De Allende Opens Up on Tough All Blacks Rivalry

Springbok centre Damian de Allende says playing against the All Blacks has been tough, but a massive honour for the Boks and they can’t wait to run out in front of a new crowd this weekend.

The two teams square off in the final match of the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in Baltimore in the USA on Saturday, and De Allende hoped that the clash would expose the local crowd to a fantastic festival of rugby. amunra.qpon

The Springboks will enter the match with the hope of lifting the trophy should they win or draw the clash at the M&T Bank Stadium after taking a two-one lead in the series last week, however a defeat would see the teams draw the series, making it a vital clash for both sides.

De Allende said that although every Test so far has been very tough, playing in RGR has been “an incredible experience”.

“It is brutal, but it’s also a massive privilege to face the All Blacks four weeks in a row,” he said. “It’s been great for all of us. It’s hard, but it’s a huge honour.”

Asked what he made of facing the All Black centres, De Allende said: “You play against world-class centres every week, no matter who you face, and it has been a real challenge.

“Obviously it’s sad to hear about Quinn Tupaea’s injury, and I wish him a speedy recovery.

“I’ve been lucky to play a lot of rugby and face many of fantastic All Black centres. Early in my career I got to play against Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, and Sonny-Bill Williams, and also South African players like Frans Steyn, Andre Esterhuizen and Jan Serfontein.

“But at the moment, the one player who really stands out for me is Jordie Barrett. His skill set is incredible. He has the ability to do everything on the field, and playing against him these past three weeks has been a real pleasure.

“I always like to learn a lot from my opposition on the field, and I feel like I’ve learned a great deal from Jordie.”

De Allende, who will line up next to his good friend and fellow centre Jesse Kriel in the midfield again this weekend, looked forward to the clash and showing the American audience what top class international rugby has to offer this weekend, as the USA looks forward to hosting the 2031 Rugby World Cup.

“I hope they will come watch the rivalry between the Boks and New Zealand – for us it’s very special,” said De Allende.

“In America they don’t know the sport as well as we do, but the best way to sell it is to have them come to the stadium, enjoy the experience, and see the top two teams in the world play.

“That’s the best product they can witness in America right now, and hopefully there will be as many South Africans as possible there, but also a lot of American supporters.”

The team enjoyed an off-day on Thursday to recover from the last three weeks of intense rugby and to tune their minds into Saturday’s encounter. The match kicks off at 17h00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

The post De Allende Opens Up on Tough All Blacks Rivalry appeared first on SportsClub.

Orlando Pirates face a defining afternoon in their CAF Champions League campaign when they welcome La Cure Waves to the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday, 12 September.

The Buccaneers and their Mauritian opponents played to a goalless draw in the first leg in Port Louis, leaving everything to be decided in Soweto.

For Orlando Pirates, the equation is simple: win and they advance to the next round.

Home ground advantage

The Buccaneers will be looking to make home advantage count after being frustrated by a disciplined La Cure Waves defence in the opening encounter.

The Mauritian champions held firm under sustained pressure and will arrive in Soweto knowing that another resolute defensive performance could put them within touching distance of a historic progression.

Orlando Pirates, however, have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season and have been particularly strong at home.

They will hope that their familiarity with the Orlando Amstel Arena, combined with the backing of the Soweto faithful, can provide the difference.

Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side will also be wary of allowing the visitors to score, with a scoring draw potentially putting La Cure Waves in a favourable position.

Another opportunity

The Orlando Pirates coach admitted his side had wanted to return from Mauritius with a goal but believes the home leg provides another opportunity to get the job done.

“We had the first half in Mauritius. We went there to get a result and at least score a goal. We didn’t, but have a chance here at home to go through to the next stage.”

La Cure Waves coach Jerome Thomas, meanwhile, acknowledged the size of the challenge awaiting his team.

“It’s football, and anything can happen. We realise it will be extremely difficult. We are up against an African giant playing on home turf, in a stadium that holds thousands of fans.”

Boost

Orlando Pirates have also received a boost in their squad, with academy product Bheki Mabuza returning permanently from Marumo Gallants and already training with the team.

Club captain Nkosinathi Sibisi could also return after missing the last three matches, while Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa continue their respective recoveries.

Mohau Nkota remains sidelined as he works his way back from injury.

With the tie delicately poised at 0-0, there is little room for error for either side.

Orlando Pirates vs La Cure Waves kicks off at 15:00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL and SABC 2.

Prediction

Orlando Pirates to win

Le TP Mazembe reçoit Medeama SC ce samedi 12 septembre à 15h00 au stade TP Mazembe de Lubumbashi, en match retour du premier tour préliminaire de la Ligue des champions de la CAF.

Les Corbeaux abordent cette rencontre avec un avantage après leur victoire 1-0 à l’aller au Ghana.

Sur quelle chaîne suivre TP Mazembe – Medeama ?

Le diffuseur de la rencontre n’est pas clairement confirmé pour l’ensemble des territoires.
Un avantage à préserver pour Mazembe

Victorieux à l’aller grâce à un but de Lise Nyembo Ntumba à la 86e minute, le TP Mazembe dispose d’une longueur d’avance avant cette manche retour.

Les hommes de Slimane Raho devront désormais confirmer ce résultat à domicile pour poursuivre leur parcours en Ligue des champions de la CAF. De son côté, Medeama devra renverser la situation pour espérer décrocher sa qualification.

The post TP Mazembe – Medeama sur quelle chaine TV voir le match en direct ? appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

To understand how a broadcaster and host can seamlessly command the world’s most glamorous sporting stages, from the electric, high-stakes atmosphere of the US Open courts to the sun-drenched arenas of the BNP Paribas Open, you must first step back to an impoverished context in Zambia.

Born in England, Kondo Simfukwe spent his pivotal childhood years in Zambia, immersed in an environment that, while economically restricted, laid down a profound human foundation that continues to guide his trajectory across the globe.

Communal interdependence

For Kondo Simfukwe, growing up in a socio-economically challenged setting was never defined by deprivation or despair.

Instead, it was shaped by an organic, deeply baked sense of communal interdependence.

“It was beautiful in that we didn’t necessarily always realise that we were growing up in an impoverished context,” he reflects.

“So, I would say because of that, two things are very significant. One is the sense of community, the sense of valuing others because suddenly, for all of us to thrive, we all needed each other. What’s mine is yours, what’s yours is mine, and as one goes, so do we all. We need each other, we help each other, we survive and thrive together.”

In this setting, collaboration, camaraderie, and mutual reliance were not calculated strategies; they were the essential, everyday mechanics of human existence.

Alongside this spirit of shared living came an enduring posture of gratitude – one that operates as a safeguard against the entitlement that so often permeates modern sports culture.

When material abundance is absent, entitlement simply cannot take root.

Value system

“When you don’t have much, you don’t lay claim to much, you don’t feel entitled to much, you don’t feel owed much, you don’t feel as though comparison is the key to life or joy,” Kondo Simfukwe explains.

“So, something happens where everything you get, you feel grateful for. With a base of ‘we need each other’ and a base of ‘we don’t have much, so everything we receive feels like a bonus, feels like a gift,’ say thank you, and then figure out who you can also bring along.”

“My value for others, my perspective about other people: I’m no better than you, you’re no better than me. I value you immensely because you carry innate value.”

This innate value system leads to striking moments of clarity when Kondo interacts with world-class athletes today.

Deeply respectful

Recalling an on-court interview at a major tournament with young Filipina tennis prodigy Alex Eala, Kondo posed a question about the refreshing, deeply respectful way she treats everyone around her.

Eala’s response was one of pure, unpretentious confusion: “Outstanding? Isn’t that normal, sir? People are valuable, aren’t they?”

For Kondo Simfukwe, Eala’s candid reaction was a moment of profound alignment, a poignant recognition of an uncorrupted ethos where human dignity is assumed rather than earned through rankings, prize money, or media fanfare.

It reaffirmed that the foundational lessons absorbed in Zambia are not merely survival mechanisms for the underprivileged, but universal principles capable of grounding anyone operating under the glaring lights of global superstardom.

What’s Next: Part II shifts to Kondo’s teenage relocation to Australia, where his worldview was radically expanded through exposure to vibrant multiculturalism, forcing him to master the art of the “cultural chameleon” while discovering sports as a tool for connection.

Dave Marshall is reporting exclusively from the 2026 US Open in New York for The South African.