Bavuma captains 16-man Proteas squad for Australia series

South Africa’s selection panel has announced a 16-player squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia, running from 24-30 September, with Temba Bavuma continuing as captain. palladian.co.za

Fast bowler Gerald Coetzee has been recalled to the ODI squad, returning to the 50-over format for the first time since the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India. He joins a squad that includes Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs.

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The series opens the home summer at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on 24 September, before moving to the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg for the annual Pink Day on 27 September. The series concludes at the NWC Oval in Potchefstroom on 30 September.

It will be South Africa’s first home series against Australia since 2023, when the Proteas fought back from 2-0 down to win a five-match series 3-2.

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Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie say the Springboks’ set-piece dominance in Joburg on Saturday meant New Zealand’s attacking skills simply weren’t enough.

They were speaking on the Rugby Unity podcast after the Boks’ 29-24 win at FNB Stadium, a result that put South Africa 2-1 up in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series ahead of this Saturday’s finale in Baltimore.

Hansen felt the All Blacks’ second-half scoreboard chase cost Dave Rennie’s men dearly.

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“They had to [chase the game], because they got too far behind on the scoreboard, and you’re not going to beat the Boks until you can get parity at scrum time and you can get decent ball in the lineout,” the former All Blacks coach said.

“A lot of the times we were having to go to the front and it was messy or ugly, and you’re letting them get a free shot at you from the back with their defensive system the way it is.

“We’ve got until next year, the World Cup, to get those things right, and I think we will. Once we do that, then we’re right in the hunt.”

EX-ALL BLACKS: Boks thrive on pressure

McKenzie pointed to the same scrum imbalance but was equally taken by the Kiwis’ running rugby, even as Ardie Savea’s injury disrupted their shape late on.

“The points difference and the scrum was very good for them [the Boks], and their scramble defence. They got up in their [All Blacks’] faces,” the ex-Wallabies boss said.

“But New Zealand, some of the attacking footy they played at times was as good as you’ll see. The skill execution was brilliant but not good enough to win the game, unfortunately.

“Losing Savea was probably important from a leadership point of view … They probably lost a bit of composure right at the death.”

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Hansen viewed the same passage of play as a lesson New Zealand can carry forward.

“That 10-minute mark, and this will be a great learning for this team, you can’t go scoreboard-focused because it creates an outcome pressure that you don’t need.

“You just have to say, ‘What do I need to do right now, right here?’

“We probably wasted five of those 10 minutes worrying about the scoreboard … Wanting to win is not a bad thing, but you’ve just got to be in control.”

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Head coach Les Kiss has to overcome an injury setback to a key member of the Wallabies backline ahead of the 26 September Test against the Springboks.

Carter Gordon is expected to miss the clash with the world champions in Perth due to a suspected leg fracture in Sunday’s 28-28 draw with Argentina in Mendoza.

Scans reportedly confirmed the injury, which could keep the 25-year-old playmaker out for around two months.

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It’s another blow for Gordon, who had established himself as head coach Kiss’ first-choice flyhalf after returning to rugby from his NRL stint.

Ben Donaldson started against Los Pumas, while Ryan Lonergan finished the match at 10 after Gordon was forced off.

Tom Lynagh could also return from a lengthy injury layoff when the Reds face the Force.

WATCH: Boks arrive to hero’s welcome in USA

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NAIROBI, Kenya, September 7, 2026 – Kenyan marathoner Caren Chelagat has been slapped with a four-year ban after testing positive for the banned substance norandrosterone.

According to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the 31-year-old tested positive for the substance on July 7 this year, in the aftermath of her participation at the Durban International Marathon in which she finished fifth after clocking 2:40:40.

Chelagat maintained her innocence to the very end, insisting she did not use the supposed substance but that it had to something to do with a medication she had taken.

“The only possible explanation for the Adverse Analytical Finding was treatment she had received at a medical facility a few days prior to the Durban International Marathon; and she would check her medical records relating to that treatment and provide them to ADAK (Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya),” the statement indicated.

However, despite several invitations to present evidence to support her ‘innocence’, Chelagat was allegedly not forthcoming, prompting AIU to deliver the guilty verdict.

“She had until no later than 31 August 2026 to return a completed Admission of Anti Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form (enclosed with the Charge) to benefit from a one (1)-year reduction to the period of Ineligibility under Rule 10.8.1 ADR, and that, if she failed to do so, then the AIU would proceed by issuing a final decision in her case, including imposing a four (4)-year period of Ineligibility,” AIU indicated.

They added: “On 29 August 2026, the Athlete wrote to the AIU via WhatsApp further stating that she had not used any drug, was innocent and could not therefore sign the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.”

Chelagat becomes the third high-profile athlete to suffer the AIU axe as a result of doping offences.

Her ban comes less than a week after that of Kenyan middle distance runner Emmanuel Wafula who was provisionally suspended for testing positive for testosterone.