Friday, and the weekend is already loud. SA sport news Friday starts in Turin, where Italy have nothing left to protect, then swings to Soweto, a cup that matters more than it did a month ago, a derby question nobody can settle, one KwaZulu-Natal winning habit and a Proteas batter back from the treatment table.
1. The Big One: SA sport news Friday begins with an Italy side playing free
Here is the danger nobody in green and gold will say out loud. Italy have lost all three of their Nations Championship matches and have zero points. Teams in that position stop playing the table and start playing for pride.
Gonzalo Quesada has picked accordingly. Samuele Locatelli, a Zebre Parma flank, wins his first cap at seven. And look at the replacements: six forwards and two backs, the bench split South Africa made famous, now pointed back at them. The Boks also go six-two. Saturday, Allianz Stadium, 13:40 SAST. Our preview has both teams and every selection call. Italy v the Boks, in full
2. The Matchday Move: Pirates start chasing what is left
Four weeks ago Mamelodi Sundowns beat Orlando Pirates 2-0 in the MTN8 final in Durban. One trophy gone. Since then the Buccaneers have beaten Chiefs in the derby and sit second in the league on 25 points, one behind Sundowns with a game in hand, according to the PSL.
So Saturday is where the chase for the rest of the silverware begins. Sekhukhune United visit Orlando Stadium in the knockout cup quarter-final, 15:00 SAST, the only tie on Saturday. Lose, and another door shuts before December. Every kick-off this weekend
3. The Talking Point: does the derby belong at FNB Stadium?
Two things are on record. Stadium Management South Africa says it is investigating why about 6,000 people could not get into the derby last Saturday, director Bertie Grobbelaar told AfricaSoccer, and that it will check ticketing data before drawing conclusions. And PSL chairman Irvin Khoza told eNCA that Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium could be an option in future.
Our view: the derby is Soweto’s, and FNB Stadium is its natural home. Wait for the findings before anyone packs a bag. Then judge the venue on the answers. Where would you want it? Relive the derby itself
4. The Stat That Matters: 5
Five. That is how many Premiership matches in a row AmaZulu have now won, according to the PSL, after last Saturday’s 1-0 against Golden Arrows at Princess Magogo Stadium.
Why it matters: streaks like that are usually Sundowns or Pirates territory. Usuthu are doing it quietly, and on Sunday the habit meets a different test, a knockout cup quarter-final at Stellenbosch, where one bad night ends the run of good ones. Has anyone outside Durban noticed yet? The PSL’s report
5. The One to Watch: Tony de Zorzi is back
A hamstring kept Tony de Zorzi out of the Proteas’ 2-1 Test series win over Australia. Now he is fit again and back in the 15-man Test squad for Bangladesh, named on Monday, with Zubayr Hamza and Anrich Nortje also returning, the ICC reports.
That turns the top order into a selection puzzle again. The first Test starts on 15 November at the Wanderers, and Shukri Conrad has pointed to Highveld pitches that offer pace and bounce. A batter coming back from injury could hardly ask for a sterner first exam. The squad in full
The braai question for Friday: Italy with nothing to lose, or Sekhukhune with nothing to fear? Which underdog worries you more this weekend?