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Can England finally crack the Springboks code?

Adnaan MohamedPreview, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Can England finally crack the Springboks code?
By Adnaan Mohamed

England have been here before. Close enough to see victory. Close enough to believe. Close enough to feel the Springboks wobble.

Then South Africa find another gear.

It has become a familiar script in one of rugby’s richest rivalries. England ask difficult questions, the Springboks absorb the pressure and somehow emerge with the answer that matters most.

Saturday’s opening Nations Championship Test at Ellis Park offers Steve Borthwick’s side another opportunity to prove they have bridged that stubborn gap. They could hardly have picked a sterner examination.

Johannesburg does not welcome visitors with open arms. The altitude drains lungs, the crowd feeds every collision and the Springboks have turned Ellis Park into one of world rugby’s least hospitable addresses.

Rassie Erasmus’ side arrive riding a nine-match winning streak and carrying the confidence of back-to-back Rugby Championship titles. Momentum has become their travelling companion and complacency remains unwelcome.

“The goal is to win,” Erasmus said this week.

Simple words. Typical Springboks.

His selection reflects a squad built for every occasion. Damian Willemse and Cheslin Kolbe celebrate their 50th Tests in a backline packed with proven match winners. Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende remain one of international rugby’s most reliable midfield pairings, while Manie Libbok gets another chance to orchestrate an attack that can shift from controlled to chaotic in a heartbeat.

Up front, the Springboks possess enough muscle to move mountains.

Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Thomas du Toit anchor a front row that thrives on confrontation, with Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi and Jasper Wiese providing the relentless edge that has become South Africa’s trademark.

Then comes the Bomb Squad.

Fresh legs. Fresh power. Fresh problems.

England know exactly what awaits.

George Martin has welcomed the physical battle after returning from injury, while Fin Smith shoulders the responsibility of steering England around one of rugby’s toughest venues. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s return offers genuine attacking spark, Tommy Freeman arrives in outstanding form and Henry Pollock is expected to inject his trademark energy from the bench after already making himself public enemy number one among many South African supporters.

Borthwick believes his squad is ready.

“Playing South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the great Tests in world rugby,” he said.

He is right.

England have enough quality to ask questions of the world champions. Their backline carries pace, their forwards have embraced the challenge and their confidence has steadily grown despite an underwhelming Six Nations campaign.

The problem is that Ellis Park rarely rewards promise.

The Springboks know exactly how they want to play. Dominate the set piece. Win the gain line. Squeeze territory. Turn pressure into points.

It is an approach forged through experience and sharpened by success.

England may remain within touching distance for long stretches, much like they have in recent meetings. History suggests that when the contest reaches its defining moments, South Africa usually discover another level.

Prediction: Springboks by 12.

Teams:

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

England: 15 George Furbank, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Ollie Chessum, 5 George Martin, 4 Alex Coles, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Jamie George (captain), 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie,17 Beno Obano, 18 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Alex Mitchell, 23 Marcus Smith.

Date: Saturday, July 4
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.40
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland) & Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)

Images: x.com/Springboks

Roc Cup set to showcase Africa’s brightest young football talent

Adnaan MohamedFootball, NewsLeave a Comment on Roc Cup set to showcase Africa’s brightest young football talent
By Adnaan Mohamed

Roc Nation Sports International (RNSI) has announced the launch of its first-ever African youth football tournament, the Roc Cup, marking a significant step in the organisation’s expansion into the continent’s football landscape.

The inaugural tournament will be hosted at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium in Accra from 23 to 28 February 2026, and will feature 10 elite youth teams from five African nations competing in a round-robin format.

The participating countries include Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea, with several of the continent’s most respected academies set to take part. The event is positioned as a cornerstone of RNSI’s long-term strategy to establish a meaningful presence in African football and to create clear development pathways for young players.

“The Roc Cup is more than just a tournament, it is a visible declaration of our commitment to African football,” said Grant Veitch, Director of African Football Recruitment at Roc Nation Sports International.

“After signing several incredible teenage talents last year, we are solidifying our investment by hosting this special event. We aim to inspire local communities and to hopefully provide a genuine European pathway for the continent’s brightest emerging stars.”

All matches will be played at the 10,000-capacity University of Ghana Sports Stadium, with free public entry to ensure accessibility for families, students and aspiring young footballers across Accra.

Beyond the action on the pitch, the Roc Cup aims to deliver tangible community benefits. Local volunteers will be involved in the event, while small businesses and vendors in the surrounding area are expected to benefit from increased activity during the tournament period.

Future Talent Photo’s: ROC Nation

A key objective of the Roc Cup is talent identification, with both international and African scouts expected to attend. RNSI hopes the tournament will serve as a competitive platform where emerging players can be assessed in a high-level environment, strengthening links between African academies and European opportunities.

The long-term vision is for the Roc Cup to become an annual fixture on the African youth football calendar, contributing to sustainable talent development across the continent.

Participating teams

  • Benab FC (Ghana)
  • Tripple 44 FC (Nigeria)
  • Sporting Lagos (Nigeria)
  • Zilina Africa (Ghana)
  • Empire FC (Côte d’Ivoire)
  • Fadama Field Masters (Ghana)
  • Semper Fi (Ghana)
  • Racing Club d’Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)
  • SOAR Academy (Guinea)
  • Kadji Sports Academy (Cameroon)

Key South African sports figures already with Roc Nation

Several prominent South African sportsmen and women are associated with Roc Nation Sports, the management agency founded by Jay-Z.

The agency has a strong focus on South African talent across rugby, cricket, netball, and soccer, as well as a partnership with the Sharks rugby team. 

The SA sports stars include the following:

  • Siya Kolisi: The Springbok captain, who signed with the agency to manage his brand and commercial ventures.
  • Cheslin Kolbe: Rugby World Cup-winning wing.
  • Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira: Former Springbok prop.
  • Temba Bavuma: Proteas test cricket captain.
  • Bongiwe Msomi: Former SPAR Proteas netball captain.
  • Lungi Ngidi: Proteas fast bowler.
  • Emile Witbooi: 16-year-old Cape Town City FC starlet and soccer prodigy.
  • Siyabonga Mabena: Mamelodi Sundowns young forward.
  • Neo Bohloko: Kaizer Chiefs young striker. 

Roc Nation has expanded heavily into African football, signing young talent from the PSL and other African nations, with a focus on holistic career development. 

Dylan Maart’s Stormers surge has Springbok written all over it

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, News, RugbyLeave a Comment on Dylan Maart’s Stormers surge has Springbok written all over it
Adnaan Mohamed

Dylan Maart’s rugby journey is unfolding like a perfectly weighted grubber, unexpected, precise and suddenly impossible to ignore.

On loan from Currie Cup champions Griquas, Maart is now streaking down the touchline for the Stormers. The Wellington-born speedster is finishing tries under the bright lights of the Investec Champions Cup, leaving defenders clutching at air and selectors sitting up straighter.

Maart wasted no time announcing himself in blue and white. A debut try against Munster in Limerick was followed by a brace against La Rochelle in the Investec Champions Cup, both five-pointers delivered on a silver platter by Springbok fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

“Look, to get a try in the first place for the Stormers is always special,” Maart said.

“Two or three, I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

“If you have someone like Sacha, who has all the talent in the world, on your inside and who can find every space, you just have to be in the right place.

“So, yes, it was exciting to get those two tries and to have a say in the team’s victory at the end of the day.”

Those early scores have propelled Maart from squad player to headline act, and now the Wellington-born speedster is preparing for another milestone: his first run-out at DHL Stadium.

“Making my debut, playing overseas for the first time and obviously the results have been going our way,” he said ahead of the Lions derby.

“I’m very excited to play my first game at the DHL Stadium in front of the home crowd … exciting times.”

The rise has been as steep as a midfield chip-and-chase.

“If I think of where I was a year ago to where I am now, I never thought I’d have the opportunity to play here at the Stormers, so I’m very grateful and very excited.”

While Maart is carving his own attacking lines, his compass points firmly towards an old friend and local hero, Springbok winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, who also cracked international rugby later than most.

“I actually didn’t play rugby until after high school, but I watched a lot of rugby,” Maart revealed.

“There’s a lot of guys that I can mention. But for me, growing up, it was Bryan Habana.

“Cheslin [Kolbe] now, as well as one of my friends, Kurt-Lee Arendse. He lives in Paarl, I’m from Wellington so he’s a guy I look up to and can always ask if I need some advice.

“He’s also a role model for me. And very inspiring also. To see that he can also make it. So, that’s something for me to look forward to.”

At 29, when many players are settled into predictable careers, Maart rolled the dice. He left his job as a warehouse worker at a bottling plant and bet everything on rugby. The risk was rooted in hardship.

“I played rugby in primary school, but nothing in high school, for various reasons.

“Things weren’t good at home. There were many nights when there was no food and we went to sleep hungry.”

At 13, he worked as a taxi guard, opening doors, collecting fares and carrying bags, just to put food on the table and secure a ride to school in Paarl. Rugby, though distant, never left his heart.

When opportunity finally knocked, Maart smashed the door down. He rose with Boland Cavaliers, became a pillar of a Griquas side that ended a 55-year Currie Cup drought, and is now lighting up the URC and Champions Cup in Stormers colours.

The Stormers’ season mirrors Maart’s surge. They are unbeaten in the Investec Champions Cup, eight wins from eight in all competitions, and positioned to host a last-16 European play-off.

Saturday’s URC clash against the Lions at DHL Stadium, only their third home game of the campaign, offers Maart another stage to sprint his late-blooming dream closer to green and gold.

Like Arendse before him, Maart is proof that in rugby, timing matters less than belief, and that some wings only truly catch the wind when the stakes are highest.