PICK OF THE SPORT: Dylan Bettencourt writes that one of the biggest concentrations of expats from South Africa is in Perth, and many of them will be at the Springboks versus Wallabies match in the city on Saturday.
Once again, the unpredictable Rassie Erasmus has surprised the rugby world with a Springbok team featuring no less than 10 changes.
“We made it clear from the outset this season that one of our main goals is to build squad depth with an eye on the next Rugby World Cup,” said the Springbok coach.
What he could have said but didn’t is that Australia are in such dire straits rugby-wise that it really doesn’t matter which team South Africa fields in Perth on Saturday.
And if things go wrong, the mighty forwards coming off the bench can salvage just about any situation.
As always, a hint of arrogance is showing its ugly face on Rassie’s shoulder, but barring that, there is no reason to think South Africa could lose this one.
The Springboks will be in action at 11.30am, live on DStv channel 201.
➤ A much tighter contest is in store for rugby fans when Argentina takes on the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland.
As the world media have made so clear, the honeymoon is over for coach Scott “Razor” Robinson after the All Blacks fumbled their way to a shameful loss against Felipe Contepomi’s Jaguares.
While the All Blacks didn’t play badly, they showed the same lack of commitment that dogged the New Zealand team under Ian Foster’s leadership for so long.
They will have to show the fighting spirit that Argentina showed last week if the loyal but demanding New Zealand fans are to forgive them for their loss in a match they should have won.
New Zealand v Argentina, Eden Park, Auckland. Saturday 8.55am.
Australia v South Africa, Optus Stadium, Perth, Saturday 11.45am
Both matches are live on DStv channel 201.
➤ But don’t put away your South African flag or beer after the Springboks meet the Wallabies. The very next morning, Dricus Du Plessis will try to defend his UFC middleweight belt against Israel Adesanya, also in Perth.
Springbok superstars Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth will walk Dricus to the Perth Octagon before what is set to be the biggest fight of his career, a real make-or-break moment for the 30-year-old.
Most of your neighbour’s alarms will be going off around 6.15am on Sunday to give themselves time to prepare for when Dricus is set to fight 15 minutes later.
There’s bad blood between Dricus and Izzy, which started when the South African claimed he was the only African champion in the UFC. This upset many fighters born in Africa who live in and represent other first-world countries.
While Dricus doesn’t go into the fight as a favourite, it is a label he and many other South African athletes know all too well.
And as Dricus so famously said: “Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie.”
The main event is set to take place from 6.30am on Sunday, live on DStv channel 209.
➤ And as if the Springboks and Dricus fighting was not enough to keep your beers flowing, the Premier League returns this weekend as men return to spending most of their weekends on the couch in front of the TV.
Manchester United kick off the season against Fulham on Friday at 9pm.
Liverpool then take on newly promoted side Ipswich on Saturday at 1.30pm before Arsenal face Wolves at 4pm.
The match of the weekend will see Chelsea take on Manchester City on Sunday at 5.30pm before Tottenham end the match-week on Monday night against Leicester City at 9pm.
All the Premier League matches will be live on DStv channel 203.
Pictured above: The Springboks.
Source: Springboks/X
