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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.

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.

Etzebeth: All Blacks series tougher than a World Cup

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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.

Joburg 10K set for Heritage Day takeover

Adnaan MohamedEvent Update!, Features, News, PreviewLeave a Comment on Joburg 10K set for Heritage Day takeover
By Adnaan Mohamed

Thousands of runners will storm the streets of the City of Gold on Thursday, 24 September, turning Heritage Day into a spectacular Joburg 10km takeover.

The sold-out Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K will unleash a stampede of running shoes onto Lilian Ngoyi Street from 08:00, with the M1 and M2 highways transformed into a giant sporting playground before the finish on Rahima Moosa Street.

For one morning, Joburg’s legendary hustle will have a new soundtrack: thousands of pounding feet, screaming spectators, pumping music and the thunder of a city celebrating its heritage.

Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K by Tobias Ginsberg

This is road running with a Mzansi twist.

The route will be crammed with entertainment, cheer zones and sponsor activations from Absa, PUMA, Powerade, AVIS and Heineken, creating a colourful carnival designed to showcase the diversity, history and unmistakable swagger of Johannesburg.

Stillwater Sports managing director and Series founder Michael Meyer says the race will offer runners a different view of the metropolis.

“We’re excited to bring thousands of runners together in Johannesburg on National Heritage Day for what promises to be a fantastic celebration of running, culture and community.”

Meyer says the energy of the route, entertainment and spectators will create an atmosphere that is uniquely Joburg.

Absa Head of Sponsorship Jabulile Nsibanyoni says the event will turn the streets into a moving celebration of South African identity.

“At Absa, we are passionate about creating memorable experiences that bring communities together, and this event is a true reflection of that commitment.”

She says the entertainment has been carefully curated to celebrate Joburg’s rich heritage and cultural traditions.

“Both participants and spectators can look forward to a dynamic showcase of performances reflecting the warmth, diversity, and energy Joburg is known for.”

Then comes the speed trap.

Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K by Charles Ndou

PUMA Run Train Marketing Manager Rae Trew-Browne says the Heritage Day edition has a personality of its own.

“Every Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series event has its own personality, and Joburg’s Heritage Day edition promises to be particularly special.”

The PUMA Speed Zone will add another turbocharged dimension to the race.

“It’s a chance for every participant to embrace their own version of TOO FAST while enjoying the incredible atmosphere that makes the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series so special,” says Trew-Browne.

The stakes are already high after a sizzling 2026 series.

Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K by Charles Ndou

Adriaan Wildschutt won Gqeberha in 27:47, Joshua Cheptegei blitzed Durban in 27:19 and Salem Kibet conquered Tshwane in 28:45. Kenya’s Brenda Jepchirchir won Gqeberha in 30:15, while Doreen Cherop claimed victories in Durban and Tshwane in 30:43 and 31:35 respectively.

Cape Town’s 10K was cancelled because of a severe weather forecast.

Now Joburg gets the spotlight.

And on Heritage Day, the City of Gold will not be walking.

IT WILL BE RUNNING!

For further information please visit https://runyourcityseries.com/

‘Never believe Rassie’: Kirwan’s blunt Boks warning

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, Features, News, Preview, SpringboksLeave a Comment on ‘Never believe Rassie’: Kirwan’s blunt Boks warning

By Adnaan Mohamed

Sir John Kirwan has called Rassie Erasmus’s underdog card before the Springboks’ second Rugby Greatest Rivalry Test against the All Blacks.

And the All Blacks legend’s verdict is brutally simple.

“Never. Don’t believe Rassie. Don’t believe Rassie.”

Kirwan, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated rugby figures, refuses to buy into any suggestion that the four-time world champions are suddenly the underdogs after their 33-16 defeat to the All Blacks at Ellis Park last weekend.

“They are four-time world champions. They’ve been an outstanding rugby team for four years,” Kirwan said.

“So they are world champions. We are the underdogs.”

There is a healthy dose of mischief in Kirwan’s assessment, although his respect for the Springboks is unmistakable.

He expects a vastly improved South African performance at DHL Stadium on Saturday, predicting Erasmus will turn to a more conservative tactical approach and use the kicking game to squeeze New Zealand deep into their own territory.

“I think the Springboks will be way better,” Kirwan said.

“I think they’ll be a bit more conservative tomorrow. I think their infield kicking game will be different. So I expect them to try and pin us into our own half.”

The All Blacks, however, will arrive in Cape Town with their own armoury sharpened.

“These guys are on a journey to get better every week, so I think it’s going to be a massive game,” Kirwan said.

“The pressure is on the world champions and I’m sure they’ll step up to that. There’d be a lot of fireworks.”

Sir John Kirwan shares a light hearted moment swopping his trademark, trendy, thick rimmed glasses with the author, Adnaan Mohamed.
Photo: Juliet Calder

For Kirwan, Saturday’s Test could become a tactical heavyweight bout, with neither side willing to blink during the decisive exchanges.

“It’s a boxing match. They’re gonna win some rounds, you’re gonna win some rounds. But at this level, winning those critical moments is really, really important.”

Those moments, he warned, can arrive at any stage.

“Sometimes they come after five minutes. Sometimes they come in the 79th minute.”

Kirwan expects the contest to go down to the wire.

“I think it’ll be incredibly close tomorrow. I think it’ll come down to a few points.”

His description of rugby as “chess with contact” could prove particularly apt in Cape Town.

“You need to win the first 10 minutes, the last 10 minutes before halftime, first 10 minutes after halftime, and the last 10 minutes,” he said.

“It’s really important to start fast. It’s really important to try and imprint the way that you want to play on the opposition. The South African team will be trying to do the same.”

Kirwan is equally bullish about the identity of Dave Rennie’s All Blacks.

“What I’ve seen is that this All Black side is playing a style of rugby that I think suits our skill set and suits the type of athlete that we have.”

The Springboks’ selection changes, including the absence of Handré Pollard and the continued emergence of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, have also caught his eye.

Kirwan described Feinberg-Mngomezulu as “world class” and believes the young flyhalf will have benefited from the lessons of Ellis Park.

“I think Sacha is still a young man and last week he would have learned a lot and he’ll be better tomorrow.”

He also saluted South Africa’s diminutive dynamo brigade, particularly the skill and footwork of the country’s wings.

“When you see Damian, his footwork. I mean, some of these guys into contact have fantastic feet.”

Then came another Kirwan gem:

“Long live the small, fast winger.”

For Kirwan, the rivalry runs far deeper than tactics, rankings and Test statistics.

As an eight-year-old, he was allowed to stay up late to watch the All Blacks. New Zealand won plenty of matches in those days, although South Africa provided a particularly formidable obstacle.

“That whole rivalry, we don’t know who’s going to win,” he said.

“I think we have the same passion for the game. And I think that’s brought us together.”

Kirwan believes rugby has often carried a cultural weight beyond the field, particularly in South Africa and New Zealand.

“A lot of times in our country, the game’s been bigger than a game. I think Nelson Mandela did that.”

The former All Black has also embraced the South African welcome.

“The hospitality, South African hospitality is unbelievable. Food’s great, people are lovely. And so for us, it’s like being at home. Really appreciate it.”

The pleasantries can wait once the whistle blows.

For now, Kirwan has thrown the psychological ball firmly into Erasmus’s court.

Rassie can call them underdogs. Kirwan isn’t buying it.

Teams: 

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Manie Libbok.

New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Patrick Tuipoluto, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Josh Moorby

Date: Saturday, August 29
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.10
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a low of 11°C and a high of 18°C. Rain is also expected around kick-off time.
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)

Boks’ Cape Town Test rocked by Pollard fitness scare

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, News, Preview, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Boks’ Cape Town Test rocked by Pollard fitness scare
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Springboks’ bid to claw their way back into Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series has been dealt another potential blow, with Handré Pollard reportedly set to miss Saturday’s second Test against the All Blacks at Cape Town Stadium.

According to Netwerk24, the experienced flyhalf is battling a calf injury and could be ruled out of the four-match series showdown.

Pollard was named to start on Monday, with Rassie Erasmus opting for the two-time World Cup winner’s experience of Cape Town conditions. His late fitness concern has thrown another spanner into the Springbok machinery at a time when every moving part needs to click.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who started at flyhalf in last weekend’s 33-16 defeat at Ellis Park before moving to the bench, and Manie Libbok are the leading candidates to step into the No 10 jersey.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Pollard’s 2026 campaign has already been punctuated by injury. He opened his season with a Man of the Match performance against Scotland on 11 July before a hamstring problem ruled him out of the Wales Test the following week. His latest appearance came in South Africa’s victory over Argentina in Mendoza almost a month ago.

Now, with the Boks’ series hopes dangling over the precipice, another injury cloud has gathered.

South Africa must win in Cape Town to prevent New Zealand from taking an unassailable 2-0 lead and effectively closing the door on a series victory. Another defeat would leave the Boks needing to win the remaining two Tests to force a draw.

Thomas du Toit insists the Ellis Park setback has already been packed away and dissected.

“I think the important thing for us was to park that game and take the learning as quickly as we can,” said the versatile prop.

The Springboks conducted their review on Monday, identifying what worked and what went wrong before turning their attention to the next assignment.

“We took on board the learnings, took the good stuff, worked on the bad and worst things of the game – it was as easy as that.”

Du Toit believes the Boks need every component firing, particularly with wet conditions potentially turning the contest into a territorial tug-of-war.

“Unfortunately, in this game you can’t only have one aspect of the game firing right for you.”

Scrums, kicking, attack, defence, entries into the 22 and finishing will all need to mesh into one formidable machine.

South Africa do have significant firepower returning. Siya Kolisi is back as captain, Pieter-Steph du Toit reaches his 100th Test, Ox Nche earns his 50th and Eben Etzebeth extends his record as the most-capped Springbok to 144 appearances.

The starting XV, with Kolisi included, boasts a remarkable 1 012 Test caps, the most experienced Springbok starting line-up ever selected. The forwards account for 584 caps and the backline 428, with another 204 caps among the replacements.

Deon Fourie could add another piece of history from the bench. Should he play, the 39-year-old will become the oldest Springbok Test player, overtaking Victor Matfield and Schalk Brits. It would also mark his first international appearance since the 2023 World Cup final, where South Africa edged the All Blacks 12-11.

New Zealand have reshaped their pack, with George Bower replacing Ethan de Groot, who remains under HIA protocols. Josh Lord makes way for Tupou Vaa’i in the second row, while Simon Parker starts at No 6. Leroy Carter and Josh Moorby have swapped positions in the backline.

The All Blacks hold the historical advantage, winning 64 of 111 Tests against South Africa, with 43 Springbok victories and four draws. New Zealand have scored 2 302 points and 253 tries to South Africa’s 1 866 points and 182 tries.

Recent form offers the Boks a glimmer of light. They have won five of the last seven meetings since August 2023 and beat New Zealand 18-12 in their most recent Cape Town encounter in 2024.

The stakes, however, are brutally simple.

The Boks need a response. They need composure. They need their big-game players to stand tall.

And if Pollard’s calf keeps him sidelined, another Springbok No 10 must step into the furnace.

Cape Town is waiting. The series is slipping. Saturday could be the night South Africa either reignites the rivalry or watches it burn away.

Probable Springbok selection if Pollard is ruled out

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu/Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nché. Replacements: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, André Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Morné van den Berg, Pollard’s replacement.

ALL BLACKS – 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower. Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Josh Moorby.

Match officials

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (France)

Kick-off: Saturday, 17:10
Venue: Cape Town Stadium

Springboks ready to turn Ellis Park into a rugby war zone

Adnaan MohamedAll Blacks, News, Preview, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Springboks ready to turn Ellis Park into a rugby war zone
By Adnaan Mohamed

The stage is set. The old enemies are back. And the Springboks are ready to throw everything into the opening punch of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.

When South Africa face New Zealand at 10bet Ellis Park on Saturday, it will be the first of four Tests between the heavyweight rivals in a series that promises enough drama to keep rugby fans glued to their screens.

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick knows exactly what is coming.

“Playing four games in one season against the All Blacks is always going to be a great challenge,” Stick said.

“These are moments that we live for. The closest thing to the Greatest Rivalry in terms of a series where every game counts is probably the British & Irish Lions series, or the knockout stages of the World Cup, and our mindset for these games will draw on those experiences.”

The Boks are under no illusion about the size of the challenge.

“We know it’s going to be a tough challenge. The All Blacks are in a good space and have been playing very well,” said Stick.

“But from our side, we also want to keep improving and evolving, and we will never be comfortable. It doesn’t get tougher than playing against the All Blacks four weeks in a row, and we are excited about it.”

That is fighting talk from a team preparing to enter a rugby pressure cooker.

Ellis Park brings the emotion

Captain Pieter-Steph du Toit, who will earn his 99th Test cap, is relishing the occasion.

“It’s a very different tournament,” he said. “To be involved in a series like this and have New Zealand play in South Africa, and also playing four games in a row is a massive honour and privilege.”

For Du Toit, Ellis Park carries memories bigger than rugby.

“It’s an awesome stadium for us and it’s close to my heart,” he said.

“When you stand there and sing the anthem and see the supporters behind the Springboks, it’s unbelievable. And of course, the 1995 Rugby World Cup was won there as well, so it’s a very special place for our country.”

Then comes the haka.

Du Toit says the Boks now have a deeper appreciation of what the ritual means to the All Blacks.

“I would never say we’d be relaxed, but it’s a massive honour to face the haka,” he said.

“We’ll face the haka with respect and we’ll accept the challenge.”

De Allende gets his flowers

Saturday will also belong to Damian de Allende, who becomes only the 10th Springbok to reach 100 Tests.

Stick believes the centre’s milestone deserves a standing ovation.

“For a guy like Damian de Allende, who has been with us through the ups and downs, and had to cope with a lot of people saying he wasn’t good enough to play for the Springboks, is amazing,” Stick said.

“He’s one of those guys who does the dirty work without anyone seeing it, so for him to play his 100th Test match is a great achievement for him and his family.”

Du Toit remembers watching De Allende during his Stormers days.

“I just saw this beast in the way he carried the ball and his work on defence,” he said.

“I have so much respect for him, the way he carries himself on and off the field, and how he’s grown as a person. It’s great to see people progress in life.”

Boks know where the battle will be won

Stick expects the All Blacks to bring serious heat at scrum and lineout time.

“We know New Zealand is going to bring it in terms of intensity,” he said.

“They’ll also look for gaps with their skilful players, so I’d say the key would be to stay alert and not get caught out.”

In other words, one defensive nap could become an All Blacks party.

The whistle blows at 17h10, with the match live on SuperSport. Limited tickets remain available.

Ellis Park is ready.

The rivalry is awake.

And the Boks are knocking on the door.

Teams

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.

New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Anton Segner, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Leroy Carter.

Date: Saturday, August 22
Venue: 10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.10 (Sunday, August 22)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Comrades starts stopwatch on century celebrations

Adnaan MohamedComrades Marathon, Features, News, PreviewLeave a Comment on Comrades starts stopwatch on century celebrations
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Comrades Marathon has started the countdown to its biggest chapter yet.

The 2027 Down Run, on Sunday, 13 June, will celebrate the 100th edition of the Ultimate Human Race, with the finish moving to the Kings Park Rugby Precinct in Durban and the entry cap rising to a record 28,000 runners.

The centenary campaign, The Greatest Story Ever Run, was unveiled at Kings Park on Wednesday, alongside a special 100th-edition logo.

The slogan, selected from more than 200 submissions from the Comrades community, neatly captures an event whose history has been built kilometre by gruelling kilometre since 1921.

For CMA General Manager Alain Dalais, the centenary is an opportunity for a new generation to add its own footprints to an extraordinary legacy.

“The Comrades Marathon has such a rich history, from the pioneers of the 1920s who ran to pay tribute to their comrades in arms from the Great War, to the hundreds of thousands of runners who have shaped the legacy of this phenomenal event by adding their own stories to Comrades Marathon lore over the past century.”

“Now in 2027, we get to add a glorious 100th chapter to this story as we celebrate the centenary of one of the world’s greatest running events, and we invite our 2027 entrants to honour those who came before them while contributing to this next chapter of the race.”

The numbers surrounding the race are almost as imposing as the hills.

The 28,000-entry ceiling will make 2027 the largest Comrades field ever, surpassing the 24,172 entries recorded for the 2025 Down Run and the 24,636 entries for the 2019 Up Run.

CMA Race Director Sue Forge says the bigger field has been backed by detailed operational planning.

“While we want as many runners as responsibly possible to experience this historic centenary race, the safety of our participants, volunteers, spectators and communities remains our foremost priority.”

Traffic management, transport, crowd control and venue operations will all receive additional attention as the CMA prepares to squeeze another sizeable slice of humanity onto the road.

The Kings Park move should provide breathing room at the business end of the race. Forge says the sports fields will offer more space for the finish area and race village, with improved runner flow, medical services, recovery, hospitality, transport and post-race operations.

The route is expected to measure approximately 91km, although the official distance will only be confirmed after formal measurement following roadworks. The 2025 Down Run measured 89.98km, while the longest Comrades route was 92km in 1971.

There is another welcome piece of news for aspiring centurions: entry fees will remain unchanged.

Entries open on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, through three phases. Green Number and Yellow Number athletes receive first access, followed by CMA Members and then general entries.

For CMA Chairperson Mark Leathers, the launch is merely the starting gun.

“Our 2027 race will be the largest edition of the Comrades Marathon yet, and we know that this launch is just the beginning of an incredibly exciting build-up to the next Down Run, and the start of an exciting next century of the race.”

The 2027 Down Run starts at 05:00 from Pietermaritzburg City Hall, with a 12-hour time limit and the finish at Kings Park.

A century of sweat, sacrifice, heartbreak and heroics has brought Comrades to this point.

Now 28,000 runners get the chance to leave their footprints on history.

The greatest story ever run is ready for another chapter.

Boxer Super Run Durban 2026: Pick Your Wave

Adnaan MohamedBoxer Super Run, Event Update!, PreviewLeave a Comment on Boxer Super Run Durban 2026: Pick Your Wave
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Boxer Super Run Durban is giving runners something increasingly precious in road running: a choice.

When the fourth edition hits Snell Parade and Blue Lagoon Park on Sunday, 18 October, the 5km race will offer four distinct start waves, allowing participants to decide whether they want to chase the clock, chase good times or watch South Africa’s fastest feet turn the beachfront into a blur.

The formula is simple, and perhaps that is the secret of its appeal.

The Open Wave fires off at 07:00, providing the competitive launchpad for club runners, school teams, serious athletes and anyone with a personal best rattling around in their head.

Then comes the Super Social Wave, running from 08:00 to 09:30, where the stopwatch takes a back seat and personality moves to the front of the pack. Families, friends, colleagues, charities and costumed crews can walk, jog and laugh their way through the 5km.

“The beauty of the Boxer Super Run is that every participant can choose their place on the start line,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports.

“From runners chasing a personal best in the Open Wave and groups bringing the energy in the Super Social Wave, to the country’s top athletes battling for the Elite titles, each wave brings its own excitement and makes the Boxer Super Run a truly inclusive 5km experience.”

That inclusivity is the race’s biggest strength. Five kilometres can be a gentle introduction to road running or five kilometres of controlled suffering for an athlete hunting every available second.

Boxer Super Run by Anthony Grote

“The 5km distance makes this event accessible enough for someone taking on their first run, while still providing a genuine test for experienced athletes,” says Lee-Ann Pillay, Head of Marketing at Boxer Superstores.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see such a diverse group of people come together, each with their own reason for being there, but all united by the same 5km journey.”

At 09:45, the mood changes gear when the elite women take centre stage. The elite men follow at 10:00, turning the final act into a high-octane sprinting spectacle.

For the elite athletes, five kilometres is hardly a Sunday stroll. It is a knife-edge dance where a misplaced stride can cost seconds and a well-timed surge can blow the race wide open.

Pillay believes the four-wave structure captures the spirit of the event.

“With four distinct waves offering four very different ways to experience race day, the Boxer Super Run continues to demonstrate that 5km running is for everyone, whether you’re chasing the clock, chasing a personal milestone or simply chasing a great day out.”

The 2026 event costs R100, is open to entrants aged nine and older, and includes a performance T-shirt, goodie bag, timing chip and finisher’s medal. Entries opened on 6 August and, according to the supplied event information, are now sold out. The official Boxer announcement confirms the 18 October date and the four-wave structure.

The starting line may have four doors, but the destination is the same: a memorable 5km through Durban.

Some runners will chase glory. Some will chase a PB. Others will chase their friends.

All will be chasing the finish.

Bulls bolster pack and unleash overseas X-factor for All Blacks clash

Adnaan MohamedNews, Preview, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Bulls bolster pack and unleash overseas X-factor for All Blacks clash
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Vodacom Bulls are loading up for an All Blacks ambush at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, combining returning Springbok muscle with a pair of overseas-tested backs capable of injecting serious X-factor.

The recipe is clear: add international steel to the pack, then let Curwin Bosch and Thaakir Abrahams bring the fizz.

Bosch starts at flyhalf after two seasons with Brive in France, where the 29-year-old says he rediscovered the freedom that made him one of South Africa’s most naturally gifted attacking players.

“It’s amazing to be back in South Africa,” Bosch said. “The two seasons I spent in France were really good for me, but there’s no place like home.”

His French adventure was a mental reset.

“It was so good for me mentally to spend a bit of time in France and just get the shackles off and get back to doing what I do best, and that’s play rugby.”

Bosch believes the experience stripped away the noise and restored his instinctive game.

“There were no sideshows and no distractions. I could just focus on playing good rugby.”

“I just felt a lot more free. The last couple of seasons I spent in South Africa, I felt boxed a little bit.”

“That time in France freed me up. It took me back to how you play rugby at school. You see the space and you play the space. That’s when I’m at my best.”

Now the stage could hardly be bigger.

“It’s probably an opportunity of a lifetime to test yourself against the second-best team in the world,” Bosch said.

On the wing, Abrahams offers another attacking spark. The former Sharks and Munster winger returns to the Bulls with speed to burn and the ability to turn half-chances into highlight-reel material.

Together, Bosch and Abrahams give the Bulls a backline with genuine unpredictability.

Up front, the Bulls have reinforced the pack with Springbok quality. Hooker Johan Grobbelaar and loose forward Elrigh Louw have been released from the Springboks after their Argentina tour and will provide fresh international experience from the bench.

Both have had a single training session with the Bulls.

“It’s great to have them with us, and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” coach Johan Ackermann said.

Jaundre Schoeman and Mpilo Gumede make way in the match-day squad.

Captain Marcell Coetzee leads a pack containing plenty of experience, while Hanro Liebenberg returns to South Africa after his stint with Leicester Tigers.

Willie le Roux adds another Springbok presence at fullback, with Embrose Papier and Jeandré Rudolph providing tempo and thrust.

The numbers make for sobering reading. New Zealand have won three of the four meetings since 1949. The Bulls’ solitary victory came in 1976, when Northern Transvaal edged the All Blacks 29-27.

Almost 50 years later, Loftus gets another crack at rugby folklore.

The Bulls have brought the Boks for ballast and the overseas returnees for fireworks.

Now they need the whole package to explode.

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni.
Bench: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Katlego Letebele, 23 Hakeem Kunene.

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Xavier Numia
Bench: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 George Bower, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni Narawa

Date: Saturday, August 15
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT; 05.00 Sunday, August 16 NZST)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)