Dave Rennie makes changes to the All Blacks squad ahead of the fourth match against the Springboks in Baltimore

It is reported that the Safa team is close to signing Arthur Zwein as Pitso Mosimane's second assistant in the 'Bafana Bafana' national team.

Mosimane took over the team leadership at the beginning of this month, replacing Hugo Bruus. He quickly brought on board trusted staff members Musi Matlaba and Kabelo Rangoa, who will continue to share their experience as analyst and physical fitness coach, respectively.

The former 'Mamelodi Sundowns' coach further strengthened his technical team by appointing Moren Ramoreboli as his first assistant after he left the position of head coach of the Botswana national team.

News emerging this week indicates that Zwein is ready to join Mosimane's team on a part-time basis. According to available information, he will continue to lead the 'AmaZulu' team while fulfilling the duties of Mosimane's second assistant. Furthermore, he will oversee the work of the U23 youth team, helping integrate young players into the senior squad.

Zwein has experience working with youth. His impressive period at 'AmaZulu' was a result of nurturing young talents and helping them adapt to the high demands of professional football.

He began his coaching career in the youth structures of 'Kaizer Chiefs', where he played an important role in promoting young players who subsequently moved to Europe or became full members of the senior team.

If Zwein takes this position, he returns to the 'Bafana' squad, as he previously worked as an assistant to the current technical director Molefe Ntseki.

Much has changed since then—after Bruus qualified the team for two continental tournaments in a row and for the World Cup, where they historically reached the 32nd round. Therefore, Mosimane is under pressure to maintain this momentum.

Mosimane will begin his term with the CAF Confederation Cup qualifier against Guinea at Orlando Stadium on September 30, and four days later he will meet Eritrea at the neutral Al-Salam stadium in Cairo. Then 'Bafana' will conclude the international window with a friendly match against Egypt at the Cairo International Stadium on October 4.

Jasper Wiese, who hails from the town of Appleton, located on the Orange River near the Namibian border, demonstrated destructive power during matches against the All Blacks.

Appleton is known for three things: its beautiful lamb, its exceptional fortified wine, and former Springbok and Wallaby player Tiaan Strauss. Back when Number 8 Strauss captained the Western Province at Newlands, locals joked that he trained by carrying springboks and kudu before each new season.

Strauss was a machine with the ball in his hands and a hard tackler, but today another son from Appleton has emerged who is causing serious problems for opponents' forwards and defenders. Springbok Number 8 Wiese has scored numerous tries over the last three weekends in matches against the All Blacks, becoming a noticeable figure after an impressive performance in the first test match, where he left a trail of destruction every time he carried the ball.

In response, the All Blacks decided to employ group tactical tackles in the two subsequent matches to prevent Wiese from providing the Springboks with their signature forward momentum. Nevertheless, even this could not stop him from breaking through the defense in the third match in Soweto. His run provoked a wonderful sequence of plays, including an incredible ball retention by prop Ox Nche, after which the speed and footwork of flyhalf Mani Libbok delivered the ball to the New Zealand try line.

This breakthrough ultimately led to a penalty try for the Springboks following a massive scrum, laying the foundation for their victory. Wiese prefers the physical side of the sport, calling it part of the 'lekkerist' game, despite his aggressive style severely draining his body.

'I think physicality is always the most enjoyable part for me in rugby,' said Springbok Wiese, who has played 48 matches, to media this week. 'Sometimes you dominate, and sometimes you are dominated. You won't win every contact point, but I wouldn't say that's the most enjoyable thing—it's the lekkerist part of the game.'

Wiese admitted that after fierce clashes with the All Blacks, he required painkillers, expecting New Zealand to apply force again on Saturday in the United States, trying to level the four-match series. 'The All Blacks are a physical team. Honestly, I always ache after a game,' said Wiese. 'But you take a few painkillers on Sunday, make your body work again on Monday, and then we repeat this week. We know what that means for them, and I think they will step onto the field like cannons this weekend.'

Orlando Pirates have officially confirmed the re-signing of Bafana Bafana winger Mokhu Nkoto on loan from the Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq.

The Soweto-based team has brought Nkoto back after a year in Saudi Arabia. His first season abroad had mixed results, and he ultimately could not continue playing due to injury.

Last season, Nkoto played 21 league matches for Al Ettifaq, starting 16 of them. He started his spell promisingly, scoring twice in the first two months, but then failed to maintain momentum and did not score after October.

His season was complicated by international commitments and injury. Nkoto was included in the Bafana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations and participated in the tournament, but did not play after the second group stage match against Angola.

Following this, his season was interrupted by a serious knee injury, which ruled him out of the national team and ultimately dashed hopes of making it into Hugo Broos' squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Nkoto's return to Pirates gives him a chance to regain his form at a club where he previously established himself as an important attacking player.

The winger's breakthrough season came in 2024/25, when he provided seven goals and five assists in 39 matches across all competitions, starting 29 of them. These statistics demonstrated his ability to provide both creativity and goal threat from the flanks—qualities that Pirates aim to reclaim.

The return is also significant given the changes in the club's attacking lineup since that breakthrough season. Pirates have already lost Relobokhile Mofokeng, who moved to Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, freeing up a spot for another young attacker who will have to take on greater responsibility.

Nkoto's familiarity with the club, combined with his previous productivity, gives coach Abdelsalam Wadee an additional option on the right flank as the Buccaneers continue their title defense.

After a difficult year abroad, this transfer is an opportunity for Nkoto to return to the environment where he first made his mark and remind Pirates and Bafana what he is capable of offering.