There have not been many happy days for the Springboks against the All Blacks in recent times, but Fourie du Preez's men can bury those depressing memories if they pull off the big one on Saturday (24 October).
There have not been many happy days for the Springboks against the All Blacks in recent times, but Fourie du Preez's men can bury those depressing memories if they pull off the big one on Saturday (24 October).
It's not quite the Rugby Championship but South African fans will be hoping the pattern of that competition earlier this year will not be repeated when the World Cup semifinals between the southern powers take place this weekend.
In the Rugby Championship, Australia and New Zealand contested the title, with the Aussies coming out on top. Was that a sign of things to come?
Now the William Webb Ellis trophy is at stake and it will be another smorgasbord of rugby action this weekend. In England the Boks and New Zealand will fire the first shots on Saturday with the build-up (SS2 from 3pm) and then the match (SS1, 5pm).
Argentina were supreme in their clash with perennial World Cup chokers Ireland – six quarterfinals, six defeats – but the question is can they repeat those heights against the formidable Aussies on Sunday (SS1, 5pm).
On the domestic front on Saturday, the bragging rights at all levels are up for grabs in South Africa's premier competition, the Currie Cup. The action starts at Ellis Park in Johannesburg with the U19 final when EP Kings face the Blue Bulls (SS2, 9.25am), followed by the U21 clash between Western Province and Free State (SS2, 11.10am), and then the seniors as WP try to inflict the first defeat of the season on the Golden Lions to try to retain the title (SS1, 1.15pm).
It's white-knuckle time in soccer's Telkom Knockout viewing marathon, with three quarterfinals on Saturday (SS4, Pirates vs Maritzburg United at 2.30pm, MP Black Aces vs Kaizer Chiefs at 5.30pm, SuperSport United vs Golden Arrows at 8pm).
Free State Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns complete the action on Sunday (SS4, 2.30pm).
The Proteas finish off the one-day international series with India on Sunday with the fifth game (SS2, 9.30am), while Formula One star Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to put the finishing touches to another world championship title in the US Grand Prix, also on Sunday (SS6, 8.30pm).
