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‘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)

From Comrades glory to Tshwane 10K speed test

Adnaan MohamedEvent Update!, News, PreviewLeave a Comment on From Comrades glory to Tshwane 10K speed test
By Adnaan Mohamed

George Kusche has conquered the Comrades Marathon. Now the reigning champion wants to find out whether his legs still have enough sting to mix it with the 10km specialists.

Kusche will line up at the sold-out Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K on 23 August, with Kenya’s Salem Kibet arriving with victory firmly in his sights.

The 28-year-old Kusche has never been a one-distance pony. A sub-four-minute mile and 13:28.95 5000m personal best from his US NCAA days provided the speed foundation for his road-running career.

A 28:56 10km in Gqeberha in 2024 was followed by a 2:20:12 marathon debut in Cape Town and fourth place at last year’s Soweto Marathon.

Then came his Comrades masterpiece.

George Kusche is set to tackle the Tshwane 10k in his home town Pretoria. PHOTO CREDIT: Action Photo

Kusche clocked 5:15:56 on 14 June to obliterate the Up Run record by more than eight minutes. It was an ultra-marathon performance with a sprinter’s heartbeat underneath it.

Now he wants to put that speed back under the microscope.

“It’s very important for me to run a fast 10km because I train as a marathon athlete year-round and then I switch to Comrades-specific training in March,” Kusche said.

“And if you want to be a good marathoner, you must be able to run a good 10km. So I’m hoping to be able to run a good race at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K. I’d love to see if I can run sub-30 minutes, which should be a good time at altitude. I’m curious to see how well I can do. I’m in decent shape and I’m really looking forward to this.”

A sub-30-minute run could put Kusche in the thick of the action, although Tshwane’s hills have a habit of turning confident runners into humble pedestrians. Only 10 men broke 30 minutes in last year’s race.

Kibet knows the terrain and the pace required.

Joshua Cheptegei and Salem Kibet in action at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in July this year. PHOTO CREDIT: Anthony Grote

The Kenyan arrives after running a lifetime-best 27:29 for second behind Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei in Durban last month. He now wants to move one place higher.

“My target is to improve on my performance from Durban and compete for the win,” Kibet said.

“Finishing second in Durban was not easy, especially running alongside a great athlete like Joshua Cheptegei. That experience taught me a lot. I thank God for the opportunity, and I am looking forward to giving my best in Tshwane.”

Stillwater Sports managing director Michael Meyer believes the meeting of Kusche’s endurance and Kibet’s speed could add serious spice to the Pretoria showdown.

“George Kusche’s decision to test himself over 10km against a field of established specialists adds another fascinating dimension to what is shaping up to be a highly competitive Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K,” Meyer said.

“He has already shown that he has the speed and endurance to compete at the highest level, and it will be exciting to see what he can produce over 10km after his record-breaking Comrades victory.”

Kusche brings the endurance. Kibet brings the velocity. Tshwane supplies the hills.

The stopwatch will deliver the verdict.

Ash Barty to take on men at Icons Cup South Africa

Adnaan MohamedEvent Update!, Golf, News, PreviewLeave a Comment on Ash Barty to take on men at Icons Cup South Africa
By Adnaan Mohamed

Three-time Grand Slam champion Ash Barty will return to the Icons Series when she lines up for Team World against Team South Africa at The Links at Fancourt in December.

Barty was announced on National Women’s Day as the latest addition to José María Olazábal’s 14-player squad for the Icons Cup South Africa, which takes place from 11 to 13 December.

The former world No 1 will take on the men in three days of team match-play golf, bringing a two handicap and previous Icons Series experience to the contest.

Barty competed at the 2022 Icons Cup New York, where she produced a strong winning record. Her return adds one of the world’s most accomplished multi-sport athletes to a field already packed with sporting heavyweights.

Her tennis CV needs little introduction. Barty won the French Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open before retiring in 2022 while ranked No 1 in the world.

On the golf course, her competitive instincts remain sharp.

Barty joins former Chelsea and England captain John Terry and West Indies batting great Brian Lara in Team World.

Olazábal’s side will face an increasingly formidable Team South Africa captained by four-time Major winner Ernie Els. AB de Villiers, Fourie du Preez, Butch James and Vernon Philander have already been confirmed for the hosts.

The format promises to put sporting reputations on the scorecard. Golf has a habit of exposing even the smallest crack in concentration, with every tee shot capable of opening the door and every missed putt capable of slamming it shut.

For Barty, the challenge will be familiar territory in one respect: pressure.

Her return gives the Icons Cup another compelling storyline as the fairways become a meeting point for athletes whose careers were forged in cricket, rugby, football and tennis.

The full line-ups are still being assembled, with further announcements expected in the coming weeks.

The Links at Fancourt will host the 28-player contest, with the event set to be broadcast internationally.

For Barty, the target will be clear. Bring the Grand Slam temperament, trust the golf swing and let the scorecard do the talking.

Free State’s wait ends as RUN YOUR CITY expands to six races

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By Adnaan Mohamed

For years, the Free State has produced world-class runners, yet many of its brightest stars have had to leave home to chase the country’s biggest road races. Now the road is coming to them. In a major boost for athletics in the province, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series will expand from five to six events with the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K on October 25, handing Mangaung a seat at South Africa’s top table of road running.

The announcement has been welcomed as a game-changing victory by some of the province’s biggest athletics names, who believe the race could unlock opportunities for thousands of aspiring runners.

Former Olympian and South African 1500m record holder Johan Cronje believes the city has waited long enough.

“Mangaung has always needed a world-class road race. There are no more excuses now. Local runners can compete against some of the best athletes in the world on their own doorstep.”

Cronje expects around 5,000 runners at the inaugural event and believes it has the potential to grow into a race attracting between 10,000 and 15,000 participants.

Three-time Olympian LJ van Zyl described the arrival of the race as a watershed moment for athletics in the province.

“Young athletes no longer have to leave home to experience a race of this calibre. It’s a real game-changer.”

For Athletics Free State president Odessa Swarts, whose son Wayde van Niekerk became an Olympic champion after growing up in Bloemfontein, the race is about far more than medals and prize money.

“I’ve been excited because Free State has been overlooked for quite a while,” she said.

Swarts revealed that around 700 youngsters compete every Friday in the province’s cross-country league, with nearly 1,800 expected at next month’s provincial championships.

“This motivates our youngsters. Development starts with cross country, and now they’ll see the country’s biggest names competing alongside them. Does that not give hope? This is a story of hope.”

She believes the event will inspire children from townships and rural communities to dream bigger.

“Anyone can enter. Whether you’re from a township or a rural area, you can dream. Every day I work to help young people achieve the dreams they set for themselves. This race gives them that opportunity.”

Even Swarts has been bitten by the running bug again.

“I’ve started training because I had to be part of this. I’m competitive, so I’m hoping to break one hour. Since training for distance running, I’ve gained enormous respect for middle and long-distance athletes.”

The race is the result of a partnership between Stillwater Sports, the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality and the Free State Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

Since Absa became title sponsor in 2021, more than 200,000 runners have taken part in the series, which now stretches across Gqeberha, Cape Town, Durban, Tshwane, Johannesburg and Mangaung.

Stillwater Sports Managing Director Michael Meyer said the expansion was another important step in growing the series while creating tourism and economic opportunities for host cities.

Absa Group Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer Sydney Mbhele said runners had been calling for Mangaung to be included for years.

“We are proud to have listened because at Absa, we believe every story matters.”

Mbhele added that the bank’s R1 Campaign has already raised almost R10 million through Team Absa’s Strava activities to support school vegetable gardens across South Africa, with Free State communities set to benefit.

Mangaung Executive Mayor Gregory Nthatisi said the race would showcase the city’s heritage and hospitality while creating opportunities for local businesses.

Free State MEC for Economic Development and Tourism Ketso Makume believes the event will strengthen the province’s growing reputation as a sport tourism destination.

For a province that has spent years watching South Africa’s biggest road races from the sidelines, the starter’s gun in Mangaung will signal far more than the beginning of another 10km. It will announce that the Free State has finally arrived.

Emma Pallant-Browne embraces Women’s Month challenge

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By Adnaan Mohamed

Emma Pallant-Browne believes motherhood has given her a new finish line to chase.

The British triathlon star and former international track and cross-country runner will make her Totalsports Women’s Race debut in Durban on Sunday before returning for the Johannesburg race on August 16, marking her first major 10km campaign since the birth of her son a year ago.

Her return arrives during Women’s Month, with the sold-out series continuing to celebrate women in sport while shining a spotlight on athletes balancing elite competition, careers and family life.

“Coming back after having my son, I’m starting to get injury-free and run a bit faster, so I was looking to race a fast 10km at sea level, and the Totalsports Women’s Race came highly recommended to me,” Pallant-Browne said.

“My goal is to take part in two Totalsports Women’s Race events this year, so I will also be lining up in Joburg on 16 August.”

The 36-year-old said becoming a mother has strengthened her passion for women’s sport and highlighted the importance of creating opportunities where female athletes can thrive.

“Women in sport is my absolute passion, especially now as a mother. I used to see a lot of women at races with their kids supporting ‘Daddy’, and it’s so great to now see dads on the sidelines with the kids supporting ‘Mummy’ and giving her the opportunity to have her time to shine.

“I think there are still barriers in women’s sport that see many women dropping out during their teenage years or when life gets busy and they start a family, but events like this really elevate women’s running and give women their time to shine.”

Motherhood has also reshaped the way she trains.

“There are a million reasons now not to get my session in, and I think it makes you want it a bit more,” she said.

“Knowing that we are bringing my son into a life where we show him that if you want to be good at something, you have to work hard for it, is what I keep thinking when times get tough. What example am I setting for him?

“My body has definitely had more injuries, but it’s made me more patient, better at problem-solving and time management, and more resilient when facing setbacks.”

She encouraged mothers returning to exercise after pregnancy to be patient.

Emma Pallant-Browne in action at the Two Oceans Half Marathon 2026 Photo: Mark Sampson

“Take baby steps, start with a jog or walk, build up gradually and enjoy the process. It’s so rewarding to see the progress you make and to track your improvements each week. Most importantly, don’t neglect strength training.”

Pallant-Browne has set herself a clear target for Durban.

“Running faster than 34 minutes would be a good start for me. It will be my first fast 10km postpartum, so I want to see what my body can do at the moment and then build from there.

“It would mean so much to me to start winning races again, but most of all I want to know that I gave it my all in Durban and Joburg, and pushed as hard as I could.”

Totalsports head of marketing Nikki Crous believes Pallant-Browne’s story reflects the spirit of the event.

“Emma’s return to competition after becoming a mother is both inspiring and a powerful reminder that women can continue to pursue their goals at every stage of life,” Crous said.

“Her passion for empowering women through sport perfectly reflects what the Totalsports Women’s Race stands for. We look forward to seeing her take on both the Durban and Joburg events and wish her every success as she embarks on this exciting new chapter.”

With entries for Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg already sold out, Pallant-Browne’s comeback promises to be one of the standout stories of this year’s Women’s Month celebrations.

For more information on PinkDrive visit www.pinkdrive.org For further information on the Totalsports Women’s Race
visit www.totalsportswomensrace.co.za