South Africa coach Shukri Conrad says his unbeaten side are happy to carry the tag of favourites into their T20 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.
The Proteas have won seven consecutive matches to reach the last four in Kolkata on Wednesday.
It is a position of strength that contrasts sharply with the nation’s painful history in global tournaments.
Previous campaigns have often ended in heartbreak, ranging from the rain-affected exit in 1992 to the dramatic collapse against India in the 2024 final.
However, despite the historical weight of expectation, the camp remains confident.
“I’m glad that we’re favourites because I always felt that as a South African team, you want to be able to play as a favourite because it’s easy being an underdog,” said Conrad.
Markram leads search for redemption
The semi-final comes 612 days after captain Aiden Markram faced the media following a devastating defeat in Barbados.
South Africa required 26 runs from the final 24 balls in the 2024 final but fell seven runs short.
Eight players from that squad remain in India, fueling a desire to correct the record.
“The guys are richer for that experience,” Conrad added.
“They have learned so much about themselves and Aiden has been fantastic both with bat in hand and as a leader, as well as a captain.”
Markram has led from the front, enjoying a personal resurgence compared to his struggles in the Caribbean.
The skipper managed just 123 runs at a strike-rate of 100.81 during the 2024 tournament.
In stark contrast, he is currently the competition’s third-highest run-scorer with 263 runs striking at 175.16.
Former captain Faf du Plessis attributes this evolution to Markram’s recent stint in the Indian Premier League.
“He opened for Lucknow Super Giants and the IPL almost demanded you needed to play in that way in order for you to keep your place,” Du Plessis told Cricinfo.
Dominance with bat and ball
The Proteas’ run to the semi-finals has been built on comprehensive statistical dominance.
They currently boast the highest batting run-rate and the best run-rate in the middle overs of all competing nations.
This aggression has been matched by a disciplined bowling unit.
South Africa hold the tournament’s best bowling economy rate, stifling opposition batting lineups.
The pace attack, spearheaded by Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, has been particularly potent early in the innings.
Collectively, they have taken three more powerplay wickets than any other side in the competition.
Unseen footage has emerged of kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven sparring with Tyson Fury, ahead of the Dutchman’s shock world title fight against Oleksandr Usyk.
The video captures the pair training together in 2015 as Fury prepared for his historic victory over Wladimir Klitschko.
Verhoeven was brought into the camp to help the Morecambe heavyweight get ready for the bout that would define his career.
A transition to the sweet science
Verhoeven established himself as the premier heavyweight in kickboxing during a dominant reign in the Glory promotion.
The Dutch fighter recently vacated his title to pursue a surprise challenge for Usyk’s WBC heavyweight belt.
It represents a monumental step up for the kickboxer, who is entering only his second professional boxing match.
He faces a daunting task against the undefeated Ukrainian, who has previously held undisputed status at both cruiserweight and heavyweight.
The Peter Fury connection
The archival footage highlights the long-standing relationship between Verhoeven and the Fury family.
Peter Fury, who masterminded his nephew’s win over Klitschko in Germany, will train Verhoeven for the upcoming clash with Usyk.
The respected coach has previously spoken about refining the kickboxer’s technical skills during their sessions in Bolton.
Sharing the ring with the 6ft 9in Briton provided Verhoeven with vital experience in boxing footwork and range management.
“Every time he comes over and helps with sparring we just brush him up with a bit of technical stuff and some boxing skills.”
Peter Fury
While Usyk represents a completely different stylistic challenge to Fury, the experience confirms Verhoeven has traded blows with the division’s elite.
Wales centre Eddie James says the visitors will adopt a fearless approach against Ireland in Dublin on Friday as they look to end a 14-match Six Nations losing streak.
The bookmakers have installed the men in red as significant 16-1 outsiders to secure a shock victory at the Aviva Stadium.
Steve Tandy’s side currently sit at the bottom of the Championship table following three difficult rounds of action.
In contrast, the hosts arrive with renewed title aspirations following a dominant, record-breaking 42-21 victory over England.
However, the Scarlets midfielder insists the squad is refusing to dwell on their underdog status.
“We don’t go into any game thinking we can’t win,” said James.
“That’s not the mindset to have in any professional sport. We’re definitely going there to put our best foot forward and have a go at them.”
“Ireland are a top side, they’ve got threats everywhere and are a well-drilled team.”
Building on Scotland improvements
There were encouraging signs for the Welsh during their narrow defeat by Scotland two weeks ago.
Following heavy opening losses to England and France, the team scored two well-worked tries and held the lead until the final five minutes.
James believes that performance has significantly lifted the mood within the camp ahead of the trip to Dublin.
“We played with a bit more intent. Not scared to make mistakes, attacking more with and without the ball,” he added.
“It was a big boost and the confidence has gone up 100 per cent.”
“It’s about doing that away from home now. We’ve shown we can do it in front of 70,000 at home, it’s about taking it on the road now to Ireland.”
Power and partnership
James has established himself in the number 13 jersey for both club and country this season having previously played at inside centre.
Standing at 6ft 4in and weighing over 17st, the 23-year-old offers a significant physical presence in the midfield.
His shift in position has allowed him to forge a promising partnership with club colleague Joe Hawkins.
“I enjoy playing with Joe and we’ve got a good relationship off the pitch as well,” said the Carmarthen-born back.
“Joe reads the game well, he can carry the ball and he’s also a ball player.”
“That’s good for me because I like carrying hard. He’s a smart player.”
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Hunter Armstrong has announced plans to compete in the controversial Enhanced Games while aiming to retain his eligibility for the 2028 Olympics.
The 25-year-old American intends to race in the event this May, challenging the strict boundaries set by World Aquatics regarding the unsanctioned competition.
The Enhanced Games has drawn global attention for its policy of allowing athletes to utilise performance-enhancing substances without testing requirements.
Financial necessity drives decision
Armstrong, a former world record holder in the 50m backstroke, stated that his participation is driven by urgent financial needs rather than a desire to dope.
The Ohio native revealed that he faced retirement last summer after his primary sponsor severed ties, leaving him unable to fund his full-time training.
“If I don’t join Enhanced, I lose everything. If I do join Enhanced, I have a chance at not losing everything,” Armstrong said.
“My back was against the wall, so I had to reopen that conversation to see if it was a plausible option.”
Organisers of the Enhanced Games are offering a $250,000 (£198,000) prize for first-place finishes, alongside salaries and bonuses for breaking world records.
Armstrong plans to contest the 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle events while maintaining that he will not take banned substances.
Conflict with governing bodies
The swimmer’s decision places him on a collision course with World Aquatics, the sport’s international governing body.
In response to the emergence of the Enhanced Games, the federation amended its bylaws to ban those who “support, endorse or participate in” such events.
Husain Al Musallam, president of World Aquatics, previously stated that “those who enable doped sport are not welcome” at their competitions.
However, Armstrong and his legal team believe a loophole exists if he continues to comply with standard drug-testing protocols.
The double Olympic champion hopes that by adhering to anti-doping regulations, he can still vie for a spot on the US roster for the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
“Nobody really knows what’s going to happen, and nobody will give me an answer on what’s going to happen,” Armstrong added.
“So all I can work off of is what the rules say and take a chance because I won’t get an answer by waiting.”
Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson has been named in England’s starting line-up for the Six Nations match against Italy, marking his first start in the championship.
Record-breaking fitness levels
The 23-year-old enters the fray with a reputation as potentially the fittest player in professional rugby.
Atkinson reportedly holds the unofficial record for the ‘Bronco’ test, a gruelling endurance drill used to measure aerobic capacity.
He completed the series of shuttle runs in four minutes and eight seconds, surpassing a benchmark previously set by All Blacks star Beauden Barrett.
“I did it in four minutes and eight seconds,” Atkinson confirmed regarding his time.
“It’s a bit of an unregulated test, so it’s very unofficial.”
The Gloucester midfielder attributes his engine to a background in endurance sports before his physical growth spurt.
“Growing up, I did a lot of cross-country and a few triathlons. From U13s to U18s I was a relatively small player; I grew in size quite late. So I had to find other ways to impact the game.”
Seb Atkinson, England Centre
Borthwick rings the changes
Head coach Steve Borthwick has overhauled his backline as England attempt to recover from recent defeats by Scotland and Ireland.
Atkinson takes the number 12 shirt, replacing Fraser Dingwall, as the coaching staff looks to capitalise on his high work rate off the ball.
The selection offers a delayed opportunity for the former Worcester Warriors player to cement his place in the squad.
Atkinson impressed during the summer tour of Argentina, starting both tests, before injury setbacks disrupted his progress.
Overcoming injury setbacks
A combination of knee and hip issues struck at an inopportune moment ahead of the autumn campaign.
This untimely absence allowed rivals to stake their claim for the inside centre role while Atkinson recovered.
“I really enjoyed my year, culminating in Argentina,” Atkinson said.
“Getting my cap and having my parents there was an unbelievable feeling.”
“I really wanted to make the most of what I achieved out there by coming back and really nailing down my spot – but I got injured at the wrong time.”
Now fully fit, the centre is set to play a pivotal role as England look to finish their tournament on a high.
Former British and Irish Lions wing Anthony Watson has admitted to memorising answers to circumvent head injury protocols during the 2017 series against New Zealand.
Watson revealed he cheated the assessment to return to the field following a high tackle by Sonny Bill Williams in the second Test.
The incident occurred in the 25th minute when the All Blacks centre drove a shoulder into Watson’s head.
Williams was shown a red card for the challenge, while the England winger was removed for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA).
Memorised answers circumvented safety checks
The 32-year-old confessed to committing a specific sequence of words to memory to pass the recall section of the concussion protocols used at the time.
“I knew the impact was big and as I got in to do the protocol I was starting to feel a bit hazy,” Watson told the BBC documentary Ben Youngs Investigates: How Safe Is Rugby?
“I just want to caveat this by saying that I love the medical staff there at the Lions and they had no idea I was doing this.”
Watson explained that he had learned the standard list of five words provided during testing in that era.
“At that stage I knew the protocols – they give you five words to remember so it is ‘elbow-apple-carpet-saddle-bubble’. That is what I had,” he said.
“I managed to get through the walking tests and all of that and then when it came to the words, I knew it off by heart so I knew I was going to get straight back on.”
Return to action and protocol changes
Watson had appeared unsteady immediately following the collision and failed an initial attempt to stand from a kneeling position.
Jack Nowell temporarily replaced his compatriot while the assessment took place.
However, Watson returned to the pitch just six minutes later and played the remainder of the Lions’ historic 24-21 victory in Wellington.
The former Bath and Leicester back also featured for 72 minutes of the series decider at Eden Park the following week.
The recall element of the HIA process has been significantly updated since the 2017 tour.
Medical staff no longer use a set list of words, instead generating a random sequence from a bank of 20 words to prevent players from pre-learning answers.
Retirement and reflection
Stricter protocols now penalise players for incorrect answers, while independent doctors review video data and smart mouthguard technology to verify collisions.
Watson is not the only player to admit to attempting to bypass these safety measures.
Fellow England wing Jonny May admitted in 2019 that he tried and failed to pass a similar test by repeating words following a head knock against Wales.
Watson, who retired from professional rugby in January 2025 due to a persistent back injury, maintains he has no regrets about prioritising the match over his immediate health.
Ben Earl has revealed that England’s players held a frank meeting to "lay it bare" following consecutive Six Nations defeats by Scotland and Ireland.
Steve Borthwick’s side travel to Rome this weekend aiming to salvage their campaign after their title hopes were effectively ended by a 42-21 loss to Ireland at the Allianz Stadium.
The Saracens back-rower disclosed that the squad engaged in a candid review session last Wednesday to address individual underperformance.
"If we’re being honest, there’s been some challenge from within the playing group," said Earl.
"A few of us had a meeting last Wednesday and laid it bare."
Honest conversations
Earl admitted several players confessed they had not "pulled their weight" during the difficult start to the championship.
"There are people in the squad who don’t feel they’ve pulled their weight or performed well enough," he said.
"Once you get that out there, it’s about how you move forward. There’s no point sulking about it."
The 26-year-old insisted the nature of the conversation was constructive rather than a simple refocusing exercise.
"Some people have come forward and said they need to be a lot better at this or been a bit off on this," Earl added.
"We’ve stripped it bare. Again, hopefully it’s something we can look back on again when we play more big games over the next 18 months and we can say, ‘I won’t forget those conversations’."
Borthwick plots changes for Italy
Head coach Borthwick is expected to overhaul his backline for the trip to the Stadio Olimpico as England look to snap a two-match losing streak.
Northampton Saints fly-half Fin Smith is under consideration for a start despite missing training on Monday through illness.
Seb Atkinson is also understood to be set for a place in the starting midfield.
Despite the recent setbacks ending a 12-match winning run, Earl believes the squad is ready to deliver a reaction against the Azzurri.
"These are the weeks where boys have a little glint in their eye," explained Earl.
"They mean business. You look at some of the big guys in our squad and go, ‘something good is coming’. We are all hoping that is going to materialise on Saturday."
Earl highlighted a renewed focus on the "intangible stuff" often taken for granted when winning, admitting the team had been dealt "sucker punches" in recent weeks.
England all-rounder Will Jacks has been backed to reach even greater heights by his domestic coach after equalling a tournament record at the T20 World Cup.
The Surrey star has been instrumental in England’s campaign, collecting four Player of the Match awards.
That feat equals the record for a single edition of the tournament set by Australia’s Shane Watson in 2012.
Despite the accolades, Surrey head coach Gareth Batty insists he is not surprised by the impact his player has made on the world stage.
‘This era’s equivalent of Moeen Ali’
Batty’s belief in the off-spinner dates back four years to when he made the decision to name him as the county’s primary spinner.
The coach drew comparisons at the time between Jacks and Moeen Ali, a parallel that has resurfaced following the 25-year-old’s recent international displays.
I’ve seen it for years, it’s not a surprise in any way. He’s a winner, he’s very competitive and I think he’s an all-format player.
Gareth Batty, Surrey Head Coach
Batty believes the all-rounder is currently navigating a trajectory that could see him emulate one of England’s most versatile white-ball cricketers.
He’s getting more of the limelight now in the shorter format, but if he can keep growing and learning from his experiences… I said it in 2022, I think he is this era’s equivalent of Moeen Ali.
Hopefully he can go on beyond what Moeen achieved – and I don’t mean that disrespectfully to Moeen and I certainly don’t mean it disrespectfully that Jacksy is not quite Moeen. He’s an evolving spinner.
Adapting to a new role
Jacks has had to adjust his game significantly to fit into the national side’s tactical setup.
While accustomed to opening the batting domestically, the clean-striker has been deployed at number seven to provide finishing power.
I suppose the super impressive part of it is his trade is opening the batting.
Batty highlighted that the transition demonstrates the player’s elite mindset and technical ability.
For him to adapt to the role of finisher is not a surprise because of his skillset and the way he strikes a ball but it’s impressive to put that marker down and really make that role his own.
The former England spinner also praised Jacks’ bowling consistency under pressure.
His stock ball is also very good. If he just runs up and bowls and doesn’t try anything technical, no pressure, he’s as good as most spinners around the world.