
Springboks, Simbine, Dricus: When to watch Mzansi's finest this weekend
Here's how you can watch South Africa's finest sportspeople in action this weekend.
The best thing? None of these events overlaps.
Three Baby Boks who will shine for the Springboks at Rugby World Cup 2027
Akani Simbine, silver medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is in action at the Silesia Diamond League. His race goes on Saturday, 16 August at 16:58, where he'll face Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson, among others. That's convenient, seeing as though his race will finish in time for the Springboks vs Wallabies test at Ellis Park, kicking off at 17:10.
Manie Libbok will start at flyhalf for the Springboks against the Wallabies, with skipper Siya Kolisi playing number 8. Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe both miss out with reported niggles. The Springboks and Wallabies meet on Saturday, 16 August at Ellis Park. Kickoff is at 17:10.
What time to pour the brandy?
WHOLESOME: New All Blacks call-up named after Springboks legend
UFC superstar Dricus Du Plessis meets Russian Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, aiming to proudly defend his middleweight title. The main event goes at roughly 04:00 SA time on Sunday, 17 August.
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IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Bryan Habana praises South Africa's wingers ahead of Rugby Championship opener
Former Springbok wing Bryan Habana is delighted to see the Bok wingers dominate the scene in world rugby ahead of their opening Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Johannesburg. Image: Backpagepix Springbok legend Bryan Habana is thrilled that South Africa's dynamic wingers are being given the freedom to shine on the rugby field, a sentiment he expressed as the Boks prepare for their Rugby Championship opener against Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday. Habana, known for his own phenomenal wing play, is especially excited about the talents of Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Edwill van der Merwe, who, alongside the experienced Makazole Mapimpi, are setting the rugby world alight with their performances. Arendse and Van der Merwe are primed to feature as the wings in this crucial match in Johannesburg (5.10 pm start), marking a significant moment in their careers. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Habana, speaking at the Peregrine Capital X Rugby Centurions launch party, is excited for what is to come from the Boks and their pocket rockets. 'They are redefining how people see wing play,' Habana said about the scrum-capped hotsteppers of the Boks. 'Edwill could become the first Springbok to score tries in his first four matches, and I always tell people, records are there to be broken. If I look at what Cheslin is doing, Kurt-Lee and Makazole and how they've been given that platform to showcase their talents and individualism, it is phenomenal. 'As a fan, it is brilliant to see how those who have been given the opportunity in the Springbok team are going out and performing. Long may that continue, and records be broken.' On the verge of rewriting history ✍️ No Springbok player has ever scored in his first four matches, with a few coming close.. Edwill van der Merwe will look to become the first when he takes to the field in his next game 👀#SSRugby | #TheRugbyChampionship — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 5, 2025 Van der Merwe will look to grasp the opportunity of breaking that try-scoring record in his first Test against Australia. The 29-year-old took the road less travelled into the Bok setup but has shown his worth in his first three matches. Habana backs him to make history at his former provincial hunting ground. 'Edwill has been playing incredible rugby over the last six or seven years. He grafted hard and is a player who puts himself in positions to surprise opposition. It is no small feat that he is where he is in terms of his success rate. 'His off-the-mark speed is excellent, his vision to pop up where opponents do not expect him to, and his power-to-weight ratio is up there with Cheslin. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and that is brilliant. 'It is a phenomenal opportunity to create some rugby history.'

The Herald
an hour ago
- The Herald
Boks will be at full throttle against Wallabies — Kriel
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Daily Maverick
an hour ago
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Why the 2025 Rugby Championship will be the Springboks' Mount Everest
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Planning to peak in New Zealand While the campaign will be bookended by series against Australia and then Argentina, a rare Freedom Cup double header in New Zealand will shape the outcome. It's been 15 years since the Boks played the All Blacks in New Zealand on consecutive weekends, and 88 years since they won back-to-back Tests in that part of the world. It's a tough ask to win both matches in New Zealand this September, yet opportunity knocks for a group that's already won two World Cups, two Rugby Championship titles as well as a series against the British & Irish Lions. Rassie Erasmus's charges will have the chance to end South Africa's 88-year drought at Eden Park – and become the first Test side to win at the Auckland fortress in 50 matches. What's more, they could become the first Bok team to complete a Freedom Cup series sweep in New Zealand, and perhaps most importantly, the first South African side to successfully defend its Rugby Championship title. Will they tick all of those boxes or will they focus on two of the three objectives? It's a question that will shape their Rugby Championship campaign. Bonus points or bust against Wallabies The first two Rugby Championship matches against the Wallabies will set the tone for the rest of the tournament – in more ways than one. Last year, Erasmus's charges claimed two bonus-point wins in Australia, and those victories laid the platform for a successful campaign. The Boks went on to win both Tests against the All Blacks in South Africa, and after falling short in Argentina, thumped the Pumas 48-7 in Mbombela to clinch the Rugby Championship title. The Boks won't take the Wallabies lightly over the next two weeks, and they won't spurn the opportunity to bank valuable log points. Having thrashed the Wallabies 43-12 and 35-17 in the past two match-ups staged on the Highveld, the Boks should expect to bank five log points when hosting Joe Schmidt's team at Ellis Park this Saturday. Erasmus has selected a well-balanced side geared towards a high-tempo approach in Johannesburg, but has also opted to keep a few stars back ahead of the coming matches in Cape Town, Auckland and Wellington. Double World Cup winners such as Cheslin Kolbe and Damian de Allende are nursing minor injuries and should be ready for the clash next Saturday. Other notable players – Handré Pollard, Willie le Roux, RG Snyman, Vincent Koch and Sacha-Feinberg Mngomezulu – are likely to feature in the second Test against the Wallabies. Erasmus used 46 players over the course of the recent matches against the Barbarians, Italy and Georgia, and spoke about sharing the workload in what will be a demanding international season. The Bok coach will continue to rotate his squad against Australia, and will strive to ensure all of the relevant players are battle-hardened before the group departs for New Zealand. Two out of three a realistic goal A lot has been said in recent weeks about the Wallabies' shocking record in South Africa since 1996. Meanwhile, the Boks have fared little better in Australia over the same period, and have claimed four wins in New Zealand in the pro era. The latter record certainly puts the upcoming journey to the Land of the Long White Cloud into perspective. While Erasmus's Boks have beaten the All Blacks in the past four encounters staged at home and on neutral soil, they haven't won in New Zealand since 2019. Is it fair to expect two wins in New Zealand this September, knowing that the Boks have claimed only four in the preceding three decades – or is one out of two more realistic? The Boks will be going all out to win at Eden Park. That result would represent a magnificent achievement in isolation and would boost the Boks' chances of defending their Rugby Championship title – providing, of course, that they do the business against the Wallabies beforehand. Depending on the result in Auckland, the second match in Wellington will represent a chance for the Boks to complete a rare sweep in New Zealand, or an opportunity to level the Freedom Cup series and stay in touch with the All Blacks in the race for the Rugby Championship title. Erasmus and his coaches will have considered all of the scenarios, and what they might do in terms of selection and approach if things don't go according to plan in the first three matches of the campaign. Right now, however, they will be operating under the assumption that three wins from three is possible. One would expect Erasmus to treat the Eden Park game like a World Cup final and select his best available players for the must-win clash. If the Boks come through that encounter with a victory, a different side might be unleashed in Wellington. Squad rotation across a marquee series doesn't necessarily signal a lack of ambition. Last season, Erasmus picked two very different teams for the matches against the All Blacks in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and the Boks managed to win both Tests. Two wins in New Zealand is possible, yet unlikely – and you'd have to think that if the Boks win at Eden Park and eventually return to South Africa with a total of five points from the two Freedom Cup matches, they will be more than satisfied. From there, they will be ideally placed to push on in the remaining matches against the Pumas – one of which will be staged at Twickenham rather than in far-flung Argentina – and secure another Rugby Championship title. Two out of three wouldn't be bad at all. DM