No football tonight, but plenty to chew on. SA sport news Thursday brings a Springbok side built on trust, a cup weekend where goals could be scarce, a derby that might pack its bags for Durban, one enormous cricket number and a KwaZulu-Natal club sitting quietly in third.
1. The Big One: SA sport news Thursday begins with trust in Turin
Picture the week Rassie Erasmus has had. He told rugby365 that he arrived in Turin on Monday morning, and that the first training session for Saturday’s Test was that same afternoon. With so little time on the grass together, he went with the players who already know the system: none of the six uncapped tourists made the 23.
That is the angle worth holding on to. This is a selection for continuity, not a verdict on the newcomers, who stay on and train with the squad for four weeks. Italy v South Africa kicks off at 13:40 SAST on Saturday at the Allianz Stadium, the first of three Tests before finals weekend at Twickenham. The full team, and what Erasmus said on Monday
2. The Matchday Move: a weekend built on clean sheets
The theme of the knockout cup quarter-finals could be locked doors. Five of the six clubs still to play kept a clean sheet in the last 16. Pirates and Chiefs both won 3-0, Stellenbosch won 2-0 away at Durban City, AmaZulu edged Kruger United 1-0 and Siwelele beat Polokwane City on penalties after 120 goalless minutes. Only Sekhukhune conceded, and they still scored three.
The order of play, from the PSL: Pirates host Sekhukhune at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, 15:00 SAST. On Sunday, Chiefs meet Siwelele in Polokwane at 15:00, then Stellenbosch welcome AmaZulu at 18:00. Sundowns are already in the semis. How Masandawana got there
3. The Talking Point: should the derby leave FNB Stadium?
Irvin Khoza has put Durban on the table. In an eNCA interview reported by TimesLIVE, the PSL chairman suggested the Soweto Derby could move to Moses Mabhida Stadium in future, after Saturday’s overcrowding at FNB Stadium, and praised Durban as a host that stages big matches well. He also said he had asked for a briefing on Thursday with the parties involved in hosting matches at FNB.
Our view: moving the derby treats the symptom. A Soweto Derby belongs close to Soweto, and the fix is at the gates, not down the N3. But if the gates cannot be trusted, Durban has a case. Which way do you lean? How the derby itself played out
4. The Stat That Matters: 8.4 million
Almost 8.4 million. That is how many ticket applications the ICC says it has received for a single match: India v Pakistan at the Wanderers on Sunday 10 October 2027, at next year’s Men’s Cricket World Cup. The exact count in the ICC’s release is 8,397,294, out of 120.8 million requests for the whole tournament as of 1 November. The final has drawn 7,900,944.
What it means: a group match has outdrawn the final itself, and most applicants are going to be disappointed. The ballot stays open until 23:59 SAST on 21 November. The ICC’s figures in full
5. The One to Watch: AmaZulu, flying under the radar
While the top two trade blows, AmaZulu keep winning. Arthur Zwane’s side are third in the Betway Premiership with seven wins from nine matches and 22 points, according to the PSL. Their cup tie at Kruger United was settled by Hendrick Ekstein’s 78th-minute penalty, and on Saturday they beat Golden Arrows 1-0 at Princess Magogo Stadium.
Sunday’s trip to Danie Craven Stadium tests whether that tidy habit travels. Stellenbosch lost 2-0 at home to Chippa United at the weekend, but they knocked AmaZulu out of this competition after extra time in 2024. Usuthu have the form. Stellies have the history, and a forward with a taste for late goals. Meet the man AmaZulu must stop
The braai question for Thursday: if Khoza calls it, do you follow the derby to Durban, or stay put and demand that FNB gets its gates right? And be honest: did you enter the ballot?