Here’s the Springboks’ record in Tests in the United States

The Springboks are preparing to make history when they face the All Blacks in Baltimore this weekend in the fourth and final Test of the 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.

The blockbuster clash will take place at the 71 000-capacity M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, on Saturday, 12 September. afrikasportnews.co.za

It will be only the fourth Test the Springboks have played in the United States, adding another chapter to one of international rugby’s most celebrated rivalries.

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry heads to the US

The Baltimore Test brings the latest edition of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry to a close.

The four-yearly touring concept has seen the All Blacks and Springboks go head-to-head across a wider series that included matches between New Zealand and South Africa’s four professional franchises, before the two Test giants met three times on South African soil.

The final encounter has now taken the rivalry to the United States, where organisers hope the presence of two of rugby’s biggest teams will help grow the sport ahead of the country’s hosting of the 2031 men’s and 2033 women’s Rugby World Cups.

South Africa Rugby, New Zealand Rugby and World Rugby have all backed the move as part of a broader strategy to introduce elite international rugby to new American audiences.

Baltimore is also among the cities identified in the build-up to Rugby World Cup 2031, making the match an important opportunity to showcase the sport to a new generation of potential supporters.

Springboks’ US record

South Africa have played three previous matches on American soil, winning two and losing one.

Their first visit came in 1981, when the Springboks defeated the United States 38-7 at Owl Creek Polo Ground in Glenville, New York.

Twenty years later, they returned to the US and recorded another convincing victory, beating the Americans 43-20 at Robertson Stadium in Houston on 1 December 2001.

Their most recent appearance in the country came in 2018, although it ended in disappointment.

The Springboks suffered a narrow 22-20 defeat to Wales at RFK Stadium in Washington DC on 2 June 2018.

The Baltimore showdown will therefore be South Africa’s first Test in the US since that defeat – and their first ever against New Zealand.

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry fixtures and results 2026:

• Friday, 7 August: Stormers 21-38 New Zealand, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
• Tuesday, 11 August: Sharks 0-54 New Zealand, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
• Saturday, 15 August: Bulls 19-50 New Zealand, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
• Saturday, 22 August: First Test, Springboks 16-33 New Zealand, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
• Tuesday, 25 August: Lions 35-41 New Zealand, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
• Saturday, 29 August: Springboks 33-26 New Zealand, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
• Saturday, 5 September: Springboks 29-24 New Zealand, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
• Saturday, 12 September: Fourth Test, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, United States – 23:00 (SA time)

Several South Africans remain busy overseas, although international call-ups have started bringing some Proteas home.

South African cricketers have been busy across the County Championship and Caribbean Premier League, although the overseas contingent has recently started to shrink.

In the Caribbean, Quinton de Kock and George Linde are with Barbados, while Imran Tahir captains Guyana Amazon Warriors alongside Dwaine Pretorius. De Kock has also been selected for the Proteas’ ODI series against Australia later this month.

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Matthew Breetzke had been representing Trinbago Knight Riders, but left the CPL after being called into the Proteas squad in Namibia as an injury replacement for Lhuan-dre Pretorius.

In England, Kyle Abbott remains with Hampshire, while Migael Pretorius represents Somerset and Colin Ingram plays for Glamorgan.

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Former Proteas captain Dean Elgar continues to represent Essex. The 39-year-old retired from international cricket in early 2024 and recently announced that he will retire from professional cricket altogether at the end of the 2026 season, bringing his 21-year playing career to a close.

The South African contingent has recently become smaller. David Bedingham, Simon Harmer and Kyle Verreynne have been recalled from county duty by Cricket South Africa ahead of upcoming international commitments.

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Beyers Swanepoel has also returned from Worcestershire, while Leus du Plooy is unavailable for the remainder of Middlesex’s season after his decision to pursue a Proteas career affected his registration status.

For now, South African interest remains spread across England and the Caribbean, even as international duty begins to bring several players home.

Photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images

The post Where South Africa’s cricketers are playing abroad appeared first on SA Cricket Mag.

LONDON, England, September 9, 2026 – Spanish second-division side Eldense say Argentina great Lionel Messi has reached a “preliminary agreement” to become the club’s majority shareholder.

Eldense will become the second Spanish club Messi has invested in, having bought Catalan side Cornella in April.

The 39-year-old former Barcelona forward currently plays for Inter Miami and recently retired from international football after Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

Eldense said: “A preliminary agreement has been reached with Lionel Messi for the acquisition of the shares currently owned by Grupo TH Soluciones, which would make him the club’s majority shareholder.

“The transaction is currently subject to the completion of the remaining legal and contractual procedures, including the due diligence process, as well as the required authorisation from the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD).”

The club, based in Alicante, have two points from four games this season and, sitting 20th in La Liga 2, parted ways with head coach Claudio Barragan earlier this week.

Cornella are in the fifth tier of Spanish football and in April said Messi’s ownership “reinforces his close ties to Barcelona and his commitment to the development of sport and local talent in Catalonia”.

BBC Sport has approached Messi for comment.

He left Argentina for Spain when he was 13 and made his first-team debut for Barcelona aged 17 in October 2004.

He went on to score a club record 672 goals in 778 games before he left for French club Paris St-Germain in 2021 prior to joining Major League Soccer side Inter Miami in the United States in 2023.

Messi’s former Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, bought a 25% stake in Spanish side Almeria in February.

Le PSG accueille le Slovan Bratislava ce mercredi au Parc des Princes pour son entrée en lice en Ligue des champions. Champion de Slovaquie, le club de la capitale a dû passer par les tours préliminaires avant de décrocher sa place en phase de ligue. Une première expérience à ce niveau pour son entraîneur principal, Yaya Touré, mais aussi un rendez-vous particulièrement attendu pour une équipe qui entend défendre une identité de jeu bien définie.

Face au tenant du titre, le Slovan arrive forcément dans la peau de l’outsider. Mais l’équipe slovaque n’est pas seulement venue pour subir. Son style repose sur plusieurs principes hérités du parcours de son entraîneur, notamment de ses années au FC Barcelone et à Manchester City. Une philosophie qui peut toutefois évoluer en fonction du niveau de l’adversaire.

Un style fortement inspiré du FC Barcelone

Pour comprendre le Slovan Bratislava version Yaya Touré, il faut d’abord regarder du côté de Barcelone. L’ancien milieu ivoirien a évolué au Barça entre 2007 et 2010 et faisait notamment partie de l’équipe sacrée championne d’Europe en 2009. Cette expérience a laissé une véritable empreinte sur sa conception du football.

Son adjoint Serge Costa explique ainsi que le staff cherche à développer un jeu basé sur la possession, le contrôle des espaces et la création de surnombres. L’objectif est de faire circuler le ballon pour déplacer le bloc adverse avant de trouver les espaces permettant d’accélérer.

Cette philosophie est particulièrement visible dans le championnat slovaque. Face à des adversaires que le Slovan domine davantage techniquement, l’équipe peut confisquer le ballon et atteindre des niveaux de possession très élevés, parfois proches des 80 %. Même lorsque le résultat n’est pas au rendez-vous, le staff ne souhaite pas abandonner cette identité.

L’influence de Manchester City

Le parcours de Yaya Touré ne s’arrête évidemment pas à Barcelone. Son passage à Manchester City, où il a évolué pendant plusieurs saisons, a également contribué à façonner sa vision du football.

L’Ivoirien y a côtoyé plusieurs entraîneurs et découvert différentes méthodes de travail. De quoi enrichir sa réflexion et lui permettre de construire progressivement ses propres principes. Le Slovan est donc davantage le résultat de plusieurs influences que la reproduction d’un modèle unique.

Cette combinaison entre culture de la possession et recherche d’efficacité constitue aujourd’hui l’une des principales caractéristiques du club slovaque.

Deux visages selon l’adversaire

C’est probablement l’élément le plus intéressant à observer avant cette rencontre face au PSG : le Slovan ne joue pas toujours de la même manière.

En championnat, lorsque Bratislava est en position de force, l’équipe assume pleinement son jeu de possession. Elle cherche à installer le match dans le camp adverse, à multiplier les passes et à contrôler le rythme de la rencontre.

Sur la scène européenne, le scénario est différent. Face à des équipes plus expérimentées et techniquement supérieures, le Slovan accepte davantage de défendre, joue plus directement et cherche à exploiter les transitions. Serge Costa évoque ainsi l’existence de « deux Slovan », avec une approche différente selon le contexte.

Cette capacité d’adaptation s’est notamment révélée nécessaire lors des tours préliminaires de Ligue des champions. Pour atteindre la phase de ligue, le club de Bratislava a dû franchir plusieurs obstacles et apprendre à gérer des rencontres dans lesquelles il ne pouvait pas imposer sa domination habituelle.

Un adversaire inédit pour le PSG

Pour le PSG, cette rencontre constitue donc l’occasion de découvrir un adversaire peu habitué à ce niveau de compétition. Le Slovan Bratislava ne possède ni l’effectif ni les moyens du club parisien, mais il dispose d’un projet suffisamment structuré pour ne pas renoncer à ses principes.

La présence de Yaya Touré apporte également une dimension particulière à cette affiche. Après avoir disputé 70 rencontres de Ligue des champions comme joueur, l’ancien milieu ivoirien va découvrir la compétition dans la peau d’un entraîneur principal. Nommé à la tête du Slovan en juillet, il connaît déjà l’exigence du très haut niveau européen, mais cette fois depuis le banc.

Dans son effectif, le Slovan peut notamment compter sur Andraž Šporar, meilleur buteur du club la saison dernière, ainsi que sur Nino Marcelli, l’un des jeunes éléments à suivre. Deux joueurs qui pourraient tenter de profiter des espaces si le PSG monopolise le ballon et pousse son adversaire à défendre bas.

Une première grandeur nature au Parc des Princes

Cette rencontre permettra surtout de mesurer la capacité du Slovan à transposer son projet face à un adversaire d’une tout autre dimension. Le PSG devrait avoir la maîtrise du ballon, ce qui obligera Bratislava à montrer son autre visage, celui développé au fil de ses expériences européennes.

Entre la possession inspirée du Barça, les influences accumulées à Manchester City et une approche plus pragmatique lorsqu’il évolue face à des adversaires supérieurs, le Slovan de Yaya Touré possède donc plusieurs facettes.

Au Parc des Princes, l’adversaire du PSG sera ainsi confronté à son plus grand défi depuis le début de son parcours européen. Une rencontre qui permettra aussi de mesurer la portée du projet de Yaya Touré face à l’un des cadors du football européen.

The post PSG-Slovan Bratislava : ce qu’il faut savoir sur le club slovaque dirigé par Yaya Touré appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Proteas ODI debutant Jordan Hermann fell just short of breaking the ODI record for most runs scored by a player in their first international match, when he was removed for an impressive 150 in the opening ODI between the Proteas and Namibia in Windhoek on Wednesday.

Hermann levelled a record that is held by teammate Matthew Breetzke, who broke the previous record just over a year and a half ago.

The record had been held for almost half a century by former West Indian legend Desmond Haynes, who struck 148 on his ODI debut against Australia back in 1978.

Then last year in February, during a Tri Series featuring hosts Pakistan and New Zealand, Breetzke, making his Proteas ODI debut, eclipsed that record with a sublime 150 off 148 balls, featuring 11 fours and five sixes, as he rewrote the record books against the Black Caps.

The new record was then in major danger of being passed not even two years later, by a fellow South African, only for Hermann to slip up and fall softly with the outright record in his grasp, for 150 off 126 balls, having hit 17 fours and three sixes.

Hermann opened the innings with Connor Esterhuizen (10) in the first ODI against Namibia in Windhoek on Wednesday, but they only managed a 27-run opening stand when Esterhuizen became the first to fall.

But Hermann found a very willing partner in Tony de Zorzi, 72 off 84 (7×4; 1×6), as they combined for a 190-run second wicket stand to set the platform for a big score.

Careful start

Hermann initially started carefully and took 61 balls to get to his half century, but grew into the innings and brought up his maiden century after facing 93 balls.

De Zorzi fell soon after, but that didn’t slow Hermann, who was picking up speed as he took 21 off the 38^th over from Jack Brassell.

With history on the cards, and Hermann having become the second batter to score 150 on ODI debut in the 42^nd over, he then slashed at a slow and wide ball from Ruben Trumplemann, hitting it straight to backward point who snaffled the catch to send him on his way.

Trumplemann’s breakthrough sparked a mini-collapse for the Proteas, as he picked up three wickets in two overs, eventually finishing with figures of 4/68, and it took a swashbuckling finish from Corbin Bosch, 39 not out off 24 (1×4; 3×6), to get them to 348/6 at the end of their 50 overs.

Namibia now face a monstrous chase of 349 to try and make history by beating the Proteas in the first ever ODI between the two nations.