Underdogs no more as SA teams chase glory
Proteas fight at Lord's, Bulls tackle Leinster, and Sundowns meet Ulsan — SA's teams are hungry for global success.
We don't share Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie's enthusiastic optimism that South Africa 'always wins' in big global sporting clashes… but over the next few days our boys are going to be duelling with the world's best and, win or lose, you know they're going to fight.
The biggest pressure will be on the Proteas cricket team, facing an uphill battle against Australia at Lord's in London for the World Test Championship trophy.
They hope to finally toss their reputation of being chokers when it comes to the closing stages of major international tournaments but, in fairness, they entered the final as underdogs.
Over the first two days they've shown plenty of fight to warrant their place in the decider.
But they're in the final and there's been plenty of whingeing from countries like India and England, who consider themselves the royalty of the game and are miffed that they're not at Lord's.
ALSO READ: OPINION: Proteas, Aussies undercooked ahead of WTC final — who'll adapt quickest?
Well, it wasn't South Africa who came up with the concept of this championship and how it was decided… so suck it up.
We would bet, though, that there will be plenty of loud supporters of the Blue Bulls at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin tomorrow – never mind the legions at home – to cheer on their team against Leinster in the United Rugby Championship final.
It will, say the pundits, effectively be an Ireland team against the Pretoria boytjies, so many Irish internationals are there in Leinster's ranks.
But that's not going to deter the Bulls and their fans, who skrik vir niks, or are not afraid of anything. The fans of the team offer a lesson in loyalty, though, because their blood is blue, win or lose.
Likewise, Sundowns supporters will be hoping their guys fare well against Korean team Ulsan in the Fifa Club World Cup… and get the sort of recognition they deserve, but don't get, from the rest of the country after being unbeaten league champs for eight years.
ALSO READ: Leinster v Bulls: Everything you need to know about the URC final
Sport… what's not to love?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
2 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Proteas inch closer to World Test Championship Mace after Markram and Bavuma batting masterclass
South Africa 138 and 213 for 2 (Aiden Markram 102*, Temba Bavuma 65*, Mitchell Starc 2-53) need 69 runs to beat Australia 212 and 207 (Starc 58, Alex Carey 43, Kagiso Rabada 4-59, Lungi Ngidi 3-38). Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma have batted the Proteas to the verge of history at Lord's against Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. They need 69 runs to clinch the Test mace with two days of action still available to play. Australia, dismissed for 207 in their second innings, set the Proteas a winning target of 282, which in the context of the low-scoring encounter, seemed almost impossible. But the dream is closer to reality after an aggressive response with the bat that has taken the Proteas to the brink of one of South African cricket's greatest achievements. The two most senior South African batters were undefeated at the crease at the close of play on day three, having led the team to 213 for two at stumps, putting on an unbroken 143-run third-wicket stand. Markram is the second South African in this match who will have his name etched into the Lord's Honour's Board at the conclusion of the WTC final, having struck an incredible century under pressure. Zero to hero The opener has gone from zero (dismissed for a duck in the first innings) to hero, carving out an appealing 102 off 159 deliveries, caressing 11 fours on his way to his eighth Test century. Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma, meanwhile, limped his way to 65 off 121 balls, with five boundary fours smacked. Bavuma, while fluent in his strokeplay, had a literal limp caused by a left hamstring strain, sustained while running through for a quick single. It meant the skipper and vice-captain couldn't take any quick singles. Despite that, the pair put on 143 runs for the third wicket in a display of batting of the highest magnitude under extreme pressure. Bavuma's innings was one of courage, skill and supreme commitment to his teammates and his country when they needed their leader to set the tone. What transpired with the bat on day three was a dream for Bavuma. But it was very nearly a nightmare when he edged a Mitchell Starc snorter to Steve Smith at a very close first slip, with a helmet on — as the edges had been falling short all Test match. But instead of pouching the chance, Smith snatched at the ball that flew at him and dropped the ball. Bavuma was on two at the time, and South Africa on 76 for two in the 20th over. The Proteas had also lost Wiaan Mulder in Starc's previous over so would have opened up an end. Bavuma survived and made the most of his good fortune, as the best players tend to do. For Smith, to add injury to insult, he suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger while attempting the catch. He was taken to the hospital for x-rays. Morning frustration Earlier in the day, Australia's tail wagged to proportions of concern. Starc (58 off 136), in at nine, struck his 11th Test half century to guide Australia from 144 for eight overnight to 207 all out and extended Australia's lead to 282. Kagiso Rabada trapped Nathan Lyon LBW in the third over of the morning — to claim his ninth wicket of the match — but Starc and Josh Hazlewood (17 off 53) batted through the rest of the morning session, putting on 59 runs in their last wicket stand — Australia's second highest partnership in the innings. Hazlewood eventually became Markram's fifth Test scalp as the teams went into lunch with one innings in the Test match remaining, and knowing exactly what was needed to claim the WTC mace. The batting success of Australia's lower order, although frustrating for the Proteas, proved that conditions were finally okay for batting after two days of batters poking and prodding while attempting to get bat to ball. While 28 wickets fell across the first two days; only four fell on day three. Australia bowling coach Daniel Vettori suggested that the lack of cloud cover for the duration of day three's play, as well as the pitch becoming placid (as experts on the playing conditions at Lord's have suggested will happen) assisted the significant drop-off in wickets. In the same vein, Vettori credited Bavuma and Markam's vigil. 'It has been difficult scoring but South Africa made the most of those conditions. But also, it was an exceptional partnership,' Vettori said. 'They navigated the tricky times and then were able to put pressure back on us through their running [and] through their ability to dissect the field. It was a real clinic from those two.'
eNCA
2 hours ago
- eNCA
Mametsa confident Bulls will bring United Rugby Championship title home
PRETORIA - The Bulls are all geared up for their all-important grand final in the United Rugby Championship, against Irish side Leinster this weekend in Dublin. This will be the Bulls' third appearance in the final, but they have never won the title. So they will be hoping the third time will be the charm for them. Leinster, by contrast, have won eight times, their most recent victory in 2021 against Munster. Former Bulls wing John Mametsa is confident the Pretoria franchise can write their names in the history books, as eNCA's Siphokazi Malinga had a sit down with Mametsa, to get his expectation as his former side heads to the final.
IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Temba Bavuma's Proteas are in touching distance of realising the African dream at Lord's
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram have shared an unbroken 143-run partnership at Lord's. Picture: BackpagePix Image: Picture: BackpagePix 'Cause in my African dream There's a new tomorrow My African dream Is dream that we can follow These are the lyrics that will be ringing in the heads of the Proteas as they went to bed on Friday evening. For Temba Bavuma's team require just 69 more runs on Saturday morning to realise their dream of winning the World Test Championship final here at rousing Lord's. Bavuma is still at the crease too, fighting on bravely with a hamstring strain, undefeated on 65. His partner is none other than his able deputy Aiden Markram, who struck a career-defining 102 not out to edge the Proteas ever closer to their crowning moment. A century of the highest class from Aiden Markram! 💯🔥 Composed under pressure, fearless in execution, what a time for a knock for the ages. 🇿🇦💪 A phenomenal player rising to the occasion when it matters most. Take a bow, Markram, pure brilliance! 🔥👏 #WTCFinal #WozaNawe… — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 13, 2025 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ The pair have already shared an unbroken 143-run stand for the third wicket with the Proteas in pursuit of 282 runs for victory - if achieved it would also be the second highest ever target achieved in the fourth innings here at Lord's. The sceptics out there will no doubt remind everyone that the Proteas needed just 79 runs with the exact same numbers of wickets still intact in their very first Test after returning from isolation when they faced the West Indies in Barbados all the way back in 1992. But that was on a crumbling final day surface at the Kensington Oval. Lord's in 2025 bears no resemblance though, particularly after only four wickets fell for the entire third day after 28 had been snared on the opening two days. Markram - the only South African Men's captain to lead a team to an ICC World Cup title when he did so with the U19s in Dubai all those years ago - played with great authority as he stemmed the much-vaunted Australian attack. 'We certainly know that he's someone for the big occasion, of that there's no doubt,' said Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince. The Proteas' would have had their hearts in their mouths though when Bavuma started hobbling after setting off a single early on in the partnership,, but the skipper was adamant that he wanted to continue in the middle with Markram despite being in obvious pain. Proteas coach Shukri Conrad. Picture: BackpagePix Image: BACKPAGEPIX 'At tea time, we had to make a big call whether he continues to bat (and how it will affect his stroke play, how that might affect Aiden's rhythm if twos are being turned into one, that they can't sort of run the twos or the threes. 'both of them were adamant that Temba was going to continue. He wanted to continue. Aiden was adamant that the partnership is the key. 'And obviously had Stubbs gone in, we would have still had Temba's wicket intact, but you start in a new partnership, they were feeling pretty good and they wanted to continue. 'Aiden was well aware that he'll have to curb his intensity just in terms of running between the wickets to allow Temba to ease his way through it.' With the Proteas on the verge one of the greatest moments in South African cricket history, but having seen it all implode before, how will the team cope with the expected nerves for the remainder of the Test? 'I think (Proteas head coach) Shukri (Conrad) must get a lot of credit for that because that's one of his strengths, making sure that everybody stays calm within the dressing room,' Prince said. Independent Media's Zaahier Adams will be at Lord's covering the ICC World Test Championship final. Picture: Independent Media Image: Independent Media
