Proteas fans, don’t be sad! At least we have the Springboks
· The South African
The Proteas have flattered to deceive once again at a major tournament after being thrashed by New Zealand in the T20 World Cup semis, ensuring that a generation of fans gets their regular dosage of PTSD. Meanwhile, PSDT and his golden Springboks generation have royally spoiled supporters for almost a decade. When will their cricketing counterparts follow suit?
Continuity paid dividends for the Springboks between 2019 and 2023
Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Siyamthanda Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Faf de Klerk, Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe all started World Cup final-winning efforts for the Springboks in 2023 and 2027. It points to a seriously impressive level of continuity that 66.6% of those who started in Yokohama also started in the showpiece four years later.
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Everyone needs a PSDT
Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit completed 28 tackles against the All Blacks in the 2023 World Cup final in France. To put that absurd number into some type of context, the previous record for tackles made by one player in a Rugby World Cup final was 18 by Richie McCaw all the way back in 2011. To eclipse that mark by 10 was a monumental effort. Collectively, the Springboks made 208 tackles against the All Blacks, the most ever in a knockout match at a RWC.
Proteas get their asses handed to them in another World Cup semi
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first. South Africa started poorly, eventually gathered themselves and posted a respectable 169/8, thanks largely to a stellar knock from fast bowler and number 7 batter Marco Jansen, who ended unbeaten on 55* off 30 balls. The unlikely hero candidate emerged after the South African top order disintegrated again in a big match.
The Black Caps, however, made a mockery of that total, chasing it down with nine wickets and 43 balls to spare. Opener Finn Allen sent South Africa’s bowlers to all corners of the ground, smashing 100 off 33 balls, the fastest ever century in T20 World Cups. Getting beaten in a tight contest is fine, but this was never a contest. Fan disappointment is bordering on PTSD at this point, for a support base that’s been through A LOT.
T20 World Cup record is a case of close but no cigar
In T20Is, the record is better, but still points to serious issues around BMT. Their record stands at 1–3 in semi-final contests. The latest defeat stings more than most after the Proteas looked like the side to beat throughout the tournament, only to fall at a familiar hurdle. The South African senior men’s cricket team have lost T20 World Cup semifinals in 2009, 2014 and now 2026. Their sole semifinal win came in 2024 against Afghanistan in 2024. However, they went on to lose the final (their first ever) against India. The Chokers tag is unlikely to vanish any time soon.