchable. Untamed. Unbelievable.
Kolbe mesmerised as a wizard, which was a privilege to observe from the luxury of Qatar’s hospitality suite, but the grunt and grind up front was as magical, if a more brutal.
Jean-Luc du Preez, at No 8, played like one on debut.
Too often living in the shadow of the ‘maybe’ man in Bok discussions, Du Preez delivered a ‘definitely’ physical and imposing performance. He smashed rucks, hunted runners, and linked like a sevens forward in a Test pack. His work rate was big, his physicality just what was required for a Boks No 8 and his desire exactly in keeping with this squad’s rugby DNA.
Lood de Jager, too, reminded us why he was once the first lock on every Bok teamsheet. Injuries and illness may have delayed his return, but this was vintage Lood. Commanding in the lineout, confrontational in the collisions, and composed in the chaos. He doesn’t do headlines often, but against the Baa-Baas he did everything that makes a world-class second-rower. And then some.
The Boks blueprint has always been physicality first and flair second. But on Saturday, the two merged in perfect balance, despite the demanding weather conditions.
Power up front. Precision out wide. Passion in every play.
The Barbarians came with good intent. But against a Springbok side this hungry, this sharp, and this connected, they were never in the contest.
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus and the coaching team will be pleased. Not just because of the scoreboard, but the statement it sends globally. The Springboks don’t rebuild; they reload.
Sure, they will bemoan inaccuracy from the line out drive for the try line, some indecision on attack and a 20 minute period in which the Boks paused instead of powering, but for this type of game, it was an all-win night.
Kolbe is the spearhead of a golden Springboks generation. Du Preez is a forward reminder that depth breeds competition. And Lood is the glue that holds it all together in the engine room.
Cape Town was treated to some special player performances on Saturday night.
BOK BEFOK
Scorers
Springboks:
Tries: Malcolm Marx, Cheslin Kolbe, Vincet Tshituka 2, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Lood De Jager, Damian de Allende
Cons: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2, Manie Libbok 5
Barbarians
Try: Melvyn Jaminet
Con: Jaminet
Yellow card: Lachlan Boshier (Barbarians, 53’, head clash)
Teams
Barbarians: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 5 David Ribbans, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Cian Healy.
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
South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
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.
