The countdown is on and the excitement is building. With Saturday’s season-opening double-header in Gqeberha looming large on the horizon, the Springbok camp is buzzing with anticipation as the national squad prepares to launch their 2026 campaign against the Barbarians whilst the SA ‘A’ team gear up to face Zimbabwe in what promises to be a thrilling day of rugby at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Speaking at their first media conference of the week in Johannesburg on Monday, Bok assistant coach Deon Davids and loose forward Paul de Villiers painted a picture of a squad firing on all cylinders, with preparations tracking perfectly ahead of the crucial weekend encounters.

Davids, who will double up as assistant coach for both the Springboks and SA ‘A’ team, confirmed that the groundwork laid in alignment camps has translated seamlessly into the current training block, with a potent blend of youthful exuberance and battle-hardened experience creating the ideal environment.

Building momentum

The staging of both matches on the same day represents a significant logistical challenge but also a golden opportunity to showcase the depth of South African rugby. The SA ‘A’ side will kick off proceedings at 12h00 before the main event sees the Springboks take on the star-studded Barbarians at 15h00, with tickets still available for what promises to be a spectacular day of international rugby.

“It’s fantastic having the young players in the squad and mixing things up with the more experienced players, so there’s good progression from our alignment camps into this camp,” said Davids.

“That has also formed a good understanding about what is expected of everyone and about how we do things. It’s been good to see the energy and enthusiasm and how the players have related to one another and worked together to get things done, so we’re looking forward to this week as we build up to Saturday.”

The energy Davids referenced was evident in De Villiers’ response when asked about his experience in the expanded national squad. The former Junior Springbok captain, who has earned his call-up through consistently impressive provincial performances, was effusive in his praise for the camp environment.

Learning from the best

“It’s only been a week, but it’s been awesome, and I’ve learned a lot,” said De Villiers, barely able to contain his enthusiasm. “We have great players in the squad, who we are all learning a lot from, so it’s a perfect scenario. We also have good coaches who have been great at giving us advice.”

The loose forward was candid when discussing the step up from provincial rugby to the national set-up, identifying training intensity as the most noticeable difference.

“I think the training standards have been a massive thing. You are competing against guys that also play for the Springboks, and all the players want to be here, so I think the intensity of the training sessions is one of the main differences,” he explained.

That competitive edge in training, where every session becomes a battle for selection, is precisely what the coaching staff want to see as they fine-tune their preparations in the Johannesburg base before decamping to Gqeberha on Wednesday.

Strategic preparation

The decision to remain in Johannesburg for the bulk of the week before travelling to the Eastern Cape for captains’ runs was a deliberate one, Davids confirmed.

“We’ve settled well in Johannesburg, and we’re comfortable with the surroundings and our training facilities, so we thought it would be best to finish our training here, and have our captains’ runs in Gqeberha going into the games,” said the assistant coach.

His dual role across both teams this weekend speaks to the alignment philosophy that has become a cornerstone of South African rugby’s success in recent years.

“We’ve tried to keep things aligned in terms of our plans, and that has been our approach in terms of what we’ve done in the different departments, and I think it’s worked well, and we’re on the right track,” Davids noted.

Respecting the opposition

Whilst the Springboks go into Saturday as overwhelming favourites against both opposition sides, Davids was quick to warn against complacency, highlighting the unique challenges posed by each opponent.

“The Barbarians have always selected quality players, and they will have guys with a lot of experience,” said Davids. “Given how little time they have to train together, they will always go out there to entertain.”

The Baa-Baas’ reputation for throwing caution to the wind and playing expansive, attacking rugby makes them dangerous opponents regardless of preparation time, and the Springboks will need to be sharp from the opening whistle.

Zimbabwe present a different challenge entirely. Having secured qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, the Sables arrive in Gqeberha with genuine ambitions and a structured gameplan.

“In terms of Zimbabwe, they have also developed quality players, and they have good coaches and assistant coaches, who will bring a lot of structure to their forward play. The fact that they’ve qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup also makes this a good challenge for them and for us,” Davids observed.

Nerves and excitement

De Villiers, meanwhile, admitted to experiencing the familiar pre-match cocktail of nerves and anticipation as Saturday approaches, though his focus remains firmly fixed on execution rather than occasion.

“I wouldn’t say the penny has dropped. For me, the main thing will be to get the job done on the field, and I’m excited, although there are some nerves. The other stuff obviously comes after that, but that’s not where the focus lies at this stage,” he said.

It is precisely that kind of level-headed approach that has earned the loose forward his opportunity in the national set-up, and he will be desperate to seize his chance should selection come his way when Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and SA ‘A’ coach Mzwandile Stick announce their match-day squads on Tuesday.