Ken Borland

Staying calm under pressure is probably the most necessary attribute needed to succeed at the highest level of sport and Marais Erasmus always gave the impression when he was umpiring out in the middle that he was in full possession of his faculties and emotions.

Getting 94% of your decisions correct – the general benchmark for being on the International Cricket Council’s Elite Panel of umpires – requires great composure and equanimity, as well as the ability to maintain credibility and authority in the highly-charged arena of the game at its pinnacle.

They are the qualities that Erasmus was most known for during his 16-and-a-half years as an international umpire. As renowned Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle says in the Foreword to the biography Telford Vice has written on the South African umpire – Marais Erasmus: The Rock ‘n Roll Years – “Apart from everything else, umpires, like doctors, must radiate confidence and a sense of calm. Marais Erasmus had that. When he walked out on to the field, you felt secure. You knew you were in safe hands.”

While the former Boland bowling all-rounder’s ‘bedside manner’ was imperturbable, Erasmus himself says it is a bit of an illusion.

“I didn’t set out to have a straight face all the time, and I did struggle sometimes not to show my emotions. But I couldn’t give away to the players that I was shitting myself, they do pick up that sort of thing.

“I just tried to apply the laws, even though sometimes a law is controversial. There are some grey areas in cricket, although less so than in rugby. I think it helps immensely to have been a former player, although it’s not a given that if you played good cricket you will become a good umpire – there are lots of other skills involved.

“Simon Taufel was one of the best umpires ever and he didn’t play first-class cricket, so potential umpires shouldn’t be discouraged if they didn’t play to a high level. But at the Elite level, on average 10 of the 12 on the ICC panel will have played first-class cricket, a lot of them have played international cricket. In South Africa, about 40% of our umpires are former first-class players. It means you’ve been in pressure situations before, the players will accept you more and that gives you confidence,” the former Boland flyhalf/fullback says.

The cricket world changed dramatically while Erasmus was progressing from a player who retired in 1996/97 to making his international debut as an umpire in 2006, standing in his first Test in 2010. In that time, the television umpire has become crucial, and the IPL arrived, making India the global superpower of the game. But, unfortunately, India have also not been shy to exert a “Might Is Right” philosophy on cricket and they are used to getting what they want. Which included not using DRS for their games until the absence of it had burned them too often.

Hostile crowds are matched by over-stimulated players like Virat Kohli, who occasionally lose their impulse control. One of India’s greatest captains infamously shouted into the stump-mics at Newlands in January 2022, accusing broadcasters SuperSport and the umpires of bias. Erasmus was standing in that match alongside compatriot Adrian Holdstock due to the Covid pandemic and the difficulties it caused in terms of international travel.

Erasmus had to give Sachin Tendulkar out lbw in his debut Test, thankfully not in India, where international cricket’s leading run-scorer is literally considered to be a god. These are also the days of social media allowing millions of people to dissect and criticise every decision. The officials can be crucified in the court of public opinion should they get the wrong decision wrong at the wrong time. Just think of how we South Africans curse referee Bryce Lawrence to this day for giving David Pocock free rein in the breakdowns during the 2011 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal.

So Erasmus experienced pressure right from the outset and his ability to handle it saw him appointed to the middle for seven World Cup finals across the formats, including the greatest of them all, the 2019 finale’ at Lord’s when England and New Zealand tied and England won the super over.

“Virat was like some of the kids when I was teaching. You give him Ritalin in the morning and you’ll have a good day. But sometimes by second break it’s gone … But we had a good relationship. David Warner is a dangerous man because he doesn’t understand when he’s being stupid and Ricky Ponting always wanted to fight with umpires,” Erasmus says.

Nathan Lyon is someone Erasmus singles out as a favourite, the Australian off-spinner saying on a live television interview that “Marais is a great man and an even better umpire,” when former captain Mark Taylor asked pointed questions about decisions that did not go their way.

Ben Stokes is another who Erasmus found to be likeable and the recently-retired England captain was, of course, pivotal in that 2019 World Cup final.

“Ben is one of my favourites. When you go to a team’s practice, some of the players ignore you but others come up to you. Ben would always ask how the last few months have been, how’s your family? He’s a good human being, although he has got himself in trouble and been through some fires on occasion.”

The details of the drama of the overthrows off Stokes’s arm and the full explanation as to why England were credited with an extra run they shouldn’t have been, are all in the book. Typically, Erasmus does not shy away from accountability.

“The overthrow incident was just a mistake. Kumar Dharmasena and I looked at each other and said ‘Six? Yeah’. Rod Tucker, the TV umpire, asked over the comms whether it was six and Peter Manuel, who was our umpires coach, was trying to explain that where the ball was released was crucial. But that was impossible for me to see.

“Part of the romance of our sport is that the umpires are not without blemish. The only way to survive as an umpire is not to dwell on your wrong decisions. Our coaches used to tell us to park them; my one New Zealand colleague then said ‘but my parking lot is full’.”

In Marais Erasmus: The Rock ‘n Roll Years, the subject brings that same voice of reason and gentle humour to corruption in cricket, the rise of technology and the many memorable Ashes clashes he was involved with.

There may still be a lot of water to flow under the bridge in terms of LIV and a deal to unify golf once again, but the Stinger GC team, made up of four South Africans, is pushing ahead with plans to grow their popularity at home and ultimately bring the breakaway league to this country.

Latest reports suggest Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV’s chief backers, is in advanced talks over buying a 6% investment in PGA Tour Enterprises.

Richard Glover, the general manager of Stinger GC, which comprises Louis Oosthuizen, Dean Burmester, Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel, says LIV is here to stay and eager to expand their presence in South Africa.

“It’s a team that really works and now we are trying to build a business brand for it. South Africans understand team sport and Stinger comprises four very authentic people, what you see is what you get with them. They are great friends and they have a great relationship,” Glover, who was previously the CEO of Tennis SA and a vice-president of the ATP Tour, told Rapport at Leopard Creek this week.

“I’m absolutely convinced LIV can work in South Africa and there is definitely an interest in hosting an event here. The when and the where are still open for discussion, but I believe there is a big opportunity for that moving forward. Maybe in 2026 or 2027?

“The obstacles are the exchange rate and the economic situation here, but LIV see it as a key market because of the history of golf here and the support base it has. LIV would resonate with our fans and it would be incredibly exciting to see some of the best golfers in the world up against our South African boys on their home turf.

“Ultimately we want to grow the Stinger and LIV brands here. We want to have a year-round footprint, so you will see Stinger clothing in the pro shops,” Glover said.

Burmester and Schwartzel were both in contention at the weekend in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek, while Oosthuizen is the defending champion. There is clearly nothing wrong with the standard of play in LIV Golf.

“We’re still all competitors. It may be a different tour, but it’s definitely not the case that our games have become worse,” Schwartzel said. “There are great players on the LIV tour, names all the way through like Mickelson, Johnson, De Chambeau and Cam Smith, and we work extremely hard. We still arrive on the Monday and have an extra day to practise. Playing three rounds actually makes it harder to win because there is no let-up. I shot 71 on the first day here [Leopard Creek] and in LIV that would put you out of contention. With four rounds, you have more of a chance to make up the deficit. People who doubt the standard of play are just looking for excuses to criticise the tour.

Some of the brash new elements LIV have introduced would be considered terrible behaviour on the established tours, but this year’s event in Adelaide provided incredible entertainment.

Stinger GC and Ripper GC went head-to-head in a playoff for the title and the intensity was incredible, perhaps because they are the two teams with the strongest identities, being composed of South Africans and Australians respectively.

“Growing up, I played cricket and used to dream of the stadium-style contest. That was the closest I’ve got to experiencing that,” Burmester said. “There were thousands of people within yards of the golfers. I could barely make my backswing in some places, you’re asking 30 rows to move back. It was nervewracking and we lost, but it really helped my game.

“South Africa would be an incredible fit for LIV and there is work behind the scenes to make it happen, we are pulling on many strings. I feel we can create that Australian vibe, that stadium-style finish.”

Imagine a rematch at Sun City, South Africa versus Australia? With the Chasing the Sun documentary team doing behind-the-scenes coverage as they are currently doing for Stinger GC …

“That playoff was a critical moment for LIV and the scenes in Adelaide were incredible,” Glover said. “South Africa against Australia is always a grudge match because we both have such strong national identities. We would love a rematch with the Rippers!”

The Bulls stand on the brink of the United Rugby Championship playoffs confident that the mettle of the team has been proven by the way they have come through the fires of a most disheartening first half of the season under a new coach in Johan Ackermann.

The three-time URC runners-up go into Saturday’s last round-robin game against Benetton Treviso at Loftus Versfeld in fourth place on the standings, having guaranteed a quarterfinal place. But they will be eyeing a bonus point win that will guarantee them a home playoff.

It is a far cry from the situation at the start of the year when they had lost five matches in a row and languished in 12^th place on the log. The decision to replace coach Jake White, who had led them to the final in 2021/22, 2023/24 and 2024/25, with Ackermann was starting to look rash and there were genuine fears that the Bulls would miss out on the playoffs for the first time in URC history.

But a hard-fought 19-17 win in Edinburgh was the start of the recovery and they have now won eight of their last 10 matches in the competition. The confidence is back and the prospect of a home quarterfinal has the Bulls squad chomping at the bit.

Loose forward Mpilo Gumede is one of the newer faces in the Bulls’ first-choice URC 23 this year and the former Sharks man is enjoying the building of pressure that comes with knockout rugby.

“It’s been special for me. People always say the Bulls are the club to be at because they are chasing trophies, so I’m not surprised by where we are now. But it hasn’t been easy and we are aware of how much tougher it’s going to get. But it’s good for me, I can only challenge myself by seeing where I am compared with the best.

“It hasn’t been a consistent season for us, but we didn’t let that define us and we have gone from strength to strength by sticking to the plan and trusting the process. It’s also shown how close we are and how we fight for each other. No-one wants to be the one who lets the team down.

“Everyone is coming in to Loftus in the morning and giving their best. We are in it to win it and I think we are peaking now. It was tough, the way the season started, losing half-a-dozen games in a row, it has not been an easy turnaround. But we are a big club and we are expected to deliver, we understand where we are.

“We can reflect now on where we have come from, we have been through the worst. But the environment is unbelievable, it does not feel like we are just there to do a job. Each time I wake up and go to training it’s special because of the gees. We never speak down to each other, we stick together,” Gumede told kenborland.com.

While Gumede is treading new ground as a professional rugby player, it is not the first time wing Sergeal Petersen has found himself in the heat of knockout rugby. Having won the URC trophy with the Stormers in 2022, he famously scored two tries in the semifinal between the Bulls and Leinster two years ago in Pretoria, including a sensational matchwinning effort when he leapt in the air to claim a kick against a much taller player.

The 31-year-old flyer also believes the Bulls have much more certainty now in their ability to perform under the high stakes pressure of the playoffs.

“We have been through a rollercoaster but the fact is we are now at the business end of the season and it feels like we have kicked on and gelled at the right time. It was a bit stop-start to begin with under a new coach, but now is the time for us to start producing the goods, starting with a vital game on Saturday.

“We want to give ourselves the chance of a home semifinal by getting another bonus point win. I think we’re peaking now, we had a successful tour, winning two games, and it’s time to hit our straps now. After the start we had, our mindset every week has been that we know we’ve got to rock up. We know we’ve been focused because we’ve had to strive to win every game.

“Playing for a team like the Bulls, there is so much expectation to perform every time we go on the field. We believe we can take on any team and no-one in the squad has any doubts in themselves. There is so much trust in the leadership team,” Petersen told kenborland.com.

Petersen, who has racked up 85 appearances for the Cheetahs, Stormers and Bulls, says the key to success in the playoffs lies in executing the basics to perfection.

“Simplicity is now the most important thing. We’ve got the playing depth and the rugby knowledge of these situations – we have World Cup winners and Currie Cup winners and players and coaches who have been involved in URC and SuperRugby finals.

“It’s all about simplicity and execution now. We can’t look too far ahead, but anything can happen in the finals. The road we’ve been on has ensured there’s no complacency,” Petersen said.

Following the URC campaign, several players who have become folk heroes at Loftus Versfeld will be leaving the club – tighthead powerhouse Wilco Louw, the totemic lock Ruan Nortje, backline stalwart David Kriel and exhilarating winger Kurt-Lee Arendse are all departing.

Gumede said those remaining are determined to send them off with the trophy they have come so close to winning but which keeps slipping agonisingly from their fingers.

“Those guys have fought for the jersey for a long time, someone like Ruan wants us to win so badly. So we want to make a special moment for them, those guys who have been trying to win the URC from the start of the competition. We want to make sure we send them off nicely,” Gumede said.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya has called for the International Olympic Committee to show more consistency and have a uniform policy for competitors who are under gender scrutiny.

The 33-year-old Semenya, who won the 800m in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, is not competing in the Paris Olympics because World Athletics insists she takes medicines to lower her testosterone levels, a consequence of her differences of sex development (DSD) condition.

Semenya refuses to undergo the treatments, which are mandatory in order to compete, and has been locked in legal battles with World Athletics since 2018.

The Paris Olympics have been rocked over a gender controversy in boxing, with two competitors, Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, having their eligibility for the women’s tournament being questioned. Both are guaranteed a medal, having advanced to the semi-finals in their respective weight divisions.

In Semenya’s homeland of South Africa, social media has been awash with posts questioning why the boxers are allowed to compete, especially in a combat sport, while Semenya is effectively banned. The IOC has backed the two boxers, casting doubts on the veracity of the International Boxing Association’s gender eligibility tests that found they had XY chromosomes.

The IBA is no longer recognised by the IOC, who are running the boxing events in Paris themselves.

Semenya herself has sympathy for Khelif’s plight, the 25-year-old welterweight having borne the brunt of the storm.

“Imane is a great boxer and people always criticise when someone is doing well, people always talk then. When she wasn’t winning, then everyone was quiet.

“But the IOC’s policy and constitution should not contradict each other. Sport is for all people and the constitution says no to discrimination. But the minute they allowed women to be disgraced, it confuses us.

“If sport is for all, then why does the big governing body allow this sort of thing to happen? They should stand their ground and lead by example. It’s about quality leadership that safeguards, protects and respects women,” Semenya told sportsboom.com in an exclusive interview in Pretoria.

“What happened at the Olympics now is not what happened in my space. Each organisation has its own policy, boxing have their own and athletics has its own.

“It’s not about what I want, but about principles of life. My views are not about me because I have ventured more into coaching now, I stopped running seriously in 2022. I have kids now and I want to spend more time at home.”

World Athletics, then known as the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), initially restricted their new rules on testosterone levels to just three track events – the 400m, 800m and 1500m.

Semenya initially switched to the 200m and 5000m races, but was never a real contender at those distances, failing to make the Olympic qualifying standards.

Last weekend she ran her first competitive race in more than a year, in the Tshwane (Pretoria) event of the Spar Women’s Grand Prix 10km Series, finishing 10^th in 37:13.

A beaming, jovial Semenya clearly enjoyed the experience.

“It was real nice and I did it for all the women, to make sure I inspire and show them that anything is possible. It was to celebrate women in sport and all women.

“I like to challenge myself, I was feeling outside my comfort zone and I thought I would end up walking, but I just kept on going. I’m very happy about my run and finishing in the top-10. Maybe when I’m 34 I must run the Comrades Marathon [an annual 88km ultramarathon held in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa],” Semenya laughed.