Eskom got you Bokked down for Springbok Test? Here are tips to mitigate it

As rolling blackouts continue to grip the nation, sports lovers - particularly when it comes to rugby - may find themselves in the lurch with a mouth-watering feast on the cards on Saturday.

Siya Kolisi's Springboks open their 2022 account with a fixture against Wales in Pretoria this weekend, with kick-off at 17:05.

The beleaguered power utility, Eskom has been struggling to keep the lights on this week after Eskom workers embarked on a strike that left the ailing enterprise wilting - giving rise to Stages 4 and 6 load shedding interchangeably throughout the day and evening this week.

Rugby lovers had planned last week already that they would devote their Saturday to the couch because the action starts at 08:00 with the marathon day going beyond 21:10.

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Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter as recently as Friday said: "Wage talks progressing well, and constructively. Return to work is important in lifting load shedding."

Saturday's sold-out Bok Test at Loftus, in Pretoria, however, will be well powered, Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone and stadium manager Hugo Kemp confirmed to Sport24 on Thursday.

Kemp said:

For their part, Eskom has a comprehensive schedule on their website on how to plan around load shedding (assuming they stick to the time slots).

Weekend Test matches

- Japan vs France – 08:00

- New Zealand vs Ireland – 09:05

- Australia vs England – 11:55

- Springboks vs Wales – 17:05

- Argentina vs Scotland – 21:10

*Bonus match: Carling Champions Team vs Italy 'A' – 19:45

So with South Africans not reaching the light at the end of the load shedding tunnel anytime soon, Sport24 has put together a to-do list to assuage load shedding, should you not find