The Barbarians have beefed up their squad with a pair of Springboks castoffs for their upcoming showdown against Wales at Twickenham this Saturday. The duo in question, Cheetahs' dynamic scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and Sharks' stalwart prop Vincent Koch, found themselves surplus to requirements after the latest Springbok squad selection for the Nations Championship.
Both players recently participated in the Springboks' training camp, with de Klerk making a cameo off the bench during the Boks' thumping 80-31 victory against the Barbarians at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Conversely, Koch hasn't donned the green and gold since facing Georgia in Nelspruit last year, marking his 63rd Test cap.
The Barbarians have also roped in Australian utility forward Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, adding an extra layer of international flair to their lineup. With the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff unavailable, the match has been relocated to Twickenham, providing the Barbarians with a nominal home advantage against the Welsh.
This match is a rerun of sorts, the teams last clashing in November 2023 where Wales secured a 49-26 victory in Cardiff. However, Wales should be wary given the Boks' recent demolition of them in a 73-0 drubbing last November in their own backyard.
Wales is looking to leverage this game as a tune-up before their Nations Championship fixtures against Fiji, Argentina, and a rematch with the Springboks in Durban.
"Every game is an opportunity to refine our strategies and build our team cohesion. Facing the Barbarians, with their unpredictable and expansive style of play, offers us a unique challenge that we're eager to embrace,"
noted an unnamed Welsh team spokesperson.The Barbarians lineup for Saturday's match includes Faf de Klerk at scrumhalf and Vincent Koch at prop, alongside newcomer Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, promising a tantalizing blend of experience and raw power poised to test Wales' mettle.