While most local sporting bodies keep themselves busy with farewell or year-end functions this time of the year, South Africans can at least for the next few weeks look forward to see the Springboks in action for the last time this year.
Rugby
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer on Wednesday named the same starting line-up that beat New Zealand a month ago to face Ireland in the opening Test of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour on Dublin on Saturday. The only change to the match-day squad is at replacement prop, where Coenie Oosthuizen replaces the injured Marcel van der Merwe. The match will start at 19:30 (SA time).
The Springbok starting team boasts a total of 672 Test caps (289 in the backline and 383 in the forwards), while there are a further 316 caps worth of experience on the bench. South Africa and Ireland have played each other 21 times since 1906, with the Springboks winning 16 Tests, losing four and one was drawn.
The Springboks have scored 417 points and 60 tries and conceded 248 points and 24 tries for an average score of 20-12. The two teams last met on 10 November 2012 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, when the Springboks won 16-12.
The referee is the controversial Romain Poite of France. It will be his fifth Test involving South Africa. In previous Tests the Springboks have won three and lost one. The latter was the controversial test against the All Blacks in September 2013, in which the Frenchman showed Bismark du Plessis a much-debated red card early in the second half and thereby gave the test to the All Blacks on a platter.
His last Test involving South Africa was in June this year against Wales in Durban – a game that the Springboks won 38-16.
The Springboks Test against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday will be preceded by a moment’s silence in honour of five South African sporting icons who recently died. For more detail and a complete preview, click here.
Cricket
With the Ram Slam T20 series now in full swing, several games in this tournament were already played on Friday night. The Titans has promised to focus their energy on improving their seam bowling performance for their match against the Chevrolet Knights at SuperSport Park this Friday night.
The four Titans seamers conceded a combined 153 runs in just 12 overs as they lost their opening fixture to the Cobras on the weekend, and captain Henry Davids confirmed it is a department that has received its due attention this week. The Titans’ players will do all in their power to win this game so they can get back on track in this exciting series.
The Proteas were also back in action on Friday, against Australia in the second Twenty20 match in their series of three. South Africa won the first game. The third game in this series will be played on Sunday, 9 November. It will start at 10:35 (SA Time).
By the time this preview was published, South Africa was deep in trouble in the second game and chances looked good that the third game will be decisive in the series. For more cricket news and complete match schedules, click here.
Road Running
The Irene Road Running Club is geared for the 19th annual Liquifruit Irene Road Race, which will take place on Saturday. Avid runners have already entered in numbers. The 21km race is the final leg of the third Irene triple challenge, which includes the 10 km Spar Lantern Night Race in February and the Clover Irene 21,1 km Spring Run in September.
The pleasant route through Southdowns, the Agricultural Research Farm and Centurion Golf estate has made the Liquifruit Irene Road Race a favourite among serious and social athletes alike. To truly cater for the whole family, there is a fully supervised kiddies’ event area for children aged eight and below, who will also have the opportunity to take part in the 1km kids run.
The event also includes a 10 km road race and a 5 km fun run. All the races start at the clubhouse of the Irene Athletics Club at the Agricultural Research Farm in Irene. For more information, visit the club’s website here.
Soccer
The local Telkom Knockout football series reaches its semi-final stage this weekend. Soccer fans in Pretoria are fortunate to have two local teams in this weekend’s semi-finals to support – Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United.
SuperSport United will be up against Orlando Pirates on Saturday in the Orlando Stadium in Soweto. The home team is currently on very good form and the SuperSport United players will need a great effort to reach the final.
At the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg Mamelodi Sundowns will meet Platinum Stars in the other semi-final match on Sunday.
For more info on the series, visit their website here.
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