Monday, and the weekend has had its say. This is Fluit’s Five 26 October, and today we look forward, not back: a five-day final starts in Cape Town tomorrow, the big three play cup football the same night, and Saturday afternoon sets a puzzle for anyone who loves both codes.
1. The Big One: Fluit’s Five 26 October opens at Newlands
One Test. Five days. Everything on it. The series stands at 1-1, Australia having won by 214 runs in Durban before South Africa hit back with an innings win in Gqeberha, and play starts at Newlands at 10:30 on Tuesday.
The Proteas go in a fast bowler short. Anrich Nortje is out with a mild groin injury, as reported when the 16-man squad was named on Saturday, and no replacement was called up. Australia have made no further changes to their party, with Cameron Green and Josh Inglis fit and available, cricket.com.au reports.
Our view: the momentum belongs to South Africa, the depth now belongs to the visitors. That tension is the whole Test. Who is in, who is out and how Newlands might play.
2. The Matchday Move: three giants, one kick-off time
Four days after a CAF Friday that sent two of them out of Africa, the big three are back on Tuesday, all at 19:00. Orlando Pirates, the defending champions, host Milford at Orlando Stadium. Kaizer Chiefs face TS Galaxy at FNB Stadium. Mamelodi Sundowns welcome Marumo Gallants to Loftus Versfeld.
On Wednesday, at the same hour, Durban City meet Stellenbosch at Chatsworth Stadium. That is the PSL’s list, and it finishes a last 16 that began with two ties on Saturday and two on Sunday. Team news and the coaches’ thinking belong to our full preview. Until then, catch up on how Saturday’s two ties went.
3. The Talking Point: what Sundowns do with the hurt
Mamelodi Sundowns are not used to watching the CAF group stage from the outside. After Friday’s away-goals exit to Wiliete, Miguel Cardoso did not dress it up. He called it a failure, and said it belonged to everybody at the club, coaches and players included, as The Citizen reported.
So what now? Our view: the knockout cup has suddenly become the most important competition on the Sundowns calendar. Tuesday against Gallants is the first chance to show that the wound is healing rather than spreading. Stumble there, and every week after it gets heavier. How the night at Loftus unfolded.
4. The Stat That Matters: 6-1
Six goals scored, one conceded, two legs. That is how Durban City handled AS Port Louis 2000 on the way to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage: 3-1 at Moses Mabhida Stadium, then 3-0 in Mauritius on Sunday, with Gaston Sirino, Haashim Domingo and substitute Ethan Brooks scoring in the return, per SoccerMag and iDiski Times.
Why it matters: this is the club’s first campaign in continental football, iDiski Times notes, and Eric Tinkler’s side played the second leg like a team that has done this for years. Kaizer Chiefs, in the same competition, are out. Durban City are still dreaming. The full-time report from Mauritius.
5. The One to Watch: Athlone, Saturday, 15:00
The Springbok Women get a second shot at Ireland on Saturday 31 October at Athlone Stadium, kick-off 15:00, as listed when SA Rugby confirmed the series. They lost the first Test 27-40 while scoring five tries of their own, so the attack is there. It is the small things that need sorting.
Here is the catch for the couch: the Soweto Derby kicks off at FNB Stadium just half an hour later, at 15:30, according to the PSL. Two screens, one afternoon. Our advice: give the Bok Women the first half, at least. They have earned it. What went wrong last Saturday.
So, for this week’s braai: if the Proteas win at Newlands and Saturday goes your way at FNB Stadium, is that the best week South African sport has had all year? Or is someone else holding that title? Make your case.