WATCH: Springboks shine, Proteas bounce back, but Manchester United remain maddening

There are weekends when South African sport makes you feel like the country has finally got its act together.

And then there are weekends when Manchester United remind you that happiness is a dangerous emotion.

Boks have the All Blacks looking for answers

The Springboks are 2-1 up against the All Blacks in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry after a 29-24 slugfest at FNB Stadium.

To our Kiwi friends: please remain calm.

I repeat, please remain calm.

There is still one Test to play, so nobody is putting up statues just yet. But somewhere in New Zealand, an All Blacks supporter has probably stared silently into a cup of tea and whispered, “Maybe the referee…”

Because when in doubt, blame the referee.

The Boks produced the sort of performance that makes South Africans walk around with their chests out for at least 72 hours. Four tries, a dominant scrum, Malcolm Marx doing Malcolm Marx things and Siya Kolisi adding another chapter to his extraordinary captaincy story.

The All Blacks fought hard, but South Africa simply had more answers when it mattered.

And that, dear New Zealanders, is what we call being Boksmart.

Of course, the rivalry isn't over. One Test remains.

But for now, the All Blacks are 2-1 down.

Two. One.

Say it slowly.

It sounds beautiful.

The Bok Women had a weekend to forget

Then came the women's Test.

And, well… let's just say the Black Ferns clearly didn't read the memo about everyone having a nice weekend.

They smashed the Springbok Women 52-20, scoring eight tries.

That was less “Greatest Rivalry” and more “Please can somebody check the Wi-Fi, because the defence has disappeared?”

There were positives, particularly the Springbok scrum and four tries, but New Zealand's pace and attacking precision were simply too much.

So we'll call that one a learning experience.

A very expensive-looking learning experience.

Proteas bounce back against Namibia

The Proteas, meanwhile, were behaving themselves.

After Namibia shocked South Africa in the opening match of the T20 tri-series, the Proteas responded properly — beating Namibia and eventually winning the tri-series final against Zimbabwe in Windhoek.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius even smashed his maiden T20I century against Namibia.

Cricket finally gave us something to celebrate without requiring blood-pressure medication.

Sundowns and Chiefs keeping things interesting

And then there was football.

Mamelodi Sundowns left it late to beat Golden Arrows 2-1, with Teboho Mokoena producing an 88th-minute winner.

Kaizer Chiefs also edged Siwelele 3-2 to climb to third, with Cape Town born Faiz Abrahams, on-loan from Stellenbosch FC, scoring an absolute screamer - a moment currently going viral on social media.

The Premier Soccer League may not have the global glamour of the Premier League, but it certainly knows how to keep South African football supporters reaching for the remote — and occasionally the blood-pressure tablets.

And then Manchester United happened…

Which brings me, painfully, to Manchester United.

Why?

Why do you do this to us?

United led Everton twice.

TWICE.

Benjamin Šeško scored what looked like the winner in the 88th minute.

Cue celebrations.

Cue relief.

Cue United fans preparing their WhatsApp statuses.

Then Ainsley Maitland-Niles arrived in the 96th minute and launched a 30-yard missile into the net.

2-2.

At this point, being a Manchester United supporter should qualify as an extreme sport.

We had done it.

We had celebrated.

We had mentally collected the three points.

Some of us had probably already checked the league table.

Then Maitland-Niles basically walked into the living room, switched off the lights and said: “Not so fast.”

South African sport gives us plenty to smile about

So, what have we learned?

The Boks are winning.

The Proteas are winning.

Sundowns are winning.

Chiefs are winning.

And Manchester United are still finding innovative ways to test the human heart.

As for our friends in New Zealand, enjoy the week.

Talk about the referee.

Talk about the weather.

Talk about the pitch.

Talk about anything you like.

Just don't talk about the score.

Because right now, it says 2-1 to the Springboks.

And honestly?

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Except perhaps next weekend.

Please, Manchester United. Just once. Let us celebrate before the final whistle.