Adam Lipschitz turned pre-race confidence into a record-breaking performance at the OUTsurance Gun Run Half Marathon, while Irvette van Zyl marked her return to the race with a convincing victory.
Lipschitz had made no secret of his ambition before Sunday’s 21.1km race, arriving in Cape Town determined to attack the course record.
Lipschitz, who won the Gun Run 10km in 2025, controlled the early stages with a series of fartlek-style surges before making the decisive move with about 19km remaining.
The acceleration proved decisive as he broke clear of his rivals and maintained his momentum to the finish.
Seutloali finished second in 1:02:53, with Hollywood teammate Tsépo Ramashamole completing the podium in 1:03:13.
Former Gun Run 21.1km winner Lloyd Bosman of Nedbank Running Club SWD was fourth in 1:03:28, while local athlete Anthony Timoteus finished fifth in 1:04:06.
For Lipschitz, the performance also provided valuable race-specific preparation as he continues building towards the marathon distance.
The women’s race produced another significant performance as Irvette van Zyl returned to the Gun Run Half Marathon after a seven-year absence and claimed victory in 1:14:03.
The 39-year-old Hollywood Athletics Club runner finished nearly three minutes clear of defending champion and clubmate Busisiwe Chamane, who crossed the line in 1:17:24.
Former Gun Run champion Fortunate Chidzivo of Nedbank Running Club WP was third in 1:18:23.
Van Zyl said the conditions and altered route made the race challenging.
“Today’s race was a bit tough. It was really humid because yesterday it rained,” she said.
She also had to adapt to a course that had changed significantly since her previous appearance in 2019.
“There’s a lot of up and down sidewalks and we had a bit of a cobblestone stage we actually run on,” Van Zyl said.
A two-kilometre hill also disrupted her rhythm.
“I would have hoped to run closer to 73, but I just couldn’t get my rhythm going the first 12-ish kilometres,” she said.
Her race improved after the climb, when she returned to the road and later reached the promenade.
“Overall I’m happy with today and happy with the win,” Van Zyl said.
She believes there is scope for a faster performance should she return, having now experienced the revised course.
“Hopefully when I return I can run faster than that, because then I will know what is ahead.”
The Hollywood weekend had already produced a strong result in Saturday’s 10km, where veteran Stephen Mokoka, 41, won in 29:36.
Hollywood AC veteran Stephen Mokoka won the Gun Run 10km on Saturday on debut.
Awethu Ntsotho of Athletes Academy in Boland was second in 29:49, while Eersterivier AC junior Beautin Van der Westhuizen finished third in 30:02.
Russian-born Stellenbosch-based athlete Olga Firsova, 43, won the women’s 10km in 35:17, ahead of Yandiswa Shange (38:12) and Nadia Turton (39:08).
For Lipschitz, the Gun Run provided a record to celebrate. For Van Zyl, it offered a successful return and a glimpse of faster days ahead.
Damian de Allende says preparation remains the foundation of the Springboks’ defensive system as they prepare to face the All Blacks for a fourth consecutive weekend.
The experienced centre has spent much of his career operating in the most congested part of the rugby field, but says there is no preference when it comes to his defensive assignments.
“For me personally, I just defend what’s in front of me. That’s the way we get coached,” De Allende said.
“Sometimes I’ll have to defend the forward, and most of the time I’ll have to defend against the backs, but I really don’t mind it.”
De Allende has faced some of the world’s leading midfielders during his career, including Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Sonny Bill Williams, as well as South Africans such as Franz Steyn and André Esterhuizen.
His current assessment of Jordie Barrett is particularly telling.
“At the moment, the one guy that really does stand out for me is Jordie Barrett,” he said.
“I think his skill set is incredible. He’s got the ability to do everything on the field at the moment.”
The pair have gone head-to-head during the first three Tests of the series, giving De Allende an opportunity to study one of New Zealand’s most versatile players.
“It’s been a real pleasure,” he said.
“I’ve always liked to learn a lot on the field, especially playing against my opposition. I feel like I’ve learnt a lot from Jordie Barrett on the field and it’s been incredible to play against him.”
“For us on defence, it’s the preparation,” he said.
“And like Eben said earlier, it’s the work our coaches do in the background and they give to us. It’s from there the analysis.”
Jesse Kriel has also become an important figure in the defensive system.
“He’s one of our defence leaders, he’s the one that takes control over it a lot,” De Allende said.
“And the way he speaks about defence, the way he’s proud about it, he brings that across a lot and he gets all the players to buy into believing in what we’re doing is correct.”
There is still room for instinct once the match begins.
“Sometimes on the field it is instinct because there’s times on the field where we have to make split-second decisions,” he said.
“And sometimes you get it right and sometimes you get it wrong.”
But De Allende put a figure on the importance of preparation.
“I think 90% of the things go into preparation and what we plan for and what we expect to see from the All Blacks.”
The physical demands of the series have been significant, particularly in the midfield, where De Allende has battled New Zealand’s centres across three Tests.
He described the contest as one of the toughest of his career while acknowledging the quality of the opposition.
“Every Test match is tough. You play against world-class centres, no matter what country you play against.”
He also wished injured All Black Quinn Tupaea a speedy recovery.
De Allende believes experience has become another advantage for a Springbok squad containing several players with more than 100 Test caps.
“I think experience is quite important,” he said.
“There’s still a big sense of responsibility, not just individually but I think collectively, to make sure that we keep representing South Africa well and to the best of our ability.”
Age, he believes, has brought a greater appreciation of the work required to remain at Test level.
“I know we are getting a bit older but for me personally it feels like we’re working a lot harder than what we did when we were a bit younger.”
That work ethic, De Allende believes, explains why the experienced core remains capable of competing with the world’s best.
“I think that is why we’re still playing at such a high-class level, and I think that is still why we’re very competitive, and we can still compete with the best in the world.”
In Baltimore, the Springboks will need that preparation, experience and defensive discipline once again.
The All Blacks have already tested every seam in the green-and-gold wall. One final examination awaits.
Eben Etzebeth believes the Springboks’ unprecedented four-Test series against the All Blacksranks among the toughest challenges international rugby can offer.
The veteran lock, who has experienced both the highs and lows of South Africa’s rivalry with New Zealand, says the significance of the Baltimore finale extends beyond another Test match.
“I think every Test match against the All Blacks is special,” Etzebeth said.
“Every Test match you put the green and gold jersey on is special and every time we play the All Blacks we know the rivalry and what it means to them as well as to us.”
The Springboks head into the fourth consecutive weekend of Test rugby against New Zealand knowing the result will determine the series.
For Etzebeth, the physical and mental demands of such a schedule make it a unique challenge.
“I think, challenge-wise, this is surely the toughest in rugby: to play New Zealand four times in a row and try to win the series,” he said.
“So, my answer to the question is, it’s not as special as a World Cup win, but it is still harder than a World Cup to win because you play against New Zealand, which, over the years, have been the number-one or number-two team in the world for a long time.”
“This is definitely one of the tougher challenges in rugby.”
After a lengthy period disrupted by suspension, injury and concussion, the 33-year-old admitted that watching from the sidelines had been difficult.
“It was a bit frustrating, obviously not getting a lot of rugby under my belt,” he said.
“It was nice to be back. It was nice to play the first Test against Argentina again and get a full 80.”
He was particularly frustrated after being forced to withdraw from the England Test during the week.
“It was tough to watch the guys from the side obviously in the mix for that England game and then had to withdraw in the week. But yeah, great to be back.”
The enforced break also gave him an opportunity to work on his game.
“Every year you try to be a better version of yourself and you try to add to your skill set,” Etzebeth said.
“I think the time off gave me that opportunity as well. So yeah, I just trained hard and tried to get back into the mix.”
The Springboks’ response after losing the opening Test has been another key feature of their campaign.
Etzebeth credited both the coaching staff and players for ensuring the team responded under pressure.
“When you don’t have a good game, they’ll tell us,” he said.
“Also the players, I think every time we don’t start well, we pull together.”
He pointed to previous experiences, including the British & Irish Lions series and World Cups, as evidence of the group’s resilience.
“We’ve been in this situation before and yeah, it happened again and we said after the first Test match that we can’t lose another game. So the pressure was on.”
The Baltimore Test also provides rugby with an opportunity to expand its American audience ahead of the 2031 World Cup.
It will be Etzebeth’s first match in the United States.
“With the World Cup coming up in 2031, they’re definitely trying to grow it in America,” he said.
“I think this Test match is definitely a good start, us against the All Blacks here in Baltimore.”
For Etzebeth, there is a simple way to introduce new American supporters to the sport.
“The best way to sell it is to have them come to the stadium and enjoy the experience and see us play, the first and second-best team in the world.”
After three bruising Tests, the rivalry now gets its American stage.
For Etzebeth, that is precisely where rugby’s biggest challenges belong.
Thousands of runners will storm the streets of the City of Gold on Thursday, 24 September, turning Heritage Day into a spectacularJoburg 10km takeover.
The sold-out Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10Kwill unleash a stampede of running shoes onto Lilian Ngoyi Street from 08:00, with the M1 and M2 highways transformed into a giant sporting playground before the finish on Rahima Moosa Street.
For one morning, Joburg’s legendary hustle will have a new soundtrack: thousands of pounding feet, screaming spectators, pumping music and the thunder of a city celebrating its heritage.
Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K by Tobias Ginsberg
This is road running with a Mzansi twist.
The route will be crammed with entertainment, cheer zones and sponsor activations from Absa, PUMA, Powerade, AVIS and Heineken, creating a colourful carnival designed to showcase the diversity, history and unmistakable swagger of Johannesburg.
Stillwater Sports managing director and Series founder Michael Meyer says the race will offer runners a different view of the metropolis.
“We’re excited to bring thousands of runners together in Johannesburg on National Heritage Day for what promises to be a fantastic celebration of running, culture and community.”
Meyer says the energy of the route, entertainment and spectators will create an atmosphere that is uniquely Joburg.
Absa Head of Sponsorship Jabulile Nsibanyoni says the event will turn the streets into a moving celebration of South African identity.
“At Absa, we are passionate about creating memorable experiences that bring communities together, and this event is a true reflection of that commitment.”
She says the entertainment has been carefully curated to celebrate Joburg’s rich heritage and cultural traditions.
“Both participants and spectators can look forward to a dynamic showcase of performances reflecting the warmth, diversity, and energy Joburg is known for.”
Then comes the speed trap.
Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K by Charles Ndou
PUMA Run Train Marketing Manager Rae Trew-Browne says the Heritage Day edition has a personality of its own.
“Every Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series event has its own personality, and Joburg’s Heritage Day edition promises to be particularly special.”
The PUMA Speed Zone will add another turbocharged dimension to the race.
“It’s a chance for every participant to embrace their own version of TOO FAST while enjoying the incredible atmosphere that makes the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series so special,” says Trew-Browne.
The stakes are already high after a sizzling 2026 series.
Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K by Charles Ndou
Adriaan Wildschutt won Gqeberha in 27:47, Joshua Cheptegei blitzed Durban in 27:19 and Salem Kibet conquered Tshwane in 28:45. Kenya’s Brenda Jepchirchir won Gqeberha in 30:15, while Doreen Cherop claimed victories in Durban and Tshwane in 30:43 and 31:35 respectively.
Cape Town’s 10K was cancelled because of a severe weather forecast.
Now Joburg gets the spotlight.
And on Heritage Day, the City of Gold will not be walking.
Siya Kolisi has never been particularly interested in making himself the story. On the night he became the most successful captain in Springboks history, that instinct was as powerful as ever.
The scoreboard at FNB Stadium said South Africa 29, New Zealand 24. The series saidSpringboks 2, All Blacks 1.The record books said something rather more extraordinary: 55 Test victories as captain, one more than the 54 accumulated by John Smit.
For most athletes, that would be the moment to pause, puff out the chest and allow history a little room to breathe.
Kolisi, characteristically, handed the oxygen to everyone else.
“If this were tennis it would be different, but this is a team sport. It shows the work Rassie [Erasmus] and his coaching staff put in,” the 35-year-old toldModern Athleteafter the match.
“We’ve got so many leaders in this side that I really only have one job to do, which is focus on my own game.”
There is something almost disarming about the understatement.
Fifty-five victories as Springboks captain is not merely a statistic. It is a towering monument built across years of upheaval, triumph, scrutiny and expectation. It stretches beyond the rugby field into the improbable story of a boy from Zwide who became the face of a nation’s most recognisable sporting institution.
Yet Kolisi speaks about it as though he has merely completed another assignment.
55 Test wins. Most successful @Springboks captain in history. Zero fuss. @SiyaKolisi could have basked in history at FNB Stadium. Instead, he handed the spotlight to @RassieRugby, his coaches and teammates. That may be the most revealing statistic of them all. @hendrikcronje71…
That is perhaps the paradox of his leadership. His influence is enormous precisely because he rarely behaves as though it is.
The record came on a night when FNB Stadium became more than a rugby ground. Almost 88,000 people filled the Calabash for a match carrying the historical weight of Soweto and the emotional currency of a nation.
Kolisi understood the symbolism.
“It was really special. We always say we won’t just say thank you in words, but through our effort. We were tested in that first 25 minutes, they came out firing, and we had to dig deep to fight our way back into it.”
Then came the image that stayed with him: children running alongside the Springbok team bus, hoping for a glimpse of their heroes despite being unable to afford tickets.
“They can’t afford to come and watch us play, but seeing that, and understanding the history of this place, the young people who fought so that we could be sitting here today, that’s why we wanted this game here,” Kolisi said.
“That’s what we play for, not just the people who can afford it, but everyone.”
It is difficult to imagine a more revealing explanation of his captaincy.
The 55 wins belong to Kolisi. The meaning he attaches to them belongs to something larger.
Even the victory itself did not escape his scrutiny.
“I thought we played better in the first Test [at Ellis Park], we just didn’t convert our chances,” he said.
“There’s still so much more we can do. Our defence in particular can get better.”
His answer carried the familiar Kolisi mixture of humility and hunger. No grand declaration. No coronation. No invitation for the rugby gods to start carving his statue.
Only work.
“The way the coaches rotate the team and give other guys opportunities keeps everyone hungry. If you don’t get picked this week, you know your chance is coming. It also keeps us fresh so we’re not overplayed. It’s a group effort, and I’m really happy about that.”
And so, after 55 wins, the captain looks ahead rather than back.
“Playing together more consistently helps a great deal, and I’m looking forward to what we can build on next week [in Baltimore].”
History has caught up with Siya Kolisi. He appears in no hurry to stop running.
It was a high-quality Test played at considerable pace, with both sides scoring four tries and momentum shifting repeatedly during a compelling contest.
For Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, the victory was another significant milestone. His 55th Test win as captain moved him clear as the most successful skipper in Springbok history.
55 Test wins. Most successful @Springboks captain in history. Zero fuss. @SiyaKolisi could have basked in history at FNB Stadium. Instead, he handed the spotlight to @RassieRugby, his coaches and teammates. That may be the most revealing statistic of them all. @hendrikcronje71…
With Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the sin bin after being shown yellow for a deliberate knock-down, All Black captain Ardie Savea finished a sustained period of pressure by crashing over in the 10th minute.
Ruben Love missed the conversion, leaving New Zealand with a 5-0 lead.
The Boks responded through their traditional strengths: physical carries, quick ball and pressure at set piece.
Cheslin Kolbe finished a well-worked attack 10 minutes later, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu converting to give South Africa a 7-5 lead. Kolbe was subsequently forced off for a head-injury assessment.
South Africa’s scrum then became an increasingly important factor.
The Boks applied sustained pressure against the New Zealand pack and were rewarded with a penalty try four minutes before half-time, extending their lead to 14-5.
New Zealand responded strongly after the break.
Savea scored his second try before Will Jordan added another, with Love converting to put the visitors 17-14 ahead.
The Boks needed a response and found it through Jesse Kriel.
The centre broke through the All Blacks’ defensive line to score, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu adding the conversion as South Africa regained the lead at 21-17.
Malcolm Marx then increased the pressure by powering over for the Boks’ fourth try.
A further penalty from Feinberg-Mngomezulu put South Africa 29-17 ahead and appeared to give the hosts sufficient breathing room.
New Zealand had other ideas.
The All Blacks continued to attack deep into the closing stages and replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho scored after the final hooter. Damian McKenzie converted to reduce the deficit to five points, although there was no time for a further attack.
The 29-24 result completed the Boks’ series victory and extended their dominance in one of Test rugby’s defining rivalries.
The Springboks and All Blacks will board a chartered flight to Baltimore in the United States, where they will meet again in the fourth and final Test next week.
Earlier at FNB Stadium, New Zealand’s Black Ferns produced a commanding display to beat the Springbok Women 52-20.
The visitors scored eight tries and led 24-10 at half-time in the first meeting between the teams on African soil.
The result highlighted the Black Ferns’ experience and attacking efficiency, while the Springbok Women were unable to convert their dominance in certain areas, including the scrum, into sufficient attacking points.
For South Africa’s men, however, the night belonged to the Boks, who absorbed New Zealand’s pressure, capitalised on their set-piece advantage and held their nerve when the All Blacks launched their late assault.
Tayla Kavanagh turned a painful mid-race fall into a powerful statement of resilience when she stormed to victory in the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km at Kingsmead on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Durban-born South African stopped the clock at 31:39 to claim her maiden title in the sold-out race, pocket R40 000 and set a new course record in windy conditions.
Kavanagh had been targeting Glenrose Xaba’s South African 10km record of 31:12, but those ambitions were dented when a male runner tripped her shortly before the 4km mark.
Her response was emphatic.
She got up, gathered herself and resumed the chase.
“No matter what happens, I always tell myself you’ve got to get up and keep going. After I took a fall, that’s exactly what I told myself mentally, just get up, you’ve still got to put in the work and get the job done,” said Kavanagh.
She did exactly that.
Hollywood Athletics Club teammate and defending champion Neheng Khatala finished second in 32:01, with Boxer Running Club’s Karabo Mailula third in 33:01.
The victory added another significant chapter to what is rapidly becoming a breakthrough season for Kavanagh, who has already secured the national 5km and 10km titles and won back-to-back SPAR Women’s 10km races.
The fall also produced a remarkable moment of sportsmanship.
The runner responsible later apologised to Kavanagh, who accepted the apology and embraced him at the finish.
Now her attention turns sharply north.
Kavanagh will represent South Africa in the 5km at the World Championships in Copenhagen on 20 September, with less than three weeks to prepare for another test of her rapidly developing credentials.
“So, I am heading to the World Championships for the 5km in about two and a half weeks. I’m really excited to tackle the 5km on the road and have a good battle out there,” she said.
“I am eager to see what I can accomplish and what we can achieve together. So, that’s my next goal, and I’ll be focusing on that in the upcoming weeks leading up to it.”
The self-coached Kavanagh is embracing the freedom of plotting her own campaign and believes the approach has contributed to her remarkable consistency.
She is also refusing to become consumed by the national 10km record.
The 31:12 mark remains within sight, with Kavanagh confident the opportunity will arrive when the time is right.
For now, Copenhagen is the next finish line.
“I am really excited for this one; it’s in Copenhagen, so I’m looking forward to how fast we can run over 5km.”
Phantane AC’s Tshepo Tshite took the top prize in the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km Image: Hollywood AC
In the men’s race, Phantane Athletics Club’s Tshepo Tshiteproduced a late surge to win in 28:18, beating Kenya’s Stephen Kangethe by three seconds.
“The race was good even though I think I have bad luck when it comes to 10km,” said Tshite.
The sixth edition attracted 15 000 runners, underlining Durban’s status as one of South Africa’s premier mass-participation road-running events.
Cheslin Kolbe expects the All Blacks to come out firing when the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series moves back to Johannesburg next weekend.
South Africa levelled the four-Test series at 1-1 with a hard-fought 33-26 victory at DHL Stadium on Saturday, with Kolbe’s flawless goal-kicking proving decisive as he contributed 18 points.
The Springboks now face another examination at the FNB Stadium in Soweto against a New Zealand side smarting from its first defeat of the year.
“When you lose, the team is always going to come back with a point to prove,” Kolbe said.
The third Test at FNB Stadium on 5 September presents the Boks with an opportunity to seize control of the series, but Kolbe believes there is plenty for Rassie Erasmus’ side to address before then.
“We need to go back on Monday and see where we didn’t capitalise on opportunities,” he said.
“New Zealand are a quality team; they attack well and they cut us open a few times. We definitely need to look at where we can improve and get better as a team.”
That assessment carries weight.
The Boks built a 24-14 half-time lead in Cape Town, yet the All Blacks fought back with four tries and were within seven points late in the contest. South Africa’s ability to close out the match under pressure was significant, but the defensive cracks New Zealand exposed will give the coaching staff plenty of video to pore over.
Kolbe also offered an insight into the mood around the Bok camp following their 33-16 defeat at Ellis Park.
“We could feel the atmosphere, not negativity but less energy, throughout the week because of the loss last week,” he said.
“As they always say, when we lose, it’s ‘n Blou Maandag [a Blue Monday]. We felt that, but we just wanted to rectify it.
“It wasn’t easy at all; we needed to stay in the fight. It’s going to be like that for the next two matches.”
Kolbe’s own contribution has added another string to his already crowded bow.
The Stormers-bound back credited his season in Japan, where he took responsibility for goal-kicking, as well as Springbok assistant coach Tony Brown, for helping improve his technique and consistency.
“This season in Japan, I had the responsibility of taking over the goal-kicking and that’s contributed to my style and technique.
“I can also give credit to the coaches in Japan, and Tony in the Springbok set-up is doing a few things for me so I can get more consistency.
“That’s the same for every rugby player; you always need to bring something new to the team … it’s contributing to the team’s success,” he said.
Asked how far he could kick a goal, Kolbe offered a typically cheeky response:
“I think most of the balls tonight were just over the crossbar!”
The joke was vintage Kolbe. His kicking, meanwhile, was anything but a laughing matter.
With the series delicately poised, the Boks have momentum. The All Blacks have motivation.
Kirwan, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated rugby figures, refuses to buy into any suggestion that the four-time world champions are suddenly the underdogs after their 33-16 defeat to the All Blacks at Ellis Park last weekend.
“They are four-time world champions. They’ve been an outstanding rugby team for four years,” Kirwan said.
“So they are world champions. We are the underdogs.”
There is a healthy dose of mischief in Kirwan’s assessment, although his respect for the Springboks is unmistakable.
He expects a vastly improved South African performance at DHL Stadium on Saturday, predicting Erasmus will turn to a more conservative tactical approach and use the kicking game to squeeze New Zealand deep into their own territory.
“I think the Springboks will be way better,” Kirwan said.
“I think they’ll be a bit more conservative tomorrow. I think their infield kicking game will be different. So I expect them to try and pin us into our own half.”
The All Blacks, however, will arrive in Cape Town with their own armoury sharpened.
“These guys are on a journey to get better every week, so I think it’s going to be a massive game,” Kirwan said.
“The pressure is on the world champions and I’m sure they’ll step up to that. There’d be a lot of fireworks.”
Sir John Kirwan shares a light hearted moment swopping his trademark, trendy, thick rimmed glasses with the author, Adnaan Mohamed. Photo: Juliet Calder
“It’s a boxing match. They’re gonna win some rounds, you’re gonna win some rounds. But at this level, winning those critical moments is really, really important.”
Those moments, he warned, can arrive at any stage.
“Sometimes they come after five minutes. Sometimes they come in the 79th minute.”
Kirwan expects the contest to go down to the wire.
“I think it’ll be incredibly close tomorrow. I think it’ll come down to a few points.”
His description of rugby as “chess with contact” could prove particularly apt in Cape Town.
“You need to win the first 10 minutes, the last 10 minutes before halftime, first 10 minutes after halftime, and the last 10 minutes,” he said.
“It’s really important to start fast. It’s really important to try and imprint the way that you want to play on the opposition. The South African team will be trying to do the same.”
Kirwan is equally bullish about the identity of Dave Rennie’s All Blacks.
“What I’ve seen is that this All Black side is playing a style of rugby that I think suits our skill set and suits the type of athlete that we have.”
The Springboks’ selection changes, including the absence of Handré Pollard and the continued emergence of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, have also caught his eye.
Kirwan described Feinberg-Mngomezulu as “world class” and believes the young flyhalf will have benefited from the lessons of Ellis Park.
“I think Sacha is still a young man and last week he would have learned a lot and he’ll be better tomorrow.”
He also saluted South Africa’s diminutive dynamo brigade, particularly the skill and footwork of the country’s wings.
“When you see Damian, his footwork. I mean, some of these guys into contact have fantastic feet.”
Then came another Kirwan gem:
“Long live the small, fast winger.”
For Kirwan, the rivalry runs far deeper than tactics, rankings and Test statistics.
As an eight-year-old, he was allowed to stay up late to watch the All Blacks. New Zealand won plenty of matches in those days, although South Africa provided a particularly formidable obstacle.
“That whole rivalry, we don’t know who’s going to win,” he said.
“I think we have the same passion for the game. And I think that’s brought us together.”
Kirwan believes rugby has often carried a cultural weight beyond the field, particularly in South Africa and New Zealand.
“A lot of times in our country, the game’s been bigger than a game. I think Nelson Mandela did that.”
The former All Black has also embraced the South African welcome.
“The hospitality, South African hospitality is unbelievable. Food’s great, people are lovely. And so for us, it’s like being at home. Really appreciate it.”
The pleasantries can wait once the whistle blows.
For now, Kirwan has thrown the psychological ball firmly into Erasmus’s court.
Rassie can call them underdogs. Kirwan isn’t buying it.
Teams:
South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Manie Libbok.
New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower. Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Patrick Tuipoluto, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Josh Moorby
Date: Saturday, August 29 Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town Kick-off: 17.10 Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a low of 11°C and a high of 18°C. Rain is also expected around kick-off time. Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia) Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Sam Grove-White (Scotland) TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
SUN CITY, NORTH WEST: From breaking barriers on the rugby field to facing breast cancer with extraordinary courage, Aimee Barrett-Theron continues to inspire. The most-capped female international referee in rugby history was named Technical Official of the Year at the South African Sport Awards. Her message to the Springboks ahead of their Cape Town clash with the All Blacks? “Sterkte.”
By Adnaan Mohamed
Aimee Barrett-Theronhas spent years policing rugby’s most ferocious frontiers with a whistle, a stopwatch and nerves forged in the furnace of elite sport.
On Sunday night, 23 August, the trailblazing referee received another trophy for her extraordinary contribution, being named Technical Official of the Year at the 19th South African Sport Awards at Sun City Superbowl.
Her latest accolade came with an unmistakably human soundtrack. Barrett-Theron is halfway through treatment for breast cancer, temporarily away from the international rugby battlefield and drawing strength from the same discipline that carried her through some of the sport’s biggest arenas.
“The treatment’s going well. I’m about halfway through at the moment so it’s been quite a challenge not being on the field, but I’m still very much involved for coaching because I’m still very much involved here so it’s a tough time to be out there, but I’m still as supportive as I can,” she said.
The road back remains a marathon measured in courage rather than kilometres.
“Yeah, yeah, so a couple of tests and a lot of my friends out there referring I’d love to be supportive there but it’s 20% for the year,” Barrett-Theron said in the interview, reflecting on her curtailed involvement in officiating.
Her career has already smashed through several glass ceilings.
A former Springbok Women’s XVs and Sevens player, she swapped playing boots for the referee’s whistle and became the first woman to referee a men’s professional match in South Africa.
She has since taken charge of 52 international Tests, making her the most-capped female international referee in rugby history. Earlier in 2026, she became only the second woman ever to referee 50 Test matches.
Her CV reads like a roll of honour: the 2017 and 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cups, the Tokyo Olympics, the United Rugby Championship and the Women’s Six Nations.
Then came the diagnosis.
In July, Barrett-Theron announced her temporary departure from officiating after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She has confirmed the condition is treatable and is concentrating on treatment and recovery, with specialists guiding her through the process.
Rugby’s family responded with the force of a defensive line. World Rugby and SA Rugby leaders joined players, officials and supporters in sending messages of encouragement.
Her Sport Awards triumph added another medal to a career already heavy with milestones.
“It’s special to be able to get the trophy,” she said. “At the end of the day and to be recognised for the hard work that we put in”
Then came the question every South African wanted answered: could the Springboks beat the All Blacks at DHL Stadium on Saturday in the second Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry?
For a moment, the referee’s hat came off.
“Yeah, when it comes to Springboks, I can take my referee hat off and I’d love the boys to have any positive results on the weekend.”
Her message to the Boks carried the warmth of a teammate standing beside the tunnel before kick-off.
“Yeah, just stack them on and good luck boys. Represents us the best you can. We know you’ve got it in you.”
And there was one final word, simple enough to fit on a dressing-room wall and strong enough to carry across the Cape Town wind:
“Sterkte.”
For Barrett-Theron, the whistle may be silent for now. Her voice remains firmly in the game.
South African sport has crowned her greatness. Rugby knows her resilience will be worth another standing ovation when she returns.
Under the glittering banner of “Crowned in Greatness”, the 19th South African Sport Awards delivered a night where champions, trailblazers and behind-the-scenes heroes took their bows.
Simbine claimed Sport Star of the Year, adding another gleaming medal to an already formidable athletics legacy. The sprint king has spent years living on the razor’s edge of hundredths of a second, and this time the stopwatch gave way to the applause of a nation.
The Protea Men’s Test Cricket team pocketed Sport Team of the Year, another feather in Cricket South Africa’s cap after a campaign that demanded patience, character and plenty of backbone.
Prudence Sekgodiso was crowned Sportswoman of the Year, while swimmer Pieter Coetze took Sportsman of the Year. Athletics also supplied Coach of the Year Thabo Matebedi, ensuring the track-and-field brigade left Sun City with pockets bulging with silverware.
Bayanda Walaza, the Youth/Junior Sport Star of the Year with SA swim legend Chad le Clos
Simoné Kruger won Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability, while Puseletso Michael Mabote claimed Sportsman of the Year with a Disability for para athletics.
The evening’s unsung heroes received their own standing ovation. Anthony Moruthanewas named Sport Administrator of the Year, Nqobile Kunene Sport Volunteer of the Year, and Khokho Association South Africa Recreation Body of the Year.
Cricket South Africa collected National Federation of the Year, while Rachel Makhura took Sports Media Journalist of the Year, with photographer Skhu Nkomphela winning Sport Visual Journalist of the Year.
And then came the lifetime tributes, a reminder that sporting greatness is built over generations. Siya Vabaza-Booi, Selwyn Nathan and Veli Nhlapo received the Steve Tshwete Lifetime Achievement honour.
The Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket went to William Mtolo, Teenage Dladla, Prof. Mlungisi Ngubane and Patson Banda, while Rayno Nel, Tasneem Solomons and Temba Bavuma were recognised for Excellence.
It was a night when South African sport looked in the mirror and saw its past, present and future staring back.
The crown fitted. The champions roared. And the sporting heartbeat kept thumping.
