Edwill van der Merwe's exhilarating hat-trick catapulted the Springboks to a monumental drubbing of the spirited Barbarians squad in Gqeberha. The clash at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium saw the Boks steamroll their opposition with a staggering 80-31 scoreline, marking a fiery commencement to their international campaign.
The game kicked off with the Boks displaying their trademark ferocity. Van der Merwe made an immediate impact, rounding off a brilliant team play to score in the corner. Cheslin Kolbe, who took on kicking duties, nailed the difficult conversion, setting the tone for what was to come. However, Kolbe's day wasn't without its hazards; a nasty collision with a TV camera left him nursing a cut near his eye.
The Barbarians, never a team to lie down quietly, responded through Virimi Vakatawa who bulldozed his way to the try line, with Tomás Albornoz leveling the score. The Boks wasted no time in retaking the lead as Pieter-Steph du Toit powered over the line, signaling a dominant period for the home side.
Despite being reduced to 14 men twice in the first half, the Barbarians managed to inject some suspense into the game with tries from Franco Molina, Andrew Kellaway, and TJ Perenara. However, Cheslin Kolbe sliced through their defense right before halftime, bringing the score to 40-26.
The second half saw the Boks extend their dominance, despite a hiccup where Van der Merwe's initial second-half try was disallowed. He didn't have to wait long to complete his hat-trick, contributing to a final tally that included scores from Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel, André Esterhuizen, and Zach Porthen.
"The first Springbok hat-trick of the season goes to Edwill van der Merwe,"
One of the game's highlights was the crowd's reaction to Faf de Klerk's substitute appearance, with the scrumhalf quickly making his mark by scoring a try that further stretched the lead. His return to the field was nothing short of explosive.
The Springboks now look forward to their next challenge, facing England at Ellis Park on July 4th in the opening match of the Nations Championship. With such a commanding performance to start the season, anticipation is sky-high for what the Boks will bring to the forthcoming international fixtures.
Springboks Tries: Edwill van der Merwe (3), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese, Riley Norton, Cheslin Kolbe, JJ Kotze, Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel, André Esterhuizen, Zach Porthen. Conversions: Kolbe (9), Vusi Moyo.
Barbarians Tries: Virimi Vakatawa, Franco Molina, Andrew Kellaway (2), TJ Perenara. Conversions: Tomás Albornoz (3).
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images