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Dobson reveals Stormers’ Springbok strategy

Adnaan MohamedNewsLeave a Comment on Dobson reveals Stormers’ Springbok strategy
By Adnaan Mohamed

The DHL Stormers are taking a more measured approach to managing their Springboks this season, with coach John Dobson determined to avoid the disruption caused by wholesale player changes during the previous United Rugby Championship campaign.

The Stormers have named a squad containing a significant Springbok contingent, creating the familiar challenge of balancing provincial ambitions with international commitments during a World Cup year.

Stormers director of rugby John Dobson said the biggest availability concerns would come during periods surrounding international rugby, although he expects his leading players to be available when the URC reaches its decisive stages.

“I think we have our players always around the playoff times,” Dobson said.

“It’s this period that’s challenging around post-Rugby Championship, what is traditionally normally not this year, the Nations Cup, but normally by the end of the November 12th. That period is very tricky.”

The Stormers also expect complications during the current period, with their Springboks returning from the four-Test series against New Zealand and preparing for further international commitments.

Dobson acknowledged that the issue is not unique to Cape Town.

“As regards players being invested towards the sharp end, that applies across every team in every tournament, from English Premiership to Irish.”

The difference this season will be the Stormers’ attempt to manage those transitions more deliberately.

Rather than returning their internationals as a single group, the franchise intends to phase them back into the squad while maintaining an approximate 80% strength team. The objective is to preserve combinations and avoid the loss of structure experienced last season.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will be one of the players carefully managed after accumulating substantial minutes during the Springboks’ recent series against the All Blacks. He will not start all four of the Stormers’ October fixtures.

The Stormers have also invested heavily in their performance structures through what they describe as Project 29.

Steph du Toit returns as the franchise’s fitness specialist, while a performance psychologist and Australian rules consultant Steve Boris have also been added. Leonora Osborne will serve as acting manager, while the academy continues under Jacques Hanekom, who brings experience from Leinster.

The Stormers believe the investment can help them close the gap on a URC field where Dobson estimates that 14 or 15 teams are capable of challenging for a top-eight place.

Leinster remains the benchmark.

The Stormers’ Currie Cup campaign, despite ending before the semi-finals, also provided valuable evidence of their depth, with Vernon Paulo, MK and Tom Barnard among those to emerge as players capable of contributing at URC level.

Several younger players, including Markus Muller, Josh Boulle and Jonathan Roche, are also being integrated into the midfield, while the highly rated “Robertson Express” (Lleyton Davids) is being developed without being rushed into URC rugby this season.

There is less positive news surrounding Ben Jason, who remains with the squad after missing the Australian tour because of delayed concussion symptoms.

“He’s battling with delayed concussion symptoms. So he hasn’t gone to Australia. So he’s here,” Dobson said.

Jason is training with the Stormers but has not yet been cleared to play.

“Hopefully, he gets cleared in time for Connacht, but he’s with us at training with us at the moment. But he’s not cleared yet.”

For the Stormers, the challenge is therefore bigger than assembling a talented squad.

They need to keep it together.

With Springbok commitments, international workloads, injuries and a fiercely competitive URC, Dobson’s latest plan places cohesion at the centre of the Stormers’ pursuit of a first URC title.

Netball Warriors dressed to kill

Adnaan MohamedNetball, NewsLeave a Comment on Netball Warriors dressed to kill
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Proteas have a new look. Now the pressure is on to make it mean something.

South Africa’s netball warriors are stepping onto the international battlefield dressed in national colours and carrying expectations that weigh far heavier than a kit bag.

PUMA and Netball South Africa have unveiled the new Home and Away strips for the SPAR Proteas and Protea Warriors ahead of the 2026 Africa Netball Cup and the 2026/27 international season.

And this kit is not shy.

The Home strip explodes in green and yellow, while the Away version cuts a cleaner figure in white. Both are splashed with angular geometric graphics that appear to slice through the fabric like lightning across a stormy Cape Town sky.

The message is unmistakable: move forward, aim higher and never stop.

The upward-pointing arrowheads represent growth, ambition and evolution, while the zigzag graphics are designed to capture the speed, movement and intensity of netball.

It is a striking visual statement.

Now comes the difficult part.

The players must give it a heartbeat.

Netball South Africa president Mami Diale believes PUMA has delivered more than sporting fashion.

“Netball South Africa is delighted with the new home and away kits for the SPAR Proteas and Protea Warriors for the 2026 Africa Netball Cup and beyond,” said Diale.

“We are confident that our kit partner PUMA has created a design that is both stylish and functional. We believe that the team will perform at their best in these new kits.”

Diale said the design also carries cultural and sporting significance.

“As a passionate sport, we believe the design encompasses a touch of African tradition, a variety of sports, lifestyle and performance elements.”

PUMA South Africa marketing director Brett Bellinger said the strip captures the identity of the national teams.

“The design embodies the spirit of the Protea men’s and women’s teams, bringing together performance, national identity and contemporary sporting style,” he said.

“The new kits celebrate the movement and passion that make netball such a growing and powerful part of South African sport.”

That growth brings scrutiny.

A beautiful kit cannot win a centre pass, produce a defensive turnover or bury the winning shot. Those jobs still belong to the warriors wearing it.

But clothing has power in sport. It can become armour, identity and a rallying cry.

The arrows on these shirts point upwards.

Now South Africa’s netball stars must follow them.

#UnitedWarriors

Two Oceans 2027: Beat the clock before race day

Adnaan MohamedEvent Update!, Features, News, Totalsports Two Oceans MarathonLeave a Comment on Two Oceans 2027: Beat the clock before race day
By Adnaan Mohamed

Thousands of Totalsports TWO OCEANS MARATHON powered by BYD hopefuls are pounding the roads, chewing up kilometres and dreaming of glory on Cape Town’s famous 56km route.

But there is another race nobody can afford to lose.

The race against the clock.

For ballot winners targeting the 2027 Two Oceans Ultra and Half Marathon, missing a crucial deadline could turn months of sweat, sacrifice and training into a cruel calendar casualty.

The organisers have issued their warning.

Ultra runners have until midnight on 7 March 2027 to submit a qualifying race. Half Marathon runners have until midnight on 28 February 2027 to submit an official seeding time.

And there will be no sprint down the admin straight after the chequered flag.

Ultra hopefuls must complete an official qualifying race between 1 May 2026 and 7 March 2027.

Totalsports TWO OCEANS HALF MARATHON powered by BYD PHOTO CREDIT Chris Hitchcock

A standard 42.2km marathon must be completed in under five hours, while longer races must satisfy the applicable Two Oceans qualifying standard.

The race must be officially measured and timed, with the distance meeting Athletics South Africa and World Athletics measurement standards.

In other words, runners cannot rely on a GPS watch having a bad day or a race organiser’s creative approach to kilometres.

For Half Marathon runners, the magic numbers are 10km, 15km and 21.1km. An official time from one of those distances must be submitted by 28 February 2027 to ensure correct seeding.

Chris Goldschmidt, Chairperson of the Two Oceans Marathon NPC, urged runners to get their ducks in a row.

“Race Day is the culmination of months of preparation, and we want to make sure that runners have all the information they need to prepare with confidence,” he said.

Wade Bromfield, Event Director, was equally clear: “Please don’t leave it until the last minute.”

The 2027 running festival kicks off with the 8km Night Run on 31 March, followed by the 4.5km International Friendship Run on 1 April and Trail Run on 2 April.

Totalsports TWO OCEANS HALF MARATHON powered by BYD PHOTO CREDIT Chris Hitchcock

The Half Marathon fires on 3 April, followed by the big one, the 56km Ultra, on 4 April, both finishing at the UCT Rugby Fields.

So runners, lace up, check the diary and get moving.

Because on this particular race, the first finish line is paperwork.

Miss it, and the mountain may never get the chance to break you.

The deadline could do it first.

Miss the date, Miss the start!

Official submissions are made through the Totalsports TWO OCEANS MARATHON website.

Tatjana is back: Olympic star returns for SA Championships

Adnaan MohamedNews, Preview, SwimmingLeave a Comment on Tatjana is back: Olympic star returns for SA Championships
By Adnaan Mohamed

The return of Tatjana Smith has injected fresh electricity into next week’s South African Short Course Championships, turning a routine national meet into one of the country’s most intriguing swimming stories of the year.

Tatjana Smith – Credit World Aquatics

Smith, formerly Schoenmaker, will return to competition at the GC Jolliffe swimming pool from 24 to 27 September, almost two years after retiring following her gold and silver medals at the Paris Olympics.

The four-time Olympic medallist is entered in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, as well as several relays for her new Stellenbosch-based team, Lane Leader.

Tatjana Smith gold – Credit World Aquatics

Swimming South Africa Head of High Performance Dean Price welcomed her return.

“We’re very excited that Tatjana is coming back to swimming. We know Tatjana is an excellent racer, so you can really count on her in a big event. I think she’ll be a huge addition to our team, and I think not only in the individual, but I think she can be of great value in the relays as well… We look forward to her competing in her first event, and we feel very confident that she’s going to do very well.”

Michael Houlie, a Commonwealth Games silver medallist and former national teammate, believes Smith’s new-found freedom could make her particularly dangerous.

Michael Houlie – Credit SASCOC-Team SA

“She’s a phenomenal swimmer, but more importantly, she looks like a happy swimmer right now. And that could be dangerous for everyone else, so the world better watch out,” he said.

“She has absolutely nothing left to prove, which means she has the opportunity to race completely free and just enjoy swimming again.”

Duné Coetzee, another former Tokyo teammate, added: “I think it is amazing that she is coming back. She is the best there is and such a huge inspiration to me. I’m really excited to see her race again and to learn from her.”

Houlie will also make his first appearance at the championships since 2018, targeting qualification for December’s World Short Course Championships in Beijing in the 50m and 100m breaststroke and 50m freestyle.

“Short course metres is a different type of racing,” he said, pointing to the increased demands of walls, pullouts and transitions.

Coetzee brings another compelling storyline. Having moved to Pietermaritzburg a month ago to train at Seals Swimming Club under Wayne Riddin, she will race eight individual freestyle and butterfly events in her home training pool.

Dune Coetzee – Credit SA Sports Images

“Training has been going exceptionally well,” she said. “I’ve been doing some of the hardest sets I have ever done, which has been really motivating and has also given me a lot of confidence in my swimming.”

Commonwealth Games relay medallists Hannah Pearse, Georgia Nel, Guy Brooks and Chris Smith are also entered, while Para swimmer Christian Sadie arrives fresh from winning S7 50m freestyle gold in Glasgow.

For four days, the 25m pool will become a cauldron of turns, underwater battles and stopwatch drama.

Smith’s comeback supplies the headline.

The racing will supply the verdict.

Adam Lipschitz smashes Gun Run record as Irvette van Zyl makes winning return after seven years

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Adam Lipschitz smashes Gun Run record as Irvette van Zyl makes winning return after seven years
By Adnaan Mohamed

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.

The Social Runners Club KZN athlete delivered on that promise, winning in 1:02:21 and taking down the previous record held by Hollywood Athletics Club’s Joseph Seutloali.

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.

Irvette Van Zyl returns in style

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.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL YOUR GUN RUN 2026 RESULTS:

Image Credits: OUTsurance Gun Run and AAC

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.

Hollywood Athletics Club stars headline Gun Run

Adnaan MohamedNews, PreviewLeave a Comment on Hollywood Athletics Club stars headline Gun Run
By Adnaan Mohamed

Irvette van Zyl returns to the OUTsurance Gun Run this weekend after a seven-year absence, with the four-time Olympian targeting another fast performance on the Cape Town course where she produced one of the event’s most notable runs.

Van Zyl will contest Sunday’s 21.1km Half Marathon, while fellow Hollywood Athletics Club athlete Stephen Mokoka lines up in Saturday’s 10km, where the 41-year-old veteran enters as one of the leading contenders.

Van Zyl’s last appearance at the Gun Run came in 2019, when she won the women’s half-marathon in 1:12:11.

That remains the second-fastest women’s time in the race’s history, behind Elana van Zyl’s 1:10:55 course record set in 1999.

The performance was particularly impressive given that Van Zyl had undergone significant surgery earlier that year before returning to top form.

Seven years later, she is looking forward to tackling the course again.

“I’m quite excited,” Van Zyl said.

“This is the first time I will be back running it since 2019. I knew I wanted to go back but never had the chance. So yeah, just excited everything worked out this year that I can go and run it.”

The 30-year-old knows the course well and remains fond of its combination of challenge and scenery.

“I like the route. It has a bit of a tough hill in it and yeah, it’s just nice views running it and it’s almost a great atmosphere running in Cape Town and going through C point at the finish.”

Van Zyl has set herself a realistic target rather than chasing her 2019 performance at all costs.

“I’m hoping for close to that time that I did run in 2019. So anything under 73 I’ll be very happy with, but the weather also has to play with. So we’ll see.”

For the South African marathoner, the significance of her return extends beyond the stopwatch.

“But yeah, I’m just excited to be healthy and be running and just be back after seven years of absence and really looking forward to it.”

While Van Zyl will be chasing another strong performance over 21.1km, Mokoka will be aiming to make an immediate impact on his Gun Run debut.

The former South African 10km record holder boasts a 27:38 personal best, recorded in Manchester in 2015, as well as a 59:36 half-marathon best and a 2:06 marathon personal best.

His longevity remains one of the defining features of his career. Mokoka is a four-time Olympian and has represented South Africa at five World Championships.

His 2026 season has also demonstrated that his speed remains intact, including a sub-29-minute performance at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km.

Last year’s Gun Run 10km winner, Adam Lipschitz, has moved up to the half-marathon this year, where he will target the course record.

That leaves Mokoka as the leading name in the 10km field, although several Cape Town-based athletes will be hoping to disrupt his winning plans.

The weekend therefore offers Hollywood Athletics Club two experienced international performers with very different objectives.

For Van Zyl, it is a long-awaited return to a course where she has already left her mark.

For Mokoka, it is an opportunity to add a Gun Run victory to an already decorated distance-running career.

The stopwatch will settle the argument.

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.