Five goals in Cairo, a series won in the rain and a medical room that is starting to fill up. Here is what South African fans need to know this Thursday morning.
1. The Big One: Bafana put five past Eritrea
Bafana Bafana beat Eritrea 5-0 at the Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo last night, making it six points from two AFCON 2027 qualifiers. Relebohile Mofokeng scored twice in the first half, and Sphephelo Sithole, Iqraam Rayners and Luther Singh added the rest after the break. Pitso Mosimane had warned his players all week not to take Eritrea lightly, and they did not. “It was a good performance from our boys and they showed respect also,” he told SAFA. “They showed respect to the opponents but also played proper football.” Seven goals scored and one conceded in two games is the start Mosimane wanted. Next is a friendly against Egypt in Cairo on Sunday at 20:00.
2. The Matchday Move: a defeat, and a series won
The Proteas lost the third ODI in Potchefstroom by 45 runs on the DLS method, but they take the series 2-1. Australia made 322/9, with Alex Carey on 74 and Mitchell Marsh on 56, and Corbin Bosch took a career-best 4/60. Rain ended South Africa’s chase at 145/4 after 28 overs, 45 runs behind the par score. Ryan Rickelton was 71 not out when the rain came. With five changes to the side, this was a rotated team, not the one that won in Durban and Johannesburg.
Rain helps Australia deny South Africa a whitewash
3. The Talking Point: another hamstring
Tony de Zorzi hurt his hamstring while fielding last night and could not bat. He is now a doubt for the first Test at Kingsmead on Friday 9 October. He joins a long list. Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman and Kwena Maphaka are all out with hamstring injuries, and Kagiso Rabada is in the Test squad while he recovers from one of his own. One hamstring is bad luck. Five at once is a pattern. Is it the schedule, the workload or simply a bad run?
4. The Stat That Matters: four from four, now on the road
All four South African URC sides won in round 1, and round 2 asks more of them. The Stormers are at Edinburgh on Friday at 20:45. On Saturday the Lions host the Ospreys at 13:45, the Sharks host champions Leinster at 18:30 and the Bulls are at Munster at 20:45. All times SAST. Two away trips to Scotland and Ireland are where perfect starts usually end. Our weekend fixture guide follows later this morning.
5. The One to Watch: Luan Giliomee
The 20-year-old Sharks fullback scored twice and was named man of the match against the Ospreys. On Saturday he faces Leinster in Durban, and it is set to be his last match for the Sharks before he joins the Bulls. The Irish Times has already run a column on how Leinster need a plan to deal with him. If you watch one South African player this weekend, make it him.
A five-goal win, a series in the bag and a farewell in Durban. Which of those will you be talking about by Sunday?