Daniel Gallan
@danielgallan
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โ๐ปJournalist @guardian, @RugbyPass, @cricketmonthly, @BBC, etc. ๐จ๐ปโ๐ซLecturer @YourStMarys & @UEL_News. ๐ค @Short_Fine_Legs by @hearpocpods
London via Johannesburg
Joined June 2011
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of SA government's stance on Russia's war, but let's not take moral lessons from a sport that stages events in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the USA. Not to mention a sport that was happy to have 33 races in apartheid South Africa.
Report: South African Formula 1 Abandoned Due To Political Barriers . A South African GP has therefore been deemed untenable in the near future, signalling a reprieve for Spa. Read More:
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@ShaunlfcT I was one of @LyesBouzidi10's lecturers. He not only has a Masters in sports journalism but was one of the hardest working students we've had. It's no surprise to see him excel. Less hate and more hard work from you maybe ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ๐๐ป.
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David Teeger's Jewishness has nothing to do with him being stripped of the captaincy. Anyone who suggests that is heaping fuel on an already volatile flame. Please think before you leap to dangerous conclusions.
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Just a reminder that the anti-apartheid activists who brought a halt to rugby matches were also branded as trouble makers and told to keep politics out of sport. They were on the right side of history. There can be no normal sport in an abnormal society.
๐ฑ NEW OIL AND GAS WILL SNOOKER US. ๐ฆบ At around 7:20pm, two Just Stop Oil supporters have disrupted the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, interrupting play. The pair proceeded to cover the tables in orange powder paint before being removed by
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Never seen this before! . Brilliant.
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Last time each country played a 5 Test series:. ๐๏ธ2009.๐ฟ๐ฆ2005.๐ต๐ฐ1992.๐ณ๐ฟ1972.๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ซ.๐ฟ๐ผ๐ซ.๐ง๐ฉ๐ซ.๐ฆ๐ซ๐ซ.๐ฎ๐ช๐ซ. ๐๐ป England fans and journos shaking your fists at the clouds. The system was broken before the 'BCCI ran the game'. Guess who wrote the rules of conduct?. #ENGvsIND #5thTest.
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Nationalities represented in the four winnings teams of the 'Big Four' competitions in world rugby - URC, Super Rugby, Premiership & Top 14:. ๐ฟ๐ฆ 29.๐ณ๐ฟ 21.๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ 17.๐ซ๐ท 13.๐ฆ๐ท 3.๐ฆ๐บ 2.๐ฎ๐น 1.๐บ๐ธ 1.๐ฌ๐ช 1.๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ 1.๐ผ๐ธ 1.๐ฎ๐ช 1.๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ 1.
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Aiden Markram is up there with the most watchable South African batters of all time. Don't listen to the stats nerds who obsess over averages. He is, and always has been, elite. #SAvIND.
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Has anyone started the hype train yet for Ox Nche to win World Player of the Year? Easy to get caught up in the salads/cakes jokes and what a vibe he is, but in terms of impacts on games, has there genuinely been anyone better? World Cup, Championship + Challenge Cup as well.
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"Hi Cricket South Africa. We've deified an unelected imperialist who sat on a throne funded by blood and slavery and changed your schedule after she died. Can you stay an extra day away from home, spend more money and shift with our weird culture? No? Well then, shame on you.".
Dean Elgar talked a good game before the final Test but South Africaโs refusal to stay another day smacks of conservatism and a desire to protect their place in the World Test Championship final with a draw. They donโt leave for India until the 23rd! Very poor from themโฆ.
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I wish all admin accounts were this honest.
INNINGS BREAK! ๐. The Afghanistan U19 Team has put on yet another dismal batting performance as they have been bundled out for 91 runs in the first inning. ๐. #FutureStars | #U19WorldCup | #AFGvNZ
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Can't express how much I hate this. I get that he's answering a question posed to him, but you're about to host the West Indies and Sri Lanka. Are they mere stepping stones?.
"We want to win that urn back" ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐ฆ๐บ. England Test captain Ben Stokes says winning the Ashes back in Australia is the team's priority.
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Has anyone met a fan who would rather have a glut of Rugby Championship/Six Nations titles, or the tagline of "most dominant in an era" in exchange for a World Cup? What about four? No? Didn't think so. Keep supplying the salt. Those tjops and boeries won't season themselves.
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Is there a more boring conversation in rugby? And besides, if you're going to weigh in (as I'll admit, I have in the past) maybe avoid dogwhistling xenophobia: "Scotlandโs Duhan van der Merwe, whose name hardly suggests a rugged clan from the Cairngorms". GTFO with that.
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This is what English rugby gets so wrong. Look at how many cities will host the Springboks this year. Twickenham's monopoly has held back the game's development.
Springboksโ home matches this year:. Pretoria - ๐ฟ๐ฆ vs ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ.Bloemfontein - ๐ฟ๐ฆ vs ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ.Cape Town - ๐ฟ๐ฆ vs ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ.Nelspruit - ๐ฟ๐ฆ vs ๐ณ๐ฟ.Johannesburg - ๐ฟ๐ฆ vs ๐ณ๐ฟ.Durban - ๐ฟ๐ฆ vs ๐ฆ๐ท. A good spread around the country! Nice to see!.
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From the fan base that continues to sing a slave song at rugby matches, here's a balanced view on racism. .
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Don't say it.Don't say it.Don't say it.Don't say it.Don't say it.Don't say it.Don't say it.Don't say it. EVERYONE: Why couldn't the Proteas play like this for the last 6 weeks!?!? ๐ญ๐ญ. #CWC19 #ProteaFire.
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Been a lot of fist shaking from English cricket journalists and commentators on the threat of the IPL and India to the world game. Let's not forget that there's more than one villain out there.
Dutch cricketers not released from their English counties to play in The @cricketworldcup qualifiers next month. Fred Klaasen.Shane Snater.Roelof van der Merwe.Paul van Meekeren.Timm van der Gugten.Colin Ackerman.Brandon Glover. It's just not fair.
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"Huge mutant" is how they talk about South African rugby players. "A pack of raw-meat eating Afrikaaners" is a term a leading BBC cricket commentator used last year. Plenty other examples of denigrating, reductive lines. Wonder why SA sport creates a siege mentality ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ.
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Outstanding. South Africa in a nutshell. Two things are always true at the same time.
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One of the best atmospheres for a rugby match I've ever seen live. And we're still 20 minutes away! Genuinely, this is goosebumps stuff. This is going to cook. #FRAvRSA
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Temba Bavuma is navigating a press conference with so much grace and poise. Really really impressed. I'm confident this is the right guy to navigate a very difficult period. #T20WorldCup.
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"That stuff doesn't bother me" he says as he makes the moment all about the stuff that apparently doesn't bother him.
"I'm allowed to celebrate how I want.". You sure are when you become our most prolific ever opening batter. David Warner passed Matthew Hayden with his day one 164 on our all time Test run scorer list. ๐ฑ๐ป Summer of Cricket on ABC listen:
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Galthie/Dupont might have provided the caveat of "full credit to South Africa" but they 100% suggested the result would have been different if it wasn't for the referee. Not to go all tin-foil hat in this but imagine reaction if Nienaber/Kolisi/Erasmus did that after a WC loss?.
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The @cricketworldcup will mean different things to different teams:.๐ฟ๐ฆ - redemption.๐ฆ๐บ - continued domination.๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ - banishing insecurities.๐ฎ๐ณ - flexing their strength.Thanks to @ZaltzCricket, @jimmaxcricket & Dr Kidambi for sharing your thoughts. @cricbuzz #CricketWorldCup #CWC19.
For six weeks, the World Cup will bring disparate languages and ethnicities to the game's spiritual home, and everything else will dissipate into irrelevance. Latest on SPOTLIGHT, @danielgallan writes on the meaning of a World Cup. #cwc19.
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Someone fly the Webb Ellis Cup in at half-time and give it to the winner of this match. Honestly, we can end the World Cup prematurely once this is done. Where do we go from here?. #FRAvRSA.
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Not accusing Henry here but any talk of SA's weakened team without mentioning the poison that is the Big Three and how the ECB, CA and BCCI gutted the game is like talking about the cost of living crisis in the UK and not mentioning the ruinous Tories or Brexit. Cause and effect.
South Africa - fresh from beating India in a Test - announce a squad with seven potential debutants for the New Zealand series. All players with SAT20 contracts unavailable. Really feels like there needs to be windows for Test cricket, as this is surely not good for the WTC.
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The most baffling thing about the pearl clutching re 7:1 split, apart from the fact that it won't happen in a game that matters, is that the 7th guy was Kwagga Smith. A man with over 150 caps for the Blitzbokke. Maybe other teams should develop more versatile players.
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Overs bowled with a red ball in a match since 1 July:. Rabada - 0.Ngidi - 0.Olivier - 153.1. Think those lines, lengths and overall lack of bite was telling enough. #SAvIND #BoxingDayTest.
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Seeing a lot of fingers pointed at CSA, Smith, Boucher, QdK's knee, the IPL. Make sure you save some vitriol for the broken system that has turned Test cricket into a pain in the arse outside three wealthy nations. A great talent leaving in his prime is a symptom of this.
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Markram's transformation into a destructive T20 batter isn't spoken about enough. Clearly done a ton of work in the gym and looks mean at the crease. #T20WorldCup.
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@KP24 @MaritzCollege How does having a political belief tarnish the reputation of a school? It's not like they tattooed the badge of a foreign team on their arms.
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Most runs as an opening batter in Test cricket over the last five years. Just sayin'. #SAvSL
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With the @ICC #U19CWC starting tomorrow, I took a look at hosts #SouthAfrica and what these young men represent for a cricket nation desperate for good news. โ๏ธ @cricbuzz . @cricketworldcup #ProteaFire .
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South Africa are terrible with the bat. Proper terrible. We know that. OK, that out of the way, Mark Nicholas is right. What is a first Test in Australia doing with this much grass? Travis Head aside has anyone looked comfortable for stretches on it? #AUSvSA.
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@TheBarmyArmy I conducted this interview. Be fair to Elgar - he talks about it briefly at the top. It was the obvious place to start the piece from my point of view but I don't think you're giving an accurate portrayal of the player or the article.
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So much chat from Welsh and English fans, journalists and former players about the Springboks playing a boring game as if those teams are somehow the All Blacks in disguise. Isn't Warren-ball a thing? Isn't English rugby focussed on forwards play? Potts and kettles. #LionsRugby.
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The Sunday Times called them 'shambolic'. The Telegraph called them 'morally compromised'. We call them champions. They didn't do it for you. They did it for us. A final piece on the WC for @RugbyPassPlus/@RugbyPass on what this side means to every Saffa around the world.
"Roll your eyes if you like. Scoff. Dismiss the back-to-back world champions as nothing more than scrappers who struggle for fluency outside of the one tournament that matters more than the rest.". โ๏ธ@danielgallan with an ode to the unloved Springboks.
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Lucky for Leinster they'll have all their players available.
Next season's URC competition will begin on the weekend of October 20-21. That's the weekend of the World Cup semi-finals.
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Shame on you @Zels77 and the rest of your team for publishing this horse shit. This is a new low for a publication that used to mean so much to so many people. Shameful and irresponsible.
Two cardiologists believe Shane Warneโs sudden death last year may have been caused by the Covid-19 vaccine.
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South Africa v Australia in Test cricket is the pinnacle of the sport. No, I'm not taking any questions. Instead here are a few articles from the week:. #AUSvSA.
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Test tons scored by South Africans in:. 2023 - 3.2022 - 2.2021 - 3.2020 - 1.2019 - 3.Three innings in this series - 4. That's 6 now in 2024, equalling a haul they last reached in 2018.
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Has there ever been a more global cricket tournament than the @fairbreakglobal with players from:๐ฆ๐บ๐ต๐ญ๐บ๐ธ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ช๐ต๐ฐ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ง๐ฉ๐ง๐ท๐ฌ๐พ๐ณ๐ต๐ท๐ผ๐ฆ๐ช๐ป๐บ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐พ๐ฟ๐ผ๐จ๐ฆ๐น๐ญ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐น๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ท๐ง๐ง๐ง๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ช๐น๐ฟ๐ฏ๐ต๐ต๐ฌ๐ง๐น๐น๐น๐ธ๐ช?. That's 38 nations by my count. This game could be more inclusive if the ICC, BCCI, ECB and CA desired.
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Since 1 January 2010, 4 bowlers have Test average < 23 with + 100 wickets. - Dale Steyn, 267 wickets @ 22.29 (59 matches).- Vernon Philander, 216 wickets @ 22.16 (60 matches).- Kagiso Rabada, 183 wickets @ 22.5 (40 matches).- Pat Cummins, 134 wickets @ 22.18 (28 matches).
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AB de Villiers signs a deal with the Kampala Kings in Uganda's 50 ball competition, causing Proteas fans to speculate if he will be available for the upcoming World Cup.
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If you watched that game and you're more interested in a TMO decision rather than Mo'unga's darta, the runs of Telea or Savea, du Toit's work rate or the ice in Pollard's veins, nv the stories of Smith, Kleyn and Kolisi, then maybe you'll never be fully satisfied.
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Hayden Smith .Langer Kirsten.Ponting Amla.Smith Kallis.SWaugh De Villiers.Clarke De Kock .Gilchrist Pollock.Warne Philander.Johnson Maharaj.Cummins Rabada.McGrath Steyn. Who wins? Any changes? #AusvSA.
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40 years separates South Africa's only Rugby World Cup and the country's next chance at hosting one again. This is shameful no matter your allegiances. Worse than England not hosting a football WC given the importance of the Boks and the depth of Rugby's pool. #RWC.
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@stephenjones9 You again. What is the purpose of this comment? I've simply listed an interesting stat. Stephen why do you consider yourself the gatekeeper of rugby?.
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A Proteas batter just unfurled one of the great counter attacking kncoks on a demon pitch against an elite attack and the discourse has sucked in racism, unfair comparisons with other players and nasty comments. Maybe we don't deserve Test cricket if this is how we act. #SAvIND.
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Can this work in England? Know there are 2 spinners but is this actually the attack with the most wicket taking threat? Can 7-8-9 be more than the sum of its parts with the bat?. Elgar.Erwee/Markram (clinging to hope).KP.Bavuma.RvdD.Verreynne .Jansen.Maharaj.Harmer.Rabada.Nortje.
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When people talk about the Springboks' depth this is what they mean. I don't think the B&I Lions - a composite team of four nations - could name a stronger bench than this one.
The Springbok team to battle the All Blacks has been announced ๐ฟ๐ฆ๐ท
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Ah yes. Stephen Jones. The bastion of humility. The flag bearer of decency. This just feels like an old knackered pot pointing fingers at a prize-winning kettle.
Stephen Jones has harshly criticised the Springbok Bomb Squad, branding their approach as "arrogant" after Rassie Erasmus used a 7-1 split on the bench against Scotland.
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This is why the TRC was such a failure. White South Africans commit blatant acts of racism and think an apology is the end of the conversation. Also, why has anyone asked what Ali Bacher thinks on the matter?.
'He has apologised. What more do you want from him?' Ali Bacher comes out to bat for Mark Boucher, in the #SundayTimesZA tomorrow.
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Mark Butcher just described this game as "two ideologies" clashing with the "more stoic" one coming out on top. Does he mean the Proteas with 4 seamers and a spinner and Marco Jansen batting at 6? Does that sound stoic to you?. Bazball isn't the only aggressive approach #ENGvSA.
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I hate to get into the referee debate but. how have England finished this half with 15 men on the pitch? Utterly dominated at set-piece, repeated off-sides calls. I think they've received 3 'final' warnings. Boks all over 'em. #ENGvRSA #AutumnNationsSeries.
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Now do one where Cheslin Kolbe should have received a red card.
Tough test match, thanks for all the support from ๐ฟ๐ฆ, also thanks to the Ireland supporters at the Aviva, you definetly understand the game and its great to play in an atmosphere like yesterday ! Surely was a game of big battles,but small margins ๐๐ฟ
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My first contribution to this historic publication. Just a small report on one of South Africa's worst ever performances but for a lifelong cricket nerd I'm happy to get off the mark for @WisdenAlmanack. #wisdenalmanack2020
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31 former SA Proteas cricketers and 5 senior coaches have thrown their weight behind Lungi Ngidi and the global #BlackLivesMatter campaign. The group includes Ntini, Philander, Prince, Adams, Duminy, Langeveldt, Gibbs, Toyana, Parnell and more. #SouthAfrica #cricket #racism.
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Baffled that Faf du Plessis and Imran Tahir aren't in the squad. Nothing to do with hero status or reputation. They're simply among the best players in the country. Feels like systemic failure on multiple fronts.
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There has been other cricket going on you know. The #SunfoilSeries ended with only 7 results across 30 matches (a record low). I wrote this for @cricbuzz and asked @Beuran_H13 & @VincentBarnes50 if we should be concerned about SA's bowling stocks.
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That is truly one of the great South African Test innings from Marizanne Kapp. She came in at 45-4 with her team staring at a double-digit score. Remarkable knock. #ENGvSA.
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Should be noted that England's brave approach is possible because of unequal scheduling. Batters from SA, WI, NZ etc can't afford to make a string of low scores before finding their aggressive groove. They'd get the axe. Knowing there are more Tests allows for freedom.
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Was a year early with this (maybe CSA are a year late?) I made some big predictions concerning this young guy who is the missing ingredient in this #Proteas side. #Test debut today. Will be many more. Piece for @cricbuzz #SAvSL โฆ@geoffreytoyanaโฉ
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Few things in sport are as intriguing as a sports journo writing about a player from another country. When it's one of your favourite writers on one of your favourite players it's even more delicious. This is class from @Vitu_E on Big Vern:.
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Felt compelled to share this with @FootballCliches. This isn't your ordinary football sign. The impression of three dinensions, stars instead of hexagons/pentagons, the feel of a Champions League encounter. Wonderful.
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I know I'm going to get stick for this but I felt let down by Rassie. This Boks side, a team he created, is supposed to represent the best of us. We should hold them to higher standards. Standards they've set themselves. Thoughts for @RugbyPass.
Rassie Erasmus has let us all down. @danielgallan ๐จโ๐ป discusses the events of the past 24 hours. #ENGvRSA #RWC2023. Click below for more โคต๏ธ.
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"Think whatever you want about the player but there can be no doubting the immense spirit of the man". An ode to Temba Bavuma who been both a symbol of hope and a metaphor for South Africa's shortcomings. For @guardian_sport .
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It's a stunning catch from Tammy Beaumont to remove Marizanne Kapp. When Anneke Bosch was dismissed, the score was 161/6. Kapp then hit 91 of SA's subsequent 115 runs. She's kept her team in the game. One of the greatest innings by a South African I've ever seen. #ENGvSA.
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A 'what not to do' for journalism students. Fabricate a narrative, misquote someone for clicks, hit 'Tweet' without thinking. 0/10.
Wonder if Dean Elgar still thinks England are 'disrespecting' Test cricket??.
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Or, to put it another way, English clubs barely keeping float have recognised that the URC, where South Africa is a major player, and Italy have been a part of since its inception, is a much healthier and sustainable competition and they'd love a lifeline.
Talks to establish a British and Irish โsuper leagueโ that would also include clubs from South Africa and Italy have taken place between executives from the Home Unions and the leagues. Exclusive by @GavinMairs. #TelegraphRugby.
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There will be a football match between @GwijoSquad & @TheBarmyArmy at Pirates Sports Club in Greenside Johannesburg on 22 January at 5pm. This will be such a vibe! Come and support South Africa's best group of supporters. #SAvsENG.
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Spent a lot of time on this one for @cricketmonthly on the South African cricketers playing in the UK under the Kolpak rule. Thank you to @Simon_Harmer_, @DaneVilas, @WayneParnell & @JetJennings for sharing their stories with me. #SAvENG #Cricket . ๐
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I wonder if Dippenaar and Symcox bang on the doors of people who campaign against climate change or gender based violence or corruption or seal clubbing. Why does every athlete have to fight every cause. This whataboutism doesn't help anyone.
Stay strong Lungi Ngidi and stand firm by your beliefs. Many of the current and former South African cricket players will show their true colours one by one. #BlackLivesMatter
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These commentators bashing RvdD for is cautious start at number 3 on the opening day of a Test no doubt lauded Pujara for the exact same thing. Also such an outdated thing to say best batter slots at 3 (Kohli, Smith, Root). It's a Test fellas. #sscricket #SAvSL.
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I get that the result is disappointing but these are still kids. The only thing that's embarrassing here is this headline. Also, Afghanistan are one of the top 10 cricket nations in the world and are a Test playing nation.
BREAKING | The South African Under-19s horror run of results has continued with an embarrassing 7-wicket defeat to minnows Afghanistan in Kimberley in Match 1 of the ICC Under-19 World Cup.
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The Proteas (or whatever they'll be called given recent events) XI that plays at the World Cup must include all of Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers and Chris Morris - national contracts or not. Simple as.
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For all the angst over their men's rugby team, England sports fans really are the luckiest in the world. WC contenders in men's and women's football, cricket and rugby. F1, Tour de France, boxing & Olympic champions. Club scene is strong. You don't know what you have.
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Privileged to have spoken with @Springboks skipper @SiyaKolisi_Bear & Rachel about their activism combatting #GenderBasedViolence in #SouthAfrica as well as their charitable work during the #coronavirus crisis. โ๏ธ @guardian/@guardian_sport . #ImWithHer .
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Just clocked that Lance Klusener took 17 wickets at the 99 WC - most of all South Africans and 4th overall. I know his performance is regarded as the best ever by a Protea at the WC but is it still underrated? If one guy deserved a global trophy it was him. #CWC2023.
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Two defeats to Australia will hurt, but having a strong Wallaby outfit is so important for the global game. Of course I'd have preferred a different result but if you're a rugby fan you'll see the positives as well. #AUSvRSA #RugbyChampionship.
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Anyone else think of this?
71,000,000 Legal Votes. The most EVER for a sitting President!.
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@oliverbrown_tel "Take last weekendโs Calcutta Cup, a contest electrified by Scotlandโs Duhan van der Merwe, whose name hardly suggests a rugged clan from the Cairngorms". Should only people with Scottish sounding names play for Scotland? Are some names not allowed?.
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