Springboks Herschel Jantjies

Herschel Jantjies scores a try during the 2019 Rugby Championship. Photo: EPA/KIM LUDBROOK

Springbok rookie and veteran duo announced in Barbarians squad

Springboks Herschel Jantjies and Tendai Mtawarira were among four names announced for the Barbarians November match against Fiji at Twickenham.

Springboks Herschel Jantjies

Herschel Jantjies scores a try during the 2019 Rugby Championship. Photo: EPA/KIM LUDBROOK

The Springboks have contributed an exciting rookie and a grizzled veteran to the Barbarians squad that will face Fiji in November.

Scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies and prop forward Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira have been cleared to participate by SA Rugby.

Provided both men are fit come November they will line up for the Barbarians team that will meet Fiji at Twickenham on 16 November.

The Barbarians announced four members of their preliminary squad including the two Springboks as well as French centre Mathieu Bastereaud and Pumas Prop Ramiro Herrera.

Breakout year for the Springboks’ Jantjies

It has been a massive season for Herschel Jantjies who has been without a doubt the biggest breakthrough player among the Springbok ranks in 2019.

Having played much of the 2019 Super Rugby season for the Stormers due to injuries at the Cape Franchise, Jantjies earned a place in Erasmus’ largely closed-off Springbok group.

His application in training and qualities on the field impressed the Springbok technical team earning him rich praise from backline coach Mzwandile Stick ahead of the Rugby Championship.

Jantjies was handed his debut against the Wallabies and turned in an impressive performance, scoring twice and putting in a great defensive shift to boot.

With his stock on the rise Jantjies popped up again a week later to complete a crucial score at the death against the All Blacks in Wellington. The resulting draw helped the Springboks win their first-ever Rugby Championship title.

Mtawarira’s experience up front has been a cornerstone of the Springbok team’s resurgence in 2019. Both will be hoping that they have World Cup winners medals around their necks come November.

Jones to coach Barbarians

England Head Coach Eddie Jones will take charge of the Barbarians the team when they return to Twickenham to face Fiji. The game will be the first major rugby union match to be staged in the UK following the 2019 RWC in Japan.

Jones will be leading the Barbarians in the only Autumn International of 2019 to be played at Twickenham, as the Baa-baas take on Fiji for the Killik Cup just two weeks after the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Japan.

Jones said: “It’s a huge honour to be invited to coach the Barbarians. The club perfectly embodies the values and traditions of the sport and fans can expect to see an exciting match between two sides who like to play end-to-end running rugby. 

“This is a massive year for international rugby and I’m looking forward to returning to Twickenham after a successful World Cup campaign to coach a Barbarians team containing some of the stars of the tournament.”