Ten years after Max Verstappen announced his arrival by winning the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, his apparent heir Mercedes' teenage ace Kimi Antonelli, will on Sunday seek a crushing sixth consecutive victory.

Feel it, it is here again! That was the spirit echoing across South Africa on Thursday as young and old rallied behind Bafana Bafana ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener against Mexico.

All Blacks star Damian McKenzie says the Waikato Chiefs are pumped up and ready to "rip" into the Canterbury Crusaders with a place in the Super Rugby final at stake when they meet on Friday.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino brushed off criticism over World Cup visa issues and sky-high ticket prices on Wednesday in a defiant eve-of-tournament press conference.

South Africa coach Hugo Broos has challenged his players to block out an expected wall of sound on Thursday when they take on co-hosts Mexico in their World Cup opener.