It was a sporting weekend South Africans will want to forget. With the Proteas, the Springboks, and UFC champion Dricus du Plessis all carrying the national flag on the global stage, the country endured a painful hat-trick of defeats.
Proteas Undone by Maxwell Brilliance
The weekend’s woes began with the Proteas men’s cricket team in their final T20 International against Australia on Saturday morning.
Batting first, South Africa managed a respectable 172, largely thanks to the explosive Dewald Brevis who smashed 53 from just 26 deliveries. However, aside from Brevis, the rest of the batting lineup struggled to keep momentum.
Australia’s reply was built on steady starts from Mitchell Marsh (54) and Travis Head (19), before South Africa clawed back to reduce them to 122/6. Corbin Bosch shone with the ball, delivering yorker after yorker on his way to 3/26. Yet the brilliance of Glenn Maxwell proved decisive, as he blasted an unbeaten 62 from 36 balls to take his side home in the final over.
Springboks Crumble at Ellis Park
From cricket to rugby, South African fans expected redemption when the Springboks hosted the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship at Ellis Park. History was on their side Australia had not won at the venue since 1963.
The Boks looked set for a rout after racing to a 22-0 lead inside 20 minutes. But what followed was a collapse few could have predicted. The Wallabies launched a stunning fightback, completely turning the tide and eventually running out 38-22 winners. The loss stunned the home crowd and handed Australia a slice of rugby history in Johannesburg.
Dricus du Plessis Outmuscled by Chimaev
As the nation reeled from back-to-back defeats, hopes shifted to the Octagon where Dricus du Plessis put his UFC Middleweight belt on the line against Khamzat Chimaev.
Unfortunately, the story followed a familiar script. From the opening round, Chimaev imposed his wrestling dominance, repeatedly grounding the South African and nullifying his striking game. Du Plessis fought bravely, but he was largely on the defensive throughout five grueling rounds. The judges delivered a unanimous verdict of 50-44 in favor of Chimaev, leaving “Stillknocks” to apologize to South Africans after the loss.
A Weekend of Heartbreak for SA Sport
Three stages, three different codes, and three defeats the Proteas, the Springboks, and Du Plessis all fell in a weekend that promised glory but delivered despair. For South African sports fans, it was a harsh reminder of how quickly fortunes can turn.
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