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Springboks vs All Blacks: Baltimore Rugby Brawl Awaits

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, News, Preview, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Springboks vs All Blacks: Baltimore Rugby Brawl Awaits
By Adnaan Mohamed

The All Blacks are desperate. The Springboks are hunting. Baltimore is the battleground.

There will be nowhere to hide when the Springboks and All Blacks slug it out in Baltimore on Saturday.

This is rugby stripped down to its studs: four games in a row, two wounded heavyweights, one series trophy and enough national pride to power a stadium.

The Boks lead. The All Blacks want to drag them into the gutter and level the series.

Siya Kolisi has seen this movie before. He knows the haka comes with teeth.

“We definitely want to win the series,” said the Springbok captain.

“We don’t want to draw it, and that has been our mindset this week.”

Translation: the Boks have no appetite for polite handshakes and participation medals.

They want the trophy.

They want the win.

And, above everything, they want South Africans to puff out their chests.

“We’ve all seen in the last three games that if you are not at your best, they have what it takes to punish you. But so do we, and we want to make sure we keep making our people proud.”

The stakes are already sky-high. Then rugby decided to throw another log on the fire.

Saturday marks Rassie Erasmus’ 100th Test match in his two Springbok roles as head coach and Director of Rugby.

For Kolisi, this four-Test marathon has felt less like a series and more like a succession of World Cup finals.

“In my experience, it doesn’t get tougher than this. It’s like playing four Rugby World Cup finals in as many weeks given the quality of both teams.”

That is not hype. That is a warning label.

The All Blacks have changed personnel and brought Richie Mo’unga back at flyhalf. Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick expected the move and reckons New Zealand could unleash an even more adventurous attack.

“Richie is world class and we know him well,” said Stick.

“I think the All Blacks are going to be even more bold tomorrow when it comes to keeping the ball alive and using the wide channels, and we know how dangerous they are.”

So expect the ball to fly, bodies to fly and somebody’s game plan to eventually crash into the advertising hoardings.

The Bok answer?

Bring the thunder.

“The most important aspect for us is to enforce our game on them physically and go from there,” Stick said.

That phrase, enforce our game, should make the All Blacks nervous.

Because the Boks are not arriving in Maryland to admire the scenery.

They are arriving to impose themselves.

Kolisi, meanwhile, has no intention of allowing outside noise to hijack the Bok blueprint.

“Our system isn’t rigid. We can play set-piece rugby and a kicking game. We don’t have a system that says we have to play a certain way. It’s one that creates opportunities for us to play.”

And Baltimore is already buzzing.

Stick says South Africans are everywhere, dressed in green and gold and travelling from across the United States to back their team.

“There are a lot of South Africans here and the vibe is great, so we are excited about the opportunity to promote rugby in the USA.”

Even Stick got a taste of American sporting culture, watching baseball and ticking an item off his bucket list.

His verdict on the pitchers?

“I thought (Kagiso) Rabada (Proteas bowler) was fast until I saw those pitchers.”

Now the Boks need to throw a few fastballs of their own.

Kick-off is 17h00 Baltimore time, 23h00 SA time, live on SuperSport.

Erasmus has 100 Tests to celebrate.

Kolisi has cap 107.

The All Blacks have desperation.

The Boks have a trophy to grab.

Baltimore has been warned.

Baltimore Brawl! Boks, All Blacks Ready for War

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, News, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Baltimore Brawl! Boks, All Blacks Ready for War
By Adnaan Mohamed

It’s payback time.

The Springboks and All Blacks are heading into a Baltimore blockbuster with Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR) trophy hanging in the balance and nowhere to hide.

Saturday’s showdown at M&T Bank Stadium is rugby’s heavyweight grudge match with a golden prize at stake.

The Boks lead the series 2-1 after victories in Cape Town and Soweto, having been stunned 33-16 by New Zealand at Ellis Park in the opener.

Now the All Blacks need another knockout blow to force a share of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry trophy.

For the Boks, anything short of victory will leave a bitter taste.

Rassie Erasmus knows exactly what is at stake.

“It’s two good teams who are facing each other again.

“It’s self-explanatory that if New Zealand win it’s a draw and if we’re victorious we’ll win the series.

“That’s what’s on the line, and that’s how we’re approaching this week.”

NO SAVEA, NO EXCUSES

New Zealand arrive wounded by the loss of powerhouse loose forward Ardie Savea.

Erasmus expects the All Blacks to reload rather than retreat.

“Ardie is a real influential player for them,” he said.

“You’ll probably never be able to replace a guy like Ardie Savea 100 percent, but players get older, they retire, and one day you have to replace them.”

The Boks know the danger. New Zealand have enough firepower to turn a match into a five-alarm fire within minutes.

And this time there is no Ellis Park fortress, no DHL Stadium cauldron and no Soweto roar.

There is Baltimore.

Erasmus is unfazed.

“A neutral ground is still 70×100 metres with a good crowd.”

The M&T Bank Stadium can hold 70,745 spectators, creating the tantalising prospect of a green-and-gold invasion against a black-shirted army.

Damian de Allende wants America to witness the rivalry at its rawest.

“They should come out and watch the rivalry between the Springboks and New Zealand,” he said.

“The best way to sell it is to have them come to the stadium and enjoy the experience of watching the top two teams in the world.”

MO’UNGA RETURNS

New Zealand coach Dave Rennie has pulled another rabbit from the hat.

Richie Mo’unga makes his first Test start since the 2023 World Cup final, adding a world-class conductor to an All Blacks attack desperate to turn opportunities into points.

New Zealand made 12 linebreaks to South Africa’s five in Soweto, yet still walked away empty-handed.

Rennie wants that changed.

“We just need to be better.”

“The set-piece stuff will be very important.”

His revamped loose trio of Peter Lakai, Ethan Blackadder and Tupou Vaa’i will have the unenviable task of confronting a Bok pack built like a brick wall.

Codie Taylor returns as captain, bringing experience after injuries robbed the All Blacks of Luke Jacobson and Savea.

“He gives us a lot of experience and leadership,” Rennie said.

The Boks have their own weapons.

Damian Willemse returns at fullback, offering aerial security and counterattacking electricity with Cheslin Kolbe unavailable.

Morne van den Berg’s explosive cameo in Soweto earned him the starting scrumhalf berth, while Jasper Wiese and Malcolm Marx remain central to the Boks’ collision-heavy blueprint.

Ethan Hooker will also be under the spotlight, with the aerial contest likely to become another battlefield.

Then there is the bench.

Cameron Hanekom. Manie Libbok. Deon Fourie.

South Africa have ammunition waiting for the final 20 minutes.

New Zealand have Wallace Sititi waiting in the shadows.

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry has crossed the Atlantic.

Now Baltimore gets the bill.

And this time, there is no hiding place.

“One trophy. Two giants. Baltimore gets the final punch.”

Teams

South Africa: Damian Willemse; Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg; Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain); Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth; Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche.

Replacements: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.

New Zealand: Damian McKenzie; Will Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby; Richie Mo’unga, Cam Roigard; Peter Lakai, Ethan Blackadder, Tupou Vaa’i; Sam Darry, Patrick Tuipulotu; Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor (captain), Ethan de Groot.

Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Josh Lord, Wallace Sititi, Kyle Preston, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett.

Match essentials

Saturday, September 12 | M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
Kick-off: 23:00 SA Time
Referee: Karl Dickson
TMO: Andrew Jackson
Expected conditions: 22°C-27°C, humid and mostly cloudy, with thunderstorms possible.

Damian de Allende reveals secret behind Springboks’ defensive strength

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, Features, News, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Damian de Allende reveals secret behind Springboks’ defensive strength

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.”

De Allende believes the All Blacks’ attacking patterns require the Springboks to be disciplined and well prepared.

“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.

Etzebeth: All Blacks series tougher than a World Cup

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, Features, News, Preview, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Etzebeth: All Blacks series tougher than a World Cup
By Adnaan Mohamed

Eben Etzebeth believes the Springboks’ unprecedented four-Test series against the All Blacks ranks 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.”

Etzebeth’s own return has added another dimension to the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series.

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.

Rassie’s Baltimore Battle Squad!

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, News, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Rassie’s Baltimore Battle Squad!
By Adnaan Mohamed

Rassie Erasmus has loaded the Springbok cannon, pointed it at Baltimore and declared war on the All Blacks’ hopes of stealing the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry crown.

With South Africa leading 2-1, the Bok boss has resisted wholesale tinkering and unleashed a battle-hardened XV for Saturday night’s winner-takes-the-trophy showdown at M&T Bank Stadium.

The message from the Bok camp is brutally simple: hold the line, finish the job, lift the cup.

Damian Willemse returns at fullback after recovering from his niggle, while Morne van den Berg is promoted from impact sub to starting scrumhalf. Cheslin Kolbe’s injury has forced the backline change, while Cobus Reinach brings his experience off the bench as the Boks prepare for another heavyweight slugfest with their oldest rivals.

Erasmus has backed the warriors who dragged South Africa into the series lead through two pulsating Tests, banking on continuity as the All Blacks sharpen their swords for one final assault, The Bok coach resisted the temptation to tear up a winning blueprint after two bruising victories, trusting the squad that has weathered the All Black storm and emerged with a 2-1 advantage.

“We feel that the team is well settled and all the players delivered in their respective roles in the last two matches, so we believe selecting the same matchday squad, and naming Damian back in his regular position, makes sense for the closing match of the series,” said Erasmus.

“These players also know exactly what to expect from a very determined All Blacks team, who will give everything to draw the series this weekend.”

Willemse returns after missing the Johannesburg Test through a niggle, bringing 54 caps and a box of attacking tricks to the No 15 jersey.

“Damian started the first two Tests and had it not been for a niggle last week, he would have also started that match, so it’s good to have him back. He is a quality player, and he knows the guys around him very well, so it will simply be a matter of him picking up where he left off before last week.”

Van den Berg gets his chance after an electric cameo last weekend.

“Morne, meanwhile, made a fantastic impact when he took the field last week, and he deserves a chance to start, so Cobus switches to the bench where he will add experience and skill in this vital match.”

The All Blacks are expected to arrive with their pride sharpened into a spear. Erasmus knows the decider could become an 80-minute street fight dressed in rugby jerseys.

“We have faced the All Blacks three weeks in a row, and just like us, they are a proud team who showed last week that they will never stop fighting until the final whistle, so we are under no illusions about the magnitude of the challenge ahead this weekend.

“That said, we are equally determined to finish the series strongly and give everything to lift the trophy, and the players are excited about the match.

“We have no doubt that it’s going to be another epic encounter that will require a full-blown 80-minute effort on attack and defence, so we will manage the players well this week to ensure that they are ready physically and mentally for Saturday.”

The starting XV carries a colossal 927 Test caps, with 600 among the forwards and 327 in the backline. The bench adds another 277.

The trophy is tantalisingly close, the Kiwi comeback machine is expected to arrive with its engine screaming, and Baltimore is about to become the latest battlefield in rugby’s most combustible rivalry.

One Bok victory crowns South Africa inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry champions. One All Black victory blows the series wide open and sends the decider into rugby folklore.

Springboks:
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 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: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.

Stats and facts:

Springbok record against New Zealand:

Played: 113, Won: 45, Lost: 64, Drawn: 4. Points for: 1 928; Points against: 2 352; Tries scored: 188; Tries conceded: 261. Win %: 39,8%.

Miscellaneous:

  • Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as the most capped Springbok player of all time to 146 caps when he takes the field.
  • The loose trio of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese will extend the record they set last week to overtake Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, and Duane Vermeuelen (17) as the loose trio with the most Test starts to 19 matches.
  • The Springboks have only played three Test matches in the USA in history where they defeated the USA 38-7 in 1981 and 43-10 in 2001, while they suffered a narrow 22-20 defeat against Wales in Washington DC in 2018, which was Erasmus’ first Test in charge as head coach.
  • This match will mark the first Springbok Test in history to be played in Baltimore.
  • Jasper Wiese requires only one more Test match appearance after this encounter to join the group of players who have earned 50Test caps.
  • The Springboks have won seven of the last nine matches against the All Blacks dating back to August 2023.
  • The 2031 Rugby World Cup will be hosted in the USA.
  • The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up is 927.There are 327 caps in the backline, with 600 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 277 caps.
  • The average caps per player in the backline is 47, the forwards 75, while the players on the bench average 35.

One more punch in Baltimore!

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, News, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on One more punch in Baltimore!
By Adnaan Mohamed

Rassie Erasmus has slammed the brakes on the Springboks victory party. The Springboks may have put New Zealand on the ropes with a pulsating 29-24 knockout at a thunderous FNB Stadium on Saturday, but their wily coach knows the All Blacks are wounded animals with one more bite left.

The series is alive.

And Baltimore is where the bloody business gets finished.

South Africa now lead the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series 2-1, but Erasmus refuses to believe the trophy is safely tucked under his arm.

“I know a lot of people said that this is the series here in South Africa, but it is not – we’ve played three games here and we’re one up, but the final game is still to come,” he said.

“I know we can’t lose it anymore because there’s not points difference or tries scored (as a tie breaker). But the trophy was actually designed in two halves to be shared if it’s a draw. So, it’s game on.”

And make no mistake, this rivalry has produced rugby with more twists than a crime thriller.

The Springboks spent much of Saturday chasing shadows, trailing until the 58th minute before finally wresting control from the All Blacks.

It was less victory parade and more street fight.

“We are happy tonight. It was epic. It was intense. I think the scoreboard at the end showed how close the game was. We’re just happy we won,” said Erasmus.

His honesty was brutal.

“They were definitely on top (in the first half). All of us I think envy the way they can handle the ball and they’re certainly brilliant at that. Luckily we went in level at halftime which gives you some hope.”

Then came the admission that will delight Bok fans and give New Zealand ammunition.

“I’m not sure what my heart rate was but we were certainly nervous. And I think they were nervous.”

The travelling circus now moves to America, with the fierce rivals sharing a flight before resuming hostilities.

Erasmus even joked about sharing a beer with All Blacks coach Dave Rennie.

“Hopefully me and Dave will have a beer. His will be a little bit more bitter and mine will be a little sweeter.”

The smiles, however, will disappear once camp opens.

“We assess the injuries; we start planning and it’s number one and two again. It’s the greatest rivalry and we play to try and win the series, and they will try and to draw the series. So, no, it’s going to be flipping important.”

The Boks will be without Cheslin Kolbe after Erasmus revealed the electric wing fractured his jaw. Erasmus reveled that scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies will replace Kolbe for the trip to the USA.

Cheslin Kolbe suffered a broken jaw in the third test in Soweto Photo: SA Rugby

Carlu Sadie, Boan Venter, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Cobus Wiese and Ben-Jason Dixon will also stay behind.

Damian Willemse, Grant Williams and Canan Moodie are fit and will travel.

Erasmus knows the Boks escaped Soweto with more than skill.

“It’s massive, this is. You’re playing number one and two in the world and it switches one week to the next and it certainly lives up to that (hype), and I can tell you now, we’re not sitting here thinking we are flipping awesome. We’re thinking there was also a lot of luck that that went our way.”

So forget the coronation.

Forget the champagne.

Forget the trophy photographs.

For now.

The Boks have one punch left to throw.

So do the All Blacks.

Baltimore, buckle up.

The Greatest Rivalry is coming to town.

The quiet power of Siya Kolisi’s 55

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, Features, News, Rugby, Springboks, Totalsports Two Oceans MarathonLeave a Comment on The quiet power of Siya Kolisi’s 55

By Adnaan Mohamed at the FNB Stadium in Soweto

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 said Springboks 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 told Modern Athlete after 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.

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.

Springboks hold off All Blacks in Soweto thriller

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, Features, News, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Springboks hold off All Blacks in Soweto thriller
Adnaan Mohamed at FNB Stadium, Soweto

The Springboks survived a fierce challenge from the All Blacks to win 29-24 at FNB Stadium on Saturday night, securing an unassailable lead in the four-Test series in front of a crowd of nearly 90 000.

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.

New Zealand made the stronger start.

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.

Ethan Hooker was named Player of the Match after an influential performance for South Africa.

There is little time for either side to reflect.

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.

SPRINGBOKS – Tries: Kurt-Lee Arendse, penalty try, Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2). Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
ALL BLACKS – Tries: Ardie Savea (2), Will Jordan, Samisoni Taukei’aho. Conversions: Ruben Love, Damian McKenzie.

Image Credit: x.com/Springboks

Soweto calls. Siya must answer.

Adnaan MohamedNews, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Soweto calls. Siya must answer.
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Calabash will roar. The rain may fall. And somewhere inside the thunder of 90 000 voices, Siya Kolisi will carry a piece of South African history onto the FNB Stadium battlefield.

For the Springbok captain, Saturday’s third Test against the All Blacks is bigger than a series decider.

It is personal.

It is political history without the politics.

And it is an opportunity to repay a debt to the people of Soweto whose sacrifices helped create the freedom that allowed Kolisi and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick to rise to the summit of South African sport.

“We’re thankful for the people connected to that place who fought for the freedom that lets me and him [assistant coach Mzwandile Stick] sit here today,” Kolisi said on Friday.

“Giving our best tomorrow, and using every opportunity we get, is part of us saying thank you.”

Those words will carry considerable weight when the Springboks emerge into the cauldron.

Kolisi spoke about Soweto’s sporting heartbeat, recalling the 1996 African Cup of Nations and the extraordinary connection between the stadium and its community.

He spoke, too, about homeless residents cheering the Springbok bus and locals sacrificing what little they have so others can experience the spectacle.

“It hasn’t always gone our way in Soweto, we didn’t win the first time we played here, but the numbers that show up at the stadium, and the vibe inside it, we feel it,” he said.

“We hope we can give them a good memory, not just with words but with our efforts tomorrow.”

History is also waiting for Kolisi personally.

Victory would give him 55 Test wins as Springbok captain, taking him beyond John Smit and into record territory.

Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese and Kolisi will also establish a new record for Tests played together as a Springbok loose trio.

Kolisi, though, refuses to make the occasion about himself.

“As for the wins record, that’s a team achievement, not mine personally. As long as we win, I’m happy, because it shows we’re building and moving forward as a group.”

That collective mindset will be tested by an All Blacks side with its own pride bruised after losing 33-26 in Cape Town.

New Zealand captain Ardie Savea knows exactly where the battle could be won.

The breakdown.

“Every rugby team is trying to hunt turnovers at the breakdown, and there’s no doubt the Springboks are strong there,” Savea said. “They did a good job keeping us out last week, and they’ll have to do it again this week.”

The All Blacks cannot afford another sluggish launch.

“You wouldn’t be an All Black if you weren’t confident by this point in the week, so we’re confident, but we also respect the threat the Springboks pose.”

“Last week they came out firing … we’d talked about starting well and didn’t quite deliver on that.”

Savea will also have to contend with his friend turned foe.

Kolisi’s thunderous tackle in Cape Town remains fresh in his memory.

“I told him, next time, tackle me frontwards, take me home,” Savea joked. “I was lying on the ground and all I could hear was my dad’s voice telling me to get up. So, I got up.”

Then the smile disappeared.

“Siya’s the same guy off the field, we get on well, but once you’re on the field you’re locked in, he’s the enemy out there. That’s footy, we’re going to try and smash each other tomorrow, then jump on the plane again afterwards.”

Savea likened the decider to State of Origin: “Game three, one apiece, here in Africa, so it’s a big one.”

He knows the All Blacks must be clinical.

“We have to be really clinical, accurate and disciplined. They’re world champions for a reason, and if you do that you won’t get it back.”

Kolisi expects the weather to be irrelevant.

“It won’t affect our game plan at all. The way we play is built for any weather.”

That is the challenge facing New Zealand.

Stop the Springbok juggernaut. Survive the Soweto storm. Silence the Calabash.

For Kolisi, the equation is simpler.

Give everything.

Give thanks.

Make history.

South Africa: Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche.

Replacements: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Morne van den Berg, Manie Libbok.

New Zealand: Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupea, Jordie Barrett, Leroy Carter, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard, Ardie Savea (captain), Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai, Sam Darry, Tupuo Vaa’i, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, George Bower.

Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Fabian Holland, Wallace Sititi, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby.

Saturday, September 5 | FNB Stadium, Soweto | 17:10 SA time

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

Springbok try machine KLA is back for Soweto clash

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, News, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Springbok try machine KLA is back for Soweto clash
By Adnaan Mohamed

Kurt-Lee Arendse is back in the Springbok starting XV, and Rassie Erasmus is hoping the try-scoring machine can provide another spark when the All Blacks roll into the roaring cauldron of FNB Stadium on Saturday.

Arendse returns on the right wing for the third Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test after missing the 33-26 Cape Town victory.

Cheslin Kolbe moves to fullback following Damian Willemse’s injury, giving the Springboks a reshuffled back three with enough pace and mischief to keep New Zealand’s defence guessing.

For Arendse, it is an opportunity to remind everyone why his name remains synonymous with finishing.

The Bulls flyer has scored 25 tries in 33 Tests, a strike rate that makes him one of the most dangerous predators in the Springbok backline.

“Kurt-Lee was unlucky not to play last week after Cheslin recovered from his niggle, so we are pleased to see him back,” Erasmus said.

“He is a quality player and his 25 tries in 33 matches so far shows the type of player he is.”

Erasmus has otherwise opted for continuity after the Springboks levelled the four-Test series in Cape Town.

“It was always our plan to have a little more continuity in player combinations for this series, and we thought that the players who did the job for us last week really showed composure and did well to stick to the plan and what we wanted to achieve last week,” he said.

“Unfortunately, Damian Willemse took a knock in the first half and was not available for selection this weekend, and neither was Handre Pollard, and by sticking to these combinations and making one switch with Cheslin at fullback, we thought it would be the best for this match.”

The front row has also been reset, with Ox Nche, Wilco Louw and Malcolm Marx returning to the starting lineup after Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit and Deon Fourie started in Cape Town.

“We decided to change our front rows last week due to the weather conditions, and Johannesburg weather is different to Cape Town, so we thought this would be the best decision for us this weekend,” Erasmus said.

He added that the players moving to the bench remain vital weapons.

“Gerhard, Thomas, and Deon have played massive games for us, and at the same time know how to deal with pressure, and that is exactly what we need against a never-say-die team like the All Blacks, who play for the full 80-minutes.”

Erasmus expects New Zealand to respond with the fury of a wounded heavyweight.

“We know how it felt after the first match in Johannesburg, and such a result really galvanises a team, so we have no doubt that they will go full-out to win this Test match before the series finale in the USA next week,” he said.

“They are one of the two best teams in the world and based on experience, they never give up, as we saw last weekend, so this will undoubtedly be another epic encounter between the sides.”

The stakes are enormous.

“This game is going to be equally, if not more intense than the last two given the fact that the team that wins this match will be two games up in the series,” Erasmus said.

“That will make the clash in the USA the decider or game that could see the series finish in a draw, so there will be a different vibe around this match.”

And then there is FNB Stadium.

“We are excited that we will be playing at the FNB stadium, where on a good day there is an 80 000-strong crowd,” Erasmus said.

“With the vuvuzelas and passionate crowd there, we can hardly hear one another on the field, so we are all thrilled about this occasion.”

The final warning was unmistakably Erasmus.

“But make no mistake, this is going to be another intense battle between the two top teams in the world who are both looking to get an edge in the series, so we know what we have to do, and composure and accuracy are going to be vital for both sides.”

For Arendse, the assignment is brutally simple.

Get the ball.

Find the gap.

Finish the job.