South Africa A vs Zimbabwe

Ahmed's afternoon took a dramatic turn in the 52nd minute. Chasing his own kick on a penalty advantage inside Zimbabwe's 22, he took out fullback Tapiwa Mafura in the air. Referee Aimee Barrett-Theron initially showed yellow, but the TMO upgraded it to a 20-minute red card.

Despite being reduced to 14 men, SA 'A' scored the first points of the second half through replacement scrum-half Nico Steyn, who sniped from close range in the 55th minute. Luan Giliomee converted for 28–0.

Imad Khan added a fifth try seconds after coming off the bench in the 66th minute, finishing an offload from Jaco Williams. Giliomee's conversion stretched the lead to 35–0.

Winger Jaco Williams put the cherry on top as the full-time siren sounded, gathering a loose Zimbabwe exit kick and running it clear into the corner. Khan missed the conversion, but the damage was done.

• Ruben van Heerden (SA 'A') — The second-row forward was voted Player of the Match after making 16 tackles, winning a turnover and carrying nine times. At 27, he sent a clear signal he is ready for Springboks duty.
• Luan Giliomee (SA 'A') — The fullback took over playmaking duties after Ahmed's red card and slotted two conversions. Connor Mitchley of Forever Sports Media named him his man of the match for his composed all-round game.
• Vincent Tshituka (SA 'A') — The captain marshalled a young side through the red-card period with strong leadership and several big tackles that kept Zimbabwe scoreless.
• Dion Khumalo (Zimbabwe) — The replacement won multiple turnovers and carried hard, earning praise from opposition observers for his impact off the bench.

The provider data (40–0, six tries to none) tells a story of total territorial control, but the scoreline undersells Zimbabwe's defensive resolve. The Sables held SA 'A' out on multiple occasions inside their own five-metre line, particularly in the first half, and forced handling errors from the home side. SA 'A's lineout malfunctioned in the first half — a problem that improved once Adre Smith entered the fray after the break. The 20-minute red card for Ahmed could have been a momentum shift; instead, SA 'A' scored 19 points while a man down, suggesting squad depth that bodes well for the Springboks' wider selection pool.

For SA 'A', the fixture served its purpose: young players such as Ahmed, Muller, Giliomee, Williams, Pead and Siyaya all put their hands up for future Springboks consideration. Coach Rassie Erasmus was watching from the stands ahead of the main Springboks v Barbarians match later that evening.

For Zimbabwe, the defeat — while heavy — provided valuable preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, where they will face Wales, England and Tonga in the group stage. This was their first fixture against a side of this calibre in their current cycle.

A professional, clinical performance from SA 'A' that did exactly what it needed to: showcase depth in South African rugby while giving Zimbabwe a tough but fair examination. The red card was the only blemish on a day the hosts otherwise controlled from start to finish.