Kasi Flare 2026 tournament final in South Africa helps local gamers become professionals

Loosehead All Blacks George Bower stated readiness for another intense clash against the Springboks on Saturday in Soweto. He challenged the South African team ahead of the third match in the greatest rivalry series in rugby, insisting that New Zealand is ready to meet the world champions in a tough fight.

The scrum has been a topic of discussion throughout the series after the All Blacks struggled under pressure at Ellis Park stadium in the first match. Then the Boks again took the upper hand in the scrum moments during their 33-26 victory in Cape Town last week.

With the current score at 1-1, Bower believes that the All Blacks have no reason to avoid a heavy confrontation when the teams meet at the FNB stadium in Soweto (match starts at 17:00). Although there is verbal sparring surrounding the scrum, Bower expresses only anticipation for the opportunity to fight against one of the best scrums in the world.

Since returning to the All Blacks, he has become a pillar of the team, providing stability in the scrums and posing a serious challenge to the Bok tightheads during the tour. Bower emphasized his desire to participate in the scrum, stating on Thursday: 'Oh, I love the scrum. I want to scrum.'

He noted that despite much talk from both sides, it all comes down to the first scrum. 'We'll see who talks,' he added. He acknowledged that South Africa prides itself on its scrum and uses it as an opportunity to earn penalties and advance. However, he also stated that the All Blacks' mentality after the first match is that they are at the same high level.

Bower expressed his intention to challenge them, noting that they know about the approaching opponents, but they are also ready themselves. 'I want to scrum, and I know my five back players want to scrum too. As a team, we must focus on our connection and density, our binding and our setup, and hopefully, this will neutralize what the South Africans bring this weekend.'

The Springboks team hopes to overcome the defeat against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium after two losses to their main rivals at the iconic 2010 Rugby World Cup venue.

Two matches within the 2010 and 2012 Tests between these teams are the only international rugby matches held at a stadium with a capacity of 94,000 spectators. In both instances, the Springboks lost: in 2010 under Peter de Villiers, and in 2012 under Heineke Meyer.

This weekend, the Boks and All Blacks return to Soweto on Saturday for the third match of the greatest rivalry in rugby. South Africa aims to gain a 2–1 advantage in the series before next week's final in Baltimore, USA.

Review of the Two Previous Landmark Encounters

The first meeting took place during the Tri-Nations in 2010, where South Africa lost to New Zealand with a score of 22–29. This match remained in the memory of both teams as a triumph and a disappointment. The game was played in front of a huge crowd of 94,713 people, setting a record for professional rugby in South Africa. In this match, Springboks captain John Smith made his 100th international appearance in the colours of the 'green and gold'. The hosts led 22–14 after 15 minutes thanks to 17 points from Morné Steyn.

However, the exhausted Boks team could not withstand the late onslaught from the New Zealand side. Richie McCaw scored a controversial touchdown in the corner to level the score, despite replays suggesting it was out of play and an offside pass had been made during the attack. The decisive moment came a few moments later when Ma'a Nonu broke through the center of the field—and Smith, ironically, failed to make the crucial tackle—setting up the play for Dagga Israel, who scored the winning touchdown, securing a dramatic comeback.

The second match, which took place during the 2012 Rugby Championship, saw the Springboks lose 16–32 to New Zealand. Two years later, Heineke Meyer brought the Springboks back to Soweto in search of redemption, leading the team of Juan de Villiers in front of 80,753 fans. The Boks started strongly when Bryan Habana crossed the line in the twelfth minute, but the entire day belonged to the visitors.

The All Blacks methodically dismantled the hosts, scoring four touchdowns through Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith, Nonu, and Conrad Smith. Dan Carter added 12 points with kicks, including a drop goal in the second half, allowing New Zealand to easily secure the result and extend their impressive High Country record against the Boks.

In the world of cricket, some players gain fame through their performances, while others become part of history by discovering the talents of new players. Kiran More is one such athlete. He was born on September 4, 1962, in Baroda, Gujarat. More established himself in Indian cricket as a wicketkeeper. Later, he became one of the people who recognized the talent of players like M.S. Dhoni. Today, September 4, 2026, Kiran More celebrates his 64th birthday.

Demonstration of skill behind the wickets

During his career for the Indian team, More played in 49 Test matches and made 130 saves. He was known for his quick wicketkeeping work and constant commentary on the field. In a Test match against South Africa in Madras (now Chennai) in 1988, More performed a feat that remains on his resume to this day: he made 5 stumpings in one innings and 6 stumpings in the entire match. These two records still stand today.

More also showed good results as a batsman. His best score in Test matches was 73 runs, which he scored in Napier against New Zealand in 1990.

Funny episode against Pakistan

More's name is also associated with a memorable moment during the 1992 World Cup match against Pakistan. During the game, Pakistani batsman Javed Miandad began to tease More by imitating his constant appeals, jumping up and down, which resulted from irritation at his continuous requests. This incident is among the funny cricket stories that fans recall even after the match ends. More's energetic play behind the wickets and his loud shouts became a hallmark of this confrontation.

Involvement in discovering Dhoni's talent

Kiran More was also involved in the early history of M.S. Dhoni. When Dhoni was trying to establish himself in Indian cricket, More noticed his talent and played a role in providing him an opportunity for development. In the film 'M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story', released in 2016, Kiran More also participated. In the film, he was portrayed as one of the selectors who noticed Dhoni's talent. More worked in this film as a consultant and cricket coach, training actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Path from player to selector

After ending his sports career, More dedicated his life to the Indian cricket board. He served as the chairman of the BCCI selection committee from 2003 to 2006. In 2007, he took on a new role by joining the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

What is More doing now?

More's connection to cricket continues. More acts as a mentor for the Antwerp Anchors team in the European T25/T20 tournament. Additionally, he conducts wicketkeeping masterclasses and training camps. More also works as a cricket expert, and his opinions and comments during international tournaments are highly popular among cricket fans.

Statistics of Kiran More's international career

Test Career: Matches: 49; Runs: 1285; Average: 25.7; Highest Score: 73 runs; Half-centuries: 7; Catches: 110; Stumpings: 20.

One-Day Career: Matches: 94; Runs: 563; Average: 13.09; Highest Score: 42*; Catches: 63; Stumpings: 27.