Swire Shipping Fijian Drua centre Virimi Vakatawa helped set up a try for his Barbarians last night, but it was not enough as they lost to South Africa 80-31.
The Springboks began their 2026 international season with an impressive victory over the Barbarians in Port Elizabeth.
The match featured exciting attacking rugby, with both teams scoring freely in a fast-paced first half that produced 10 tries.
South Africa led 40-26 at halftime and added another 40 points in the second half, finishing with 12 tries overall.
Wing Edwill van der Merwe starred with a hat-trick, while Cheslin Kolbe contributed 25 points with his kicking and a try of his own.
Although the scoreline was one-sided, the Barbarians were far more competitive than in their previous meeting with the Boks, showing resilience and attacking flair throughout.
Strong performances from Jasper Wiese, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and debutant Riley Norton were key highlights for South Africa.nt Riley Norton were key highlights for South Africa.
The match provided valuable preparation for the Springboks ahead of their upcoming Test season, which begins against England in Johannesburg in two weeks.
