Friday, and half the country has somewhere to be by 10:30. Fluit’s Five 30 October opens at Newlands, where a Test series is balanced on one morning session, then heads for Soweto, Athlone and a cold night in Glasgow. Five things, one cup of coffee.
1. The Big One: Fluit’s Five 30 October starts with forty runs and six wickets
Forty runs. That is the Proteas’ lead going into day four of the decider, with six second-innings wickets in hand and Matthew Breetzke and Ryan Rickelton walking back out at 10:30. Thursday ended on 140 for 4, with Nathan Lyon bowling Temba Bavuma for 35 just before the close.
It is one Test each in the series. A win takes it; anything less and Australia go home with a share.
Our view: the first session decides what kind of Test this becomes. If Breetzke and Rickelton are still together at lunch, South Africa can start building a target Australia will not enjoy on day five. Lose two quickly and a side that made 429 in its first innings will fancy a short chase. How day three turned.
2. The Matchday Move: the derby details stop moving
For two weeks the reports could not agree on the home side or the ground. The Premier Soccer League’s fixture list has now ended the debate: Orlando Pirates host Kaizer Chiefs tomorrow, 15:30, at FNB Stadium.
There is plenty riding on it beyond bragging rights. Both clubs are through to the knockout cup quarter-finals with home ties, so neither can use a cup hangover as an excuse, and three league points in a derby always feel like six. Plan the day, the route and the braai around 15:30. Every kick-off this weekend, in one place.
3. The Talking Point: change after a defeat, or trust?
Ireland beat the Springbok Women 40-27 at Athlone Stadium last Saturday, six tries to five. Tomorrow at 15:00, on the same field, the home side get one more go.
Co-coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September have not stood still. Mary Zulu starts at flyhalf, Byrhandré Dolf moves to fullback, Lindelwa Gwala comes in at hooker and Sizophila Solontsi keeps the captaincy.
Our view: the shake-up is right. Scoring five tries and still losing by 13 says the problem was keeping Ireland out, not finding the line, and a new hand at 10 changes how a team controls territory. The counter-argument is fair: five tries is a lot to break up. The fixture, from SA Rugby.
4. The Stat That Matters: 185
That is what Josh Inglis and Alex Carey added together for Australia’s fifth wicket at Newlands, and it is the main reason South Africa start today only 40 in front instead of well clear. Inglis made 102 and Carey 80, and Simon Harmer took both on his way to four wickets.
What it means: on this pitch one long partnership has already swung the Test once. The Proteas need their own version today, and the two batters best placed to build it are the not-out pair. The day the stand was built.
5. The One to Watch: the Lions at Scotstoun tonight
Kick-off is 21:45 SAST in Glasgow, the last stop of a long trip north before the URC’s November break, and it is a hard one. Glasgow are one of only two unbeaten sides in the league, and the Lions have lost on all three of their previous visits to Scotstoun, the Glasgow club points out.
The Lions are 11th on nine points. Still, there is a thread to pull on: when these two last met, at home in April, the Lions won 54-12. Francke Horn leads from No 8 and Springbok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg is back. Both teams and what the coaches said.
Tonight’s braai argument: should the Bok Women coaches have kept faith with last week’s backline, or is the reshuffle exactly what Athlone needs? Choose, and bring your best reason to the fire.