Saturday, July 19, 2025 – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick‑off: 17:10 (CAT)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England) 
🏉 Match Context
This mid‑year Test marks the Springboks’ final outing before the Rugby Championship—as well as a strategic opportunity to deepen their squad depth by testing fresh combinations. Coach Rassie Erasmus has crafted the lineup to blend seasoned experience with new talent, preparing for the demands of international competition .
🔍 What’s at Stake
• Squad Rotation & Cohesion: After strong wins over Italy (45‑0) and the Azzurri (42‑24), this match is more about team balance than dominance .
• Front Row Trial: Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe, and Neethling Fouché earn their first caps in a high-stakes scrum challenge against Georgia’s renowned pack .
• Georgia’s Test: Ranked 11th in the world, Georgia’s heavy, battle-hardened forwards—many signed to top European clubs—will test South Africa’s depth and physical edge .
🧭 Key Battles & Players
• Front-Foot Forwards: Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit will anchor a new-look engine room. Georgia’s Aptsiauri–Karkadze–Akhaladze front row promises an all-out scrum fight .
• Back‑Line Flair: Keep an eye on Aphelele Fassi at full‑back (a try‑scorer in 2021), plus speedy wings Arendse & van der Merwe aiming for breakthroughs .
• Georgia’s Heart: Captain Beka Saginadze and fly‑half Luka Matkava lead a disciplined, hard‑carrying side hungry for historic wins .
📊 Head‑to‑Head History
• 2003 RWC: South Africa won 46‑19 .
• 2021 Test: Boks dominated 40‑9 .
South Africa has remained undefeated in this fixture, scoring 31–40 points margin in both encounters ().
⚙️ Tactical Outlook
Erasmus’ focus is on effective set-piece dominance and unleashing the new back-line combinations post-scrum. Past fixtures show the Boks often lead early, with over 42 points scored in five of their last seven home tests . Georgia tends to score more in the second half—and sometimes snatch the first points—as they did against the Cheetahs recently .
📌 Prediction & Final Thoughts
Expect a decisive Boks victory, but with a test of character and cohesion. One pundit projects a 30‑point margin, while another predicts a comfortable 30‑50 point win . More importantly, the game’s value lies in giving new faces critical Test experience and sharpening execution before the Rugby Championship starts.
Where To Watch:
🇺🇸 United States
• Free live stream: Watch at 11 a.m. ET on FloRugy’s YouTube and Facebook pages – no subscription needed .
• FloSports App: Also available via FloRugby within the FloSports app for broader access .
🇿🇦 South Africa
• SuperSport Action: Available to DStv (Compact or Premium) and GOtv Supa Plus customers globally—including Nigeria—but covering South African broadcasts .
🇬🇧 United Kingdom & Ireland
• Sky Sports Action: Broadcast live across the UK and Ireland at 4:10 p.m. BST on Saturday
