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Stormers Reinforced by Nine Springboks for High-Stakes Champions Cup Battle in Gqeberha

Adnaan MohamedNews, RugbyLeave a Comment on Stormers Reinforced by Nine Springboks for High-Stakes Champions Cup Battle in Gqeberha
Adnaan Mohamed

The DHL Stormers will take the field at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday with a formidable array of national talent, as nine Springboks have been named in the starting lineup for their Investec Champions Cup clash against two-time champions Stade Rochelais.

The match, scheduled for 15:30, is one of the most anticipated fixtures of the pool stage, and the Stormers fresh off a 26–17 away win over Bayonne, are bolstering their ranks with returning stars.

Warrick Gelant’s recovery from illness restores stability and counter-attacking quality to the backfield. He is joined by wings Dylan Maart and Leolin Zas, who continue to offer pace and finishing ability. Damian Willemse has been rested due to a slight hamstring niggle but is expected to return next week.

The midfield sees experienced centre Ruhan Nel reunited with Jonathan Roche, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and veteran scrumhalf Cobus Reinach form a halfback pairing capable of dictating tempo and territorial pressure.

Evan Roos, influential off the bench last week, returns to the No. 8 jersey. Alongside Ben-Jason Dixon and Paul de Villiers, the loose trio is expected to play a crucial role in both breakdown intensity and defensive organisation.

In the tight five, locks JD Schickerling and captain Salmaan Moerat provide continuity and lineout strength. André-Hugo Venter starts at hooker, flanked by Springbok props Ntuthuko Mchunu and Neethling Fouché.

The bench offers significant depth, with JJ Kotzé, Connor Evans, Ruan Ackermann, Imad Khan and Wandisile Simelane, all starters in Bayonne, joined by experienced forwards Oli Kebble, Sazi Sandi and Marcel Theunissen.

Director of Rugby John Dobson emphasised the challenge ahead:

“It was great to win away from home, but we have to back that up now and we know that it will take a big effort against a highly physical Stade Rochelais team. We always get such fantastic support in Gqeberha… we’re looking forward to a match with Test match intensity.

The final squad list will be officially confirmed by EPCR at 14:00 on Friday, with changes still permitted before the deadline.

DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

A Five-Year Stride: Totalsports and Two Oceans Chart a Bold New Road

Adnaan MohamedNews, Totalsports Two Oceans MarathonLeave a Comment on A Five-Year Stride: Totalsports and Two Oceans Chart a Bold New Road
By Adnaan Mohamed

Totalsports has extended its title sponsorship of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon (TTOM) for a further five years, and will also sponsor the Trail Run from 2026 securing long-term backing for one of South Africa’s premier road-running events

“Totalsports’ decision to extend their Title Sponsorship for another five years is a powerful endorsement of the direction in which the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon is heading,” said Chairperson Chris Goldschmidt, describing a partnership that has become as familiar as the sea breeze that greets runners along the coastline.

TTOM General Manager Wade Bromfield echoed that sense of renewed momentum.

“This unprecedented five-year commitment demonstrates Totalsports’ belief in the event, the team, the runners, and the sport itself… we are committed to ensuring every touchpoint provides a seamless, joyful, and unforgettable experience.”

Runners enjoying the on-route beauty of the World’s Most Beautiful Marathon in 2025 Photo Credit: Luigi Bennett

It was the kind of promise that lands softly but carries far, like the light, confident footfall of a runner cresting Constantia Nek.

From 2026, Totalsports will also become title sponsor of the Two Oceans Marathon Trail Run, a move that expands the event’s footprint into the rugged, untamed terrain where trail runners find their heartbeat.

“We are excited… the Trail Run embodies the same spirit of adventure, community, and love for the sport that defines Totalsports,” said Totalsport’s Jonathan Stein.

The 2026 weekend will unfold across three days, the trail, ultra and half making it a festival of endurance stitched into Cape Town’s autumn glow.

Entrants across all distances will receive an exclusive race T-shirt and limited-edition Versus socks, small souvenirs of a journey far bigger than the garments themselves.

The World’s Most Beautiful Marathon now steps into its next chapter with a long, confident stride buoyed by partnership, driven by purpose, and carried forward by the thousands who chase its winding, ocean-kissed kilometres each year.

Blitzboks Defend Cape Town Crown in Sevens Thriller

Adnaan MohamedNews, RugbyLeave a Comment on Blitzboks Defend Cape Town Crown in Sevens Thriller
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Blitzboks needed every ounce of heart, hustle and hard-headed defence to cling onto their HSBC SVNS Cape Town title on Sunday with a 21–19 comeback classic victory over Argentina.

In a match that swung like a loose pass in a gale, South Africa and Argentina traded three tries each, but it was one final defensive stand, the kind that rattles ribcages and rewrites scripts, that lifted a heaving DHL Stadium crowd of 31,941 to its feet.

With time up, Argentina launched one last assault. The Blitzboks didn’t blink. They smashed, scrambled and suffocated until the whistle sounded and the hosts became the first team to defend the Cape Town title.

Blitzboks Roar Back to Stun Argentina in the final

Argentina struck first, slicing from a midfield scrum as Luciano Gonzalez dotted down for 7–0. But the Blitzboks hit straight back: Zain Davids intercepted deep inside the South African 22, the ball was whipped wide, and Donavan Don burned the touchline to level at 7–7 after Ricardo Duarttee’s conversion.

Then came the Marcos Moneta show. The Pumas’ speedster pounced from the restart to make it 14–7, and early in the second half he tore away again for a 19–7 lead that quietened the stadium.

South Africa’s reply? Guts, grit, and the kind of chaos rugby that Cape Town loves.

Debutant Nabo Sokoyi dipped, darted and danced from 50 metres out to drag the Blitzboks within five (19–14), before replacements cranked up the tempo. When a turnover popped loose, Christie Grobbelaar streaked under the uprights to give South Africa a 21–19 lead with just 30 seconds left.

The restart went out on the full handing Argentina one last chance. But the Blitzboks’ defensive wall slammed shut with a series of bruising hits before winning the penalty that sealed a famous, unbeaten home weekend.

“We had to dig deep,” said coach Philip Snyman afterwards.

“But this team thrives when their backs are against the wall, and the crowd carried us. Cape Town was unbelievable.”

Semi-Final: Blitzboks Survive French Scare

Their 22–17 semi-final victory over France earlier on Sunday was a rollercoaster of its own. It was a match rich in momentum swings and sprinkled with individual magic.

Shilton van Wyk continued his hot streak with a first-minute try, before Tristan Leyds showed quick wits and quicker feet with a tap-and-go effort for 10–0.

France hit back through Jordan Sepho, but Van Wyk pounced on a fortunate bounce from the restart to sprint 60 metres for his second, Duarttee converting for 17–5.

The French replied through Josselin Bouhier either side of halftime, levelling at 17–17 as he chased down a bouncing ball reminiscent of Van Wyk’s effort.

But Ryan Oosthuizen produced the decisive blow, crashing over after a turnover in the French 22 to seal the Blitzboks’ place in the final.

“We stayed calm and trusted our system,” said Snyman. “The boys showed great composure when it mattered.”

FULL SCORERS

Semi-final: South Africa 22 (17) – France 17 (12)

Blitzboks tries: Shilton van Wyk (2), Tristan Leyds, Ryan Oosthuizen
Conversion: Ricardo Duarttee
France tries: Jordan Sepho, Josselin Bouhier (2)
Conversion: Stephen Parez Edo Martin

Final: South Africa 21 (7) – Argentina 19 (14)

Blitzboks tries: Donavan Don, Nabo Sokoyi, Christie Grobbelaar
Conversions: Ricardo Duarttee (3)
Argentina tries: Luciano Gonzalez, Marcos Moneta (2)
Conversions: Santiago Vera Feld (2)

Springboks opponents for third consecutive RWC title defence in Australia revealed

Adnaan MohamedNews, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Springboks opponents for third consecutive RWC title defence in Australia revealed
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Springboks pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive Rugby World Cup title will unfold against familiar opponents after the defending champions were drawn into Pool B with Italy, Georgia and Romania for the 2027 tournament in Australia.

The announcement, made during Wednesday morning’s draw, confirmed that South Africa will face three teams they know well from past World Cup encounters: Romania in 1995 and 1999, Georgia in 2003, and Italy in 2019.

The format, guided by world rankings for the 2025 season, sorted the 24 teams into four bands before randomised placement into six pools. This is the largest RWC structure to date.

Rassie Erasmus: “We are pleased… but this is a World Cup”

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus welcomed the draw but emphasised the unpredictability of tournament rugby.

“We are pleased with the pool we have been drawn in, but this is a World Cup, and every team will go out there with great passion and do their utmost to represent their nations with pride,” said Erasmus.

“There have been surprises in the tournament before, so we’ll need to be up mentally and physically for every match.”

Erasmus offered a measured breakdown of each opponent, noting how deceptive world rankings can be.

“Italy may be ranked 10th in the world, but they showed us what they are capable of when they hit their straps earlier this season, even though the scorelines may not have reflected that.

“Georgia and Romania are also extremely physical and passionate teams, and we’ve faced them before, so we know how tough they can be on the day if we give them space and opportunities to play to their potential.”

His remarks frame Pool B as a group where familiarity offers preparation advantages, but no shortcuts — a reminder that even routine fixtures can turn into tactical ambushes if approached casually.

Tournament Format: Six Pools, New Pathways

With the RWC expanding from 20 to 24 teams and the fixture list increasing to 52 matches, 2027 will introduce a modified playoff pathway.

  • Winners of Pools A–D will face the four best third-placed teams.
  • Winners of Pools E and F will meet the runners-up from Pools B and D.
  • Runners-up in Pools A and C draw the second-placed teams from Pools E and F.

This structural shift increases the importance of pool-stage consistency and squad rotation which is a key component of Erasmus’s historically successful World Cup strategies.

The Full 2027 Pools

  • Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Hong Kong China
  • Pool B: South Africa, Italy, Georgia, Romania
  • Pool C: Argentina, Fiji, Spain, Canada
  • Pool D: Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay, Portugal
  • Pool E: France, Japan, USA, Samoa
  • Pool F: England, Wales, Tonga, Zimbabwe

Australia will host matches from 1 October to 13 November 2027 across seven cities in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney and Townsville.

The full matchday schedule will be released on 3 February 2026, with a two-week presale window for fans opening 18 February 2026.

A Favourable yet Demanding Pool

While South Africa avoided a heavyweight Tier 1 rival in Pool B, the draw offers strategic depth:

  • Italy present a risk profile based on tempo and moments of tactical unpredictability.
  • Georgia bring scrummaging power and collision dominance – a stress test for any forward pack.
  • Romania remain physical and combative, although rebuilding.

For Erasmus, the pool provides space to calibrate combinations, manage player load, and sharpen tactical identity, the essential building blocks for a three-peat campaign. Pool B offers stability, but only if executed with precision.

Puma Athletes Win Athlete Of The Year Honours At 2025 World Athletics Awards

Tanika LaskeyFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Puma Athletes Win Athlete Of The Year Honours At 2025 World Athletics Awards

Global sports brand PUMA is celebrating a landmark moment as two of its elite athletes, Mondo Duplantis and Nicola Olyslagers, both won individual honours at the 2025 World Athletics Awards in Monaco.

Pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis secured the Men’s World Athlete of the Year title after one of the most dominant seasons in the sports history. The accolade follows a year in which the Swedish star broke the world record four times, culminating in an extraordinary 6.30m clearance at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo – the 14 th world record of his career. Throughout the season he competed in PUMA’s EvoSPEED Naio NITRO™ Elite spikes, engineered to maximise runway speed and deliver the stability and explosive energy return required for world-record vaulting.

High-jumper Nicola Olyslagers was honoured with the Women’s Field Athlete of the Year award after a season defined by consistency and power. She secured both the indoor and outdoor world high-jump crowns and capped her campaign with the Diamond League title after clearing 2.04m – the highest jump of the year and a new Australian and Oceanian
record. Throughout her winning season, Nicola competed in the PUMA EvoSPEED NITRO™ High Jump Power spikes, which she relied on to deliver precision and unwavering confidence on the field.

The success of both athletes underscores PUMA’s ongoing commitment to excellence in track and field. With Duplantis and Olyslagers now recognised as the best in the world in their disciplines, PUMA reinforces its position as a leading partner in elite performance – and both athletes prove what’s possible when talent meets cutting-edge innovation.

Blitzboks Seek Pride and Payback in Cape Town Sevens Showdown

Adnaan MohamedNews, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Blitzboks Seek Pride and Payback in Cape Town Sevens Showdown
By Adnaan Mohamed

The early Cape Town light had just begun dissolving the mist over Table Mountain when the Blitzboks filed through the airport doors, the weariness of a long Dubai flight etched into their shoulders. But in the middle of the group, Ricardo Duarttee walked with the quiet intent of a man who’d already circled one date in bold red: Cape Town Sevens weekend.

Dubai may have left them with a fifth-place finish and a few unwelcome scratch marks, but the sweepers and speedsters of South Africa’s Sevens squad are not known for dwelling on bruises. The moment their plane hit the tarmac, the city’s salty summer breeze felt like a second chance.

“We regrouped on Sunday already after the disappointment of Saturday, as one could see on our day two results,” Duarttee explained, the memory of a tough pool still lingering.

“It hurts that we dropped results to Fiji and Argentina in our pool, but we came back on Sunday to get some belief back.”

Belief – South African rugby’s most renewable resource – will matter again this weekend when the Blitzboks step into DHL Stadium, a venue Duarttee speaks of the way some speak of childhood playgrounds.

“Cape Town is just such a special place to play at. There is a massive feeling of excitement for the weekend.”

The Blitzboks hoisted the Cape Town trophy last year, only the second time since the tournament moved south in 2015, and no one in green and gold is in the mood to wait another eight years for the next.

“We certainly do not want to wait that long again, in fact, the squad will be very determined to right the wrongs from Dubai,” he said.

For Duarttee, statistics and score tallies don’t define their mission. Emotion does. Connection does. And the home crowd with the sea of flags, the hum of vuvuzelas, the familiar roar matters more than any number on the scoreboard.

“We play for the love of the game, for the passion we have for it and this weekend, we get to play in front of family, friends and loyal supporters.”

Pool of Death

This year’s pool is ruthless: New Zealand first, then the familiar bruises of Fiji, rounded off by Great Britain. But to Duarttee, that’s the perfect storm.

“What an opportunity this will be for us to rectify the mistakes and show what we are capable of, especially in front of a proper crowd to cheer us on. I cannot wait for Saturday, it is going to be a huge day.”

He didn’t end the conversation so much as issue a call to arms.

“We need to put some pride back in the Springbok Sevens jersey and where better that right here. There is no place like DHL Stadium on the weekend of the Cape Town Sevens.

“We need our supporters to come and celebrate our only opportunity to play at home with us. See you there.”

Source: SA Rugby

Eben Etzebeth Red-Card Fury Overshadows Bok Brilliance in Cardiff Rout

Adnaan MohamedNews, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Eben Etzebeth Red-Card Fury Overshadows Bok Brilliance in Cardiff Rout
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Springboks’ 73–0 evisceration of Wales in Cardiff should have been remembered purely as a victory of ruthless precision, a night when Rassie Erasmus’ men turned the Principality Stadium into a eleven-try scrapyard.

Instead, the Test has been plunged into global debate after Eben Etzebeth, the most-capped Springbok in history, was shown a red card for alleged eye-gouging. This incident that happened just before the final whistle to mercifully end the Welsh carnage, has dominated headlines from Cape Town to Cardiff.

While the Boks celebrated an unbeaten season and a flawless November tour, the image of Etzebeth leaving the field cast a long, uncomfortable shadow. Critics, former internationals, fans and pundits have fired up social platforms, arguing everything from “stone-cold red” to “unintentional and harsh.”

The timing was especially jarring: a night designed to honour Springbok milestones became a night consumed by disciplinary outrage.

Coach Rassie Erasmus did not try to sugar-coat it.

“It didn’t look good, and I thought it was a justified red card,” he admitted.

A rare moment where Erasmus openly conceded a fault on an evening when everything else went right.

Reinach Reaches 50: A Milestone Deserving More Light

Lost beneath the Etzebeth storm was a story that deserved to headline the night: Cobus Reinach finally reaching his 50th Test, a feat 11 years in the making.

The 35-year-old Bok scrumhalf, who buzzed around the breakdown like a hornet with a fresh battery pack, called the honour a dream fulfilled.

“It’s always special just to put on the Springbok jersey… If it’s cap one or cap 140 like Eben, it’s special.

But playing my 50th Test was definitely great,” he said.

“It’s every boy’s dream to play for the Springboks and having done that 50 times is unreal. It’s a privilege and something I’ll always be thankful for.”

That this milestone arrived during a historic win, and in a season where the Boks finished world No.1, made it sweeter.

“It wasn’t just about the end-of-year tour. It was about the whole season,” Reinach reflected.
“We learned and adapted more than previously, and I think we grew immensely as a team.”

The veteran scrumhalf, still as sharp as a new studs-on-soft-ground boot, even dared to dream further.

“I definitely want to play another one or maybe two World Cups,” he smiled.

“I feel good… it’s just my hairline moving back a little, and my beard getting thicker.”

His gratitude extended to the beating heart of Bok rugby: the supporters.

“From London to Wales, France, Ireland… thank you. We are one. We can’t do what we do without you.”

A Night of Dual Narratives: Dominance and Disruption

The Etzebeth incident ignited a worldwide rugby firestorm precisely because the Test was so lopsided. At 73–0, the Springboks were in full command. The back-to-back World Champions were ruthless, clinical, and controlled, suffocating Wales like a python tightening with every carry.

But the red card, shown late in the second half, shifted the conversation from dominance to controversy. Analysts have already begun dissecting angles, freeze-frames and intent, with disciplinary hearings expected to become the next battleground.

Yet, amid the noise, Reinach’s golden milestone, the Boks’ unbeaten tour, and their world No.1 finish remain significant markers of a team still evolving and still hungry. Reinach himself summed it up best:

“The way we work for each other and how tight-knit we are is special. If we keep that, there’s a lot more in the tank.”

Joseph Seutloali Avenges 2024 Heartbreak with Soweto Marathon Victory

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Joseph Seutloali Avenges 2024 Heartbreak with Soweto Marathon Victory
By Adnaan Mohamed

Lesotho’s Khoarahlane Seutloali powered through the final kilometres like a runner shifting into overdrive on the last hill of a brutal ultramarathon, storming to victory in the African Bank Soweto Marathon on Saturday morning in 2:20:09.

It was a win wrapped in redemption. Last year the Hollywood AC star faded in the dying stretch; this time he kicked down the door with purpose.

“I am very happy and proud to have won this race after finishing second last year,” Seutloali beamed. “And I am even prouder to have completed the double, and I want to thank my club, my sponsor and all the Basotho people.”

The Hollywood Athletics Club star completed a rare road-running double – adding Soweto gold to the Two Oceans crown already on his 2025 mantelpiece. His feat mirrors defending champion Onalenna Khonkhobe’s double last year. This time, Khonkhobe’s late charge fizzled as he settled for third in 2:20:39, 30 seconds behind the Lesotho ace.

South Africa’s Ntsindiso Mphakathi ran a gritty, measured race to finish second in 2:20:24, with former track star George Kusche fourth in 2:20:47.

Jepchumba Breaks the Tape as Steyn Takes “Small Win” in Brutal Women’s Battle

In the women’s race, the golden girl of South African road running Gerda Steyn made her long-awaited debut at the People’s Race.

The six-time Two Oceans and four-time Comrades champion was the first South African across the finish line taking the bronze medal in 2:37:00.

She just managed to edge out her Hollywood AC teammate Irvette van Zyl, who placed fourth in 2:37:35.

Gerda Steyn finished in third place on debut at the Soweto Marathon

Kenya’s Margaret Jepchumba (Nedbank) clinched the title in 2:34:33, just outside Van Zyl’s long-standing record. But it was more than enough to tame a stacked field. Zambian Elizabeth Mokoloma (2:35:59) took second.

“It was a wonderful first experience here in Soweto,” said Steyn, affectionately known as The Smiling Assassin.

“I have been wanting to run the People’s Race for such a long time. I am always proud to run on home soil, and not having the Soweto Marathon under my belt was a missing item.”

Steyn didn’t sugarcoat the challenge.

“It was a tough race, from the gun-go the pace was really fast from the beginning, but I expected it to be like that. I think it was the most competitive field we have had at the Soweto Marathon in a long time.

“I was the first South African to cross the line, and for me it is like a small win, although I am a little disappointed not to finish first. But it was a fair race.”

Results:

Men

  1. Khoarahlane Seutloali (LES) – 2:20:09
  2. Ntsindiso Mphakathi (RSA) – 2:20:24
  3. Onalenna Khonkhobe (RSA) – 2:20:39
  4. George Kusche (RSA) – 2:20:47

Women

  1. Margaret Jepchumba (KEN) – 2:34:33
  2. Elizabeth Mokoloma (ZAM) – 2:35:59
  3. Gerda Steyn (RSA) – 2:37:00
  4. Irvette van Zyl (RSA) – 2:37:35

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RESULTS

Reinach’s Golden Milestone and Rassie’s Clever End-of-Year Chess Move

Adnaan MohamedNews, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Reinach’s Golden Milestone and Rassie’s Clever End-of-Year Chess Move
By Adnaan Mohamed

There’s a reason the Springboks never really feel “under-strength” even when half the squad is scattered across Europe, Japan and club rugby obligations. South Africa, more than any other rugby nation, has turned adversity into opportunity, disruption into design. And this week in Cardiff, as the Boks close out their season against Wales, that philosophy takes centre stage.

Saturday marks more than just the end of the Outgoing Tour. It marks a moment of quiet, powerful significance in a year defined by rotation, regeneration, and ruthless forward-thinking.

Because while the headlines will rightly celebrate Cobus Reinach’s 50th Test, the deeper story is how Rassie Erasmus is using this final match of the year to subtly tighten the screws on South Africa’s long-term blueprint.

Let’s dive in.

1. Reinach at 50: A Triumph of Perseverance Over Spotlight

At 35, Cobus Reinach reaching his milestone half-century is a testament to patience in an era obsessed with instant stardom.

He’s never been the loudest, the flashiest, nor the headline-grabber. Instead, he has been the Springbok who always arrives when needed, slips into the system seamlessly, and changes the tempo with a veteran’s calm.

Rassie’s admiration was heartfelt:

“Cobus is a true team man… he’s grabbed every opportunity with both hands.”

There’s something beautifully poetic about Reinach not starting on the day he reaches 50 caps, but sitting quietly on the bench.

He will be the lone backline reserve among seven hulking forwards. It captures his role perfectly: the dependable firefighter, trusted when the match burns hottest.

This is not just a milestone. It is a tribute.

2. The Selection Puzzle: Rassie Turns Limitations Into Leverage

Test matches outside the international window are usually a nightmare for southern hemisphere coaches. Erasmus lost a dozen frontline stars to club commitments – Handre Pollard, Malcolm Marx, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, and Pieter-Steph du Toit among them. Many coaches would be forced into damage control.

Rassie?
He sees a laboratory.

This is where South African rugby’s conveyor belt gets tested in fire. 49 players have earned Test caps this year alone. It’s a staggering number, but one rooted in planning, not panic.

“We’ve been rotating players all year… many of these combinations are fully settled.”

There is no “second-string Springboks.”

There are only Springboks in different phases of readiness.

3. The 7–1 Split Isn’t a Gamble – It’s a Statement

The rugby world still blinks when seeing a team sheet with seven forwards on the bench. But to the Boks, it’s as natural as breathing.

This week’s 7–1 split is partly forced by availability, but it also reinforces the core of South African Test identity: win the collisions, control the set piece, choke the opponents’ oxygen.

Wales, even in a rebuilding phase, are happiest in the trenches. A weaker team would try to outplay them.
South Africa plan to outmuscle them.

Rassie explained it plainly:

“Our pack has performed incredibly well… and we believe it will be a key area of the match.”

This is Rassie’s selection strategy.

4. Quiet Evolution: The Next Generation of Boks Steps Forward

Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Zachary Porthen, Asenathi Ntlabakanye are not household names yet, but they are seen as the building blocks of South Africa’s post-2027 pack.

Steenekamp starting his first Test is no coincidence. The Boks’ current front-row titans will not be around forever. Rassie is not waiting until 2026 to find their successors.

Erasmus is making changes early, deliberately, and unapologetically.

This Wales Test is seen as an investment.

5. The Bigger Picture: Wales, Rankings and the RWC Draw

Wales arrive with their own headaches and absentees, but they’re dangerous precisely because of it. Young players with everything to prove, veterans trying to hold onto jerseys, and a home crowd hungry for a scalp.

And then there’s the looming Rugby World Cup draw next week.

For both teams, the rankings matter. Momentum matters. Perception matters.

Rassie expects an ambush:

“They’ll come out firing… they’ll give everything to finish on a high note.”

This will not be a polite end-of-year handshake.
It’s a cage fight with diplomatic flags.

6. What This Match Really Represents

This final Test of 2025 can arguably be seen as a microcosm of South African rugby philosophy:

  • Celebrate the unsung (Reinach).
  • Trust the young (Steenekamp, Ntlabakanye, Porthen).
  • Prepare for the future early (49 players used).
  • Double down on identity (the 7–1 split).
  • Stay unpredictable (mixing stalwarts with debutants).
  • Never fear disruption – weaponise it.

If the Boks win, they end the year with a statement.
If they lose, they still walk away with priceless data.

Either way, South Africa wins something.

On Saturday night, as Reinach steps onto the field for the 50th time, he’ll do so as the embodiment of everything this Bok season has stood for: quiet excellence, depth, resilience and relentless preparation for the future.

South Africa are building towards 2027. And Reinach’s milestone, achieved with humility, hunger and heart. It reminds us what really powers the Springbok machine: people who show up, again and again, long after the spotlight has moved on.

Proteas Rise in India: Shukri and Temba leads a masterclass in resilience

Adnaan MohamedCricket, Features, NewsLeave a Comment on Proteas Rise in India: Shukri and Temba leads a masterclass in resilience
By Adnaan Mohamed

For years, touring India has felt like stepping into cricket’s equivalent of the “Death Zone” in brutal conditions, deafening crowds, and a cauldron of pressure where even great teams lose their bearings. South Africa has known that pain too well. Heavy defeats. Broken confidence. Tours remembered for their scars rather than their strides forward.

But this time, something powerful shifted.

In a story worthy of every athlete who has ever been told they’re not enough, the Proteas walked back into the lion’s den, and roared back even louder, sealing a historic 2–0 Test series win, their first in India in 25 years.

The victory was a reset, a reclaiming of identity, and a reminder of what’s possible when belief becomes bigger than fear.

A Captain Who Carries More Than the Badge

Temba Bavuma’s journey mirrors the heartbeat of modern sport in South Africa: resilience, self-discovery, and the courage to keep standing up when the world expects you to stay down.

Twice before he had toured India. Twice he came home with the kind of numbers and memories most athletes try to forget. Thrown into unfamiliar roles, navigating team turmoil, and battling his own form demons, Bavuma could easily have let those failures define him.

But the man who walked out in Guwahati was not the same athlete.

He was calmer. Clearer. Centered. A captain who had found his voice. A leader whose strength lay not in shouting orders, but in empowering others.

“Coming here, I would never have thought 2–0 would be the result,” Bavuma admitted.

“We know how dark it can be, so getting 2–0 here is an incredible achievement. We’ve painted ourselves into history.”

This is the language of someone who understands the trenches and knows what it means to climb out of them.

A Team Built on Trust, Not Ego

Under coach Shukri Conrad, the Proteas have become more than just a squad. They’re a collective built on shared ownership. Conversations are open. Roles are clear. Leadership is distributed like responsibility in a relay race, everyone carries the baton at some point.

“I’m a lot more assured as a person and as a captain,” Bavuma said.

“We have a lot of leaders in the team. Guys who add value in their own space. Guys I bounce ideas off. And I’ve learned to separate Temba the batter from Temba the captain.”

For athletes, this is gold: Identity is not a single performance. Leadership is not a solo act.

Champions Step Up When It Matters

Great teams need great moments. And South Africa found them everywhere.

  • Simon Harmer, returning to the very country where his career once stalled, produced the greatest bowling series by any visiting spinner in India: 17 wickets at 8.94. A statistic and a story built on grit.
  • Marco Jansen was a walking highlights reel: destructive bouncers, crucial runs, and a catch so athletic it bordered on impossible.
  • Aiden Markram reinvented himself as South Africa’s safest pair of hands, plucking a world record nine catches and steadying the mood whenever needed.

This wasn’t a win built on stars. It was built on synergy and those subtle connections athletes feel when the entire team is in rhythm.

Rising Above the Weight of History

India had lost just one series at home in 12 years. Their fans are famously unyielding. Their conditions notoriously unforgiving. And yet, the Proteas showed that history, no matter how intimidating, is only a backdrop, not a destiny.

Their 408-run win in the second Test wasn’t just dominance; it was a message:

This team is evolving. Growing. Believing.

For South African cricket, often weighed down by near misses and what-ifs, this was an emphatic reminder that the future can be bold, bright, and beautifully unpredictable.

What This Means for the Athlete in All of Us

Every athlete, whether you run trails, swim laps, hit gym reps, or chase PBs knows what it feels like to revisit a place of past disappointment. The doubt. The fear. The ghosts.

What the Proteas did in India is what everyone strives for:

  • To return to a place of pain, and rewrite the story.
  • To trust the process even when your stats say you shouldn’t.
  • To lead with humility, not ego.
  • To push through dark moments because the light ahead is worth it.
  • To discover that your greatest breakthroughs often hide behind your greatest failures.

Bavuma and his team won a cricket series and delivered a universal message of courage:

Your past is not a prophecy. Your setbacks are not your ceiling. Your biggest victories often arrive exactly where you once struggled most.

And sometimes, after 25 long years, everything aligns, and you finally conquer your Everest.