Cheetahs (1/11) too fierce for the Leopards (7/1)

Leopards vs Cheetahs, Currie Cup, Saturday 3rd September, Olen Park

Cheetahs to run over the Leopards here

The Leopards play host to the under-fire Cheetahs on Saturday evening in Potchefstroom.  Naka Drotske’s men will have seven different kinds of smoke up their rear end after last week’s defeat to Griquas and nothing less than a cricket score victory will be considered a success.

To Win (80 Min)
Leopards  7/1
Cheetahs 1/11
Draw 33/1

Handicap Betting:
Leopards (+16.5) 9/10
Cheetahs (-16.5) 9/10
There are 7 different handicaps available at Hollywoodbets.net!

Much has been made of the Leopards improved showing in 2011.  They have covered the handicap in all but one of their encounters thus far, but I can’t see this continuing against the Cheetahs.  Leon Boshoff has developed a decent squad who seem incredibly keen to run the ball at any given opportunity.  The men from Potch must be given credit for the way in which they have restricted the bigger unions, but as we hit the halfway mark in Currie Cup 2011, their depth is being tested.  Their performance against the Bulls last weekend wasn’t as close as the scoreboard reflected, with the Bulls failing to convert the huge amount of territory and possession into points.  The Leopards had to make a massive amount of tackles to stay in the game, but eventually it took its tool, and they were unable to hold the Bulls back for the full 80 minutes.

The Currie Cup is the only trophy that means anything in Bloemfontein. It’s as simple as that. Naka Drotske knows this more than anyone, having experienced success both as a player and coach, he will have no problem getting his players to realise this. The Cheetahs come into this fixture on the back of a defeat to Griquas. The way in which they fell apart in the last ten minutes would have been worrying for management, and one could assume that some harsh words have been spoken to the squad. Expect a big performance from the visitors as they will be looking to get their campaign back on track.

TEAM NEWS:
The big talking point has been the inclusion of school boy prodigy, Johan Goosen, getting his first start for the Cheetahs at flyhalf.  Goosen is known for his big boot and excellent running game and should fit perfectly into the Cheetahs set up.  If his performances for the Baby Boks are an anything to go by, this boy is the real deal.
Hennie Daniller returns at 15 and Phillip Burger gets a rare start on the wing.

The Leopards have made two changes to their run on side, with a switch at scrumhalf and hooker.

Team Line-ups:
Platinum Leopards:
15 George Tossel, 14 Hoffman Maritz, 13 Jovan Bowles, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht, 11 Vainon Willis, 10 Wesley Dunlop, 9 Whestley Moolman, 8 Morné Hanekom (captain), 7 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 6 Siya Mdaka, 5 Brad Mockford, 4 Brendan Snyman, 3 Stefan Bezuidenhout, 2 Marius Fourie, 1 BG Uys.

Replacements: 16 Jacques Moller, 17 Dewald Coetzee, 18 Roan van Heerden, 19 Juan Pretorius, 20 Robert Kruger, 21 Hennie Skorbinski, 22 Clayton Durand.

Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Philip Burger, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Philip Snyman, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Pieter van Zyl, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Johan Wessels, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Riaan Smit.

VERDICT: Cheetahs (-19.5) 13/10
The Leopards will have to pull out all the stocks to keep the score difference within 20 points.  This seems to be one of those fixtures where you have to search for some value.  Looking through the different markets, the only one that really sticks out is a Cheetahs try as the first scoring play at 26/10.  I’m confident the Cheetahs will cover all the handicaps this weekend and the -19.5 looks to be where the shrewd money is at 13/10.

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Prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices are subject to change.

Bulls (9/10) to Ignite Loftus

Blue Bulls vs Sharks, Currie Cup, Saturday 3rd September, Loftus Versveld

Michalak - Key for the Sharks

The Blue Bulls host the Sharks at Loftus on Saturday, as the two go head to head in the Currie Cup game of the weekend. The Blue Bulls scraped a victory over the Leopards last weekend, while the Sharks went down 28-19 to the table topping Lions. The Sharks will need to repeat the 35-16 thrashing they issued to the Bulls in the first round of matches in order to deal with the Blou-Trein at Loftus on Saturday.

To Win (80 Min)
Blue Bulls 9/10
Sharks 1/1
Draw 22/1

Judging by past results at Loftus, the Sharks are no newcomer when it comes to winning on the Blue Bull's home turf. In their last five Currie Cup trips to Loftus, the Sharks have been victorious in three of them, while the Bulls boast the latest victory in 2010. One important fact to get out of these past matches is that in the last World Cup year, 2007, the Sharks beat the Bulls 18-26 at Loftus.

2010: Bulls 40-34 Sharks
2009: Bulls 23-29 Sharks
2008: Bulls 35-14 Sharks
2007: Bulls 18-26 Sharks
2006: Bulls 28-37 Sharks

The Sharks are under a bit of pressure after their loss to the Lions last weekend, where discipline and attacking options were really lacking. John Plumtree has emphasised that these areas have been worked on in the past week, as they are vital in the Sharks winning over the bigger unions. The Sharks will carry confidence knowing they issued a hiding to the Bulls in the first round of matches, as well as in the Super Rugby competition.

The Blue Bulls have had a very scrappy season so far, and it showed with their 28-20 win over the Leopards. With only three tries in this match, they missed out on a vital bonus point, something that is golden to them at this stage of the campaign. The Bulls are sitting sixth on the log, and they will need to shown the form of Bulls rugby from the past, where the Currie Cup was the competition they dominated. Coach Pine Pienaar has recognized that they made too many mistakes last week, and consistency is where the Bulls are lacking currently. They are expecting the Sharks to bring a physical game on Saturday, and they will need to match it in order to please the Loftus faithful.

Team News:
The Bulls will be happy that their Springboks Dewald Potgieter and Bjorn Basson return to the starting line-up, as well as lock Juande Kruger - who replaces Fudge Mabeta. 

The Sharks will be without Springbok 8th man Ryan Kankowski, as he has been ruled out due to a broken thumb. However he will be replaced with another Springbok in the form of Jean Deysel. Keegan Daniel has successfully recovered from his ankle injury, and will start on Saturday. Jandre Marais and Eugene van Staden make a return to the starting line-up, while Anton Bresler and Wiehan Herbst move to the bench.

Bulls Line-Up:
Jurgen Visser, Akona Ndungane, Zane Kirchner, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Louis Fouché, Jano Vermaak, CJ Stander, Dewald Potgieter, Warwick Tecklenburg, Juandré Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha (captain), Dean Greyling.

Replacements: Willie Wepener, Rossouw de Klerk, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Arno Botha, Dustin Jinka, Francois Brummer, Francois Venter.

Sharks Line-Up:

Sharks team: Louis Ludik, Sibusiso Sithole, Stefan Terblanche, Meyer Bosman, Lwazi Mvovo, Frederic Michalak, Charl McLeod, Jean Deysel, Marcell Coetzee, Keegan Daniel (captain), Ross Skeate, Jandre Marais, Eugene van Staden, Craig Burden, Dale Chadwick.

Replacements: Kyle Cooper, Wiehahn Herbst, Anton Bresler, Alistair Hargreaves, Jacques Botes, Conrad Hoffmann, Adrian Jacobs

TOP BET: Halftime-Fulltime Double SHARKS-SHARKS 37/20

So far this season, as well as in the 1st game against the Bulls, when the Sharks are leading at halftime, they have managed to convert this to a win at full-time. At 37/20, it's more value than the outright win if the Sharks are to pull off a victory in this match.

VERDICT: SHARKS (1/1)
The Sharks have shown they are capable of beating the Bulls at Loftus, and although they lost to the Lions this past weekend, that same Lions side dominated the Blue Bulls at this very ground at the beginning of August. Michalak has shown to be the key in implementing the Sharks strategic plans, and he has been targeted by the Bulls as the man to watch in this match. If he can see out the 80 minutes, he could be the difference between a Sharks victory, or a home triumph.

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Prices are correct at time of writing. Prices are subject to change.

Pumas (13/2) to Out-Muscle the Lions (1/10)

Pumas vs Golden Lions, Currie Cup, Friday 2nd September, Witbank

If ever there was a game to have a strike on, it’s the Currie Cup clash between the Pumas and Lions this Friday night. The Lions head up the log with 6 wins from 7 outings, whilst the Pumas have yet to record a single victory. Going on this, one could safely assume that the Lions will continue their march against the lowly Pumas, but this is no ordinary encounter.

Pumas to show their muscle in Witbank

To Win (80 Min)
Pumas 13/2
Lions 1/10
Draw 33/1

Witbank isn’t a town many of us mark down as a must see destination, and it certainly isn’t a venue that has been kind to the Lions in years gone by.  I for one can’t see this changing much on Friday evening.  The Pumas have pushed a few of the bigger unions close this season and will consider themselves rather unlucky not to be further up the log.

The Pumas defeat to a classy Western Province outfit last week could easily have gone the other way had they not missed 5 of their 6 shots at goal. The Pumas will take a lot from their first round encounter with John Mitchell’s side, going down 31-27. Expect a big performance from the home side; they will be up for this one.

The Lions union have been through a tough time of late and credit must be given to the players for the way in which they have managed to get themselves to the top of the log. John Mitchell has assembled a good squad, but one that lacks experience and that could come back to haunt them sooner or later. However, in saying this, it’s incredibly tough to fault their campaign thus far. The manner in which they put the Sharks to the sword last weekend was impressive, but they face a different kind of challenge on Friday.

Head to Head at Witbank
The Lions have a 79% win ratio against the Pumas, having lost only four matches against their hosts. In this fixture last year, the Pumas just edged the visitors 34-27. The majority of the 4 Pumas victories have come at home in recent years, and victory number 5 won’t come as a surprise.

Team news
One can see how seriously the Lions are taking the Pumas, only making the one change to the team that beat the sharks on the weekend.  Michael Rhodes gets his first start after suspension, replacing Derrick Minnie. The Pumas are expected to name the same 22 that did duty against Province last weekend.

Handicap
Pumas (+12.5) 9/10
Lions (-12.5) 9/10

VERDICT: PUMAS (+9.5) 13/10
It has been incredibly tough for me to hide how strong I am on the Pumas this weekend. The Lions are a classy side, but they lack experience. I can’t see the Pumas giving them an inch and when the pressure is on at a notoriously tough away venue, their inexperience will show. Looking at the outright betting, the Lions are too short at 1/10, and the Pumas are all value here at 13/2. I’m definitely going to be all over the + handicap and might have a strike on the draw considering how close recent matches have been.

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WP (5/10) next on Griquas (18/10) hitlist

GWK Griquas vs Western Province, ABSA Currie Cup, 3rd September 2011, GWK Park

Western Province are the next team to make the treacherous trip to GWK Park when they face a confident Griquas side on Saturday. Griquas will be looking to build on their great come from behind victory over the Cheetahs last weekend and further stake a claim to be involved in the play-offs this year.

Sarel Pretorius' battle with Dewald Devanhage will be key

To Win
Griquas 18/10
Western Province 5/10
Draw 25/1

Last week showed us again why you underestimate Griquas at your peril. They have proven time and again that they are capable of the blood and guts performances that are needed to beat the bigger unions, especially on their home patch. Province enters the match on the back of a solid victory over the Pumas, which in all fairness was closer on the scoreboard than it was on the field. They did however show their inexperience on a number of occasions, especially when it came to converting their opportunities. Coach Allister Coetzee will need to iron out these problems if they are to beat Griquas in their own backyard.

Team News: Griquas have delayed the announcement of their team with injury clouds still hanging over the heads of Rudi Vogt and flyhalf Earl Rose.

Province coach Allister Coetzee must be cursing his growing injury problems with Pieter Louw, Siya Kolisi and Tim Whitehead added to an already extensive injury list. He will be boosted however by Deon Fourie’s return to the front row.

Head to Head in Kimberley
2010 – Griquas 23 Western Province 27
2009 – Griquas 33 Western Province 32
2008 – Griquas 21 Western Province 20

Having a look at the previous meetings between these two in Kimberly, we see that it has always been a tight affair. This was exemplified by the meeting earlier this year at Newlands which ended in a draw.

Handicap (80 Min)
Griquas (+4.5) 9/10
Western Province  (-4.5) 9/10
 
Verdict: Griquas Outright 18/10
Western Province have performed admirably this year with what is a very young and inexperienced side. More battle hardened professionals have come to Kimberly this year and left with nothing. Only the table topping Lions have left GWK Park with the win under their belts. It should be a tight affair as it always is between these two but I fancy Griquas to come out on top. I have been bitten before by backing them after a good win but I fancy them to have enough here, especially if you get the handicap involved. Of course you could always go out on a limb and hope for a repeat of the fixture earlier this year. The draw at 25/1, worth a dabble? I think so.

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Prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices are subject to change.

AFCON 2012 Qualifiers Preview

AFCON 2012 Qualifiers Preview - Fri 2nd - Sun 4th September

It’s do or die this weekend across the African continent as teams look to secure their place in Africa’s showpiece event, the 2012 CAF African Cup of Nations. With many of the continents giants facing elimination, it seems that a new era may be dawning in African football. Three-time defending champions, Egypt, may finally take their fall from grace while traditional African superpowers, Nigeria and Cameroon will be fighting to keep their hopes of qualifying alive. With so much going on, I’m sure we can find ourselves a bit of value, so let’s have a look at some of the matches.

Friday 2nd September

Libya (1/1) vs Mozambique (27/10) (Draw 22/10)
Perhaps the most intriguing match of the weekend has war torn Libya looking to take one step closer to what would be a miraculous qualification with all that has happened in their homeland. They trail Zambia by one point and will need to pick up all 3 points when they host Mozambique in Cairo. Libya has been impressive in qualifying, only conceding once in their 4 matches. Mozambique however don’t boast as impressive a record, having only gotten on the scoresheet once in their 4 matches. The game in Maputo ended 0-0 but I expect there to be chances in this one, given all that is at stake. Libya have won 3 of their last 4 at home, scoring 8 goals in the process. Mozambique have only managed one goal in their last six away matches, 5 of which ended in defeat. Sport has always had the ability to unify a nation in the hardest of times and I believe that from the ashes of devastation and despair, a story of hope will prevail. Maybe I’m just being an extreme optimist but, Libya to prevail at evens seems like a solid bet to me.
VERDICT (90 Min): LIBYA (1/1)

Saturday 3rd September

Malawi (5/4) vs Tunisia (39/20) (Draw 22/10) 
Malawi play host to Tunisia in what is a must win game for both teams. With surprise packages Botswana already qualified in Group 11 both teams will be looking to sneak in the back door by picking up one of the best runners-up spots. Malawi have proven a tough team to beat in this qualifying campaign, however they have drawn 4 of their 6 matches. The highlight of their campaign so far was their 6-2 victory over Chad in Blantyre. Tunisia have struggled so far in this campaign but surprisingly most of their struggles have been at home. They have managed 2 wins out of 3 on the road, only going down to log leaders Botswana. They have played 5 friendlies since then, winning 3 and scoring an impressive 16 goals in the process. If they can find that goal scoring touch here they may be able to make their way back home with 3 points in the bag. They could offer some value at 39/20.
VERDICT: TUNISIA 39/20

Kenya (5/10) vs Guinea-Bissau (11/2) (Draw 27/10)
Next we move onto Group 10, with Kenya hosting Guinea-Bissau in what is ultimately a wooden spoon match. Both teams find themselves at the foot of the table after what has been a miserable campaign. Guinea-Bissau have lost 3 in a row on the road, failing to score in two of them. Their only goal came away to Cape Verde but they ultimately succumbed 2-1. Kenya themselves have struggled for goals in this group, having only managed 2 in their 4 matches so I don’t expect a high scoring affair. Kenya have to be considered favourites at home but there is not much value at 9/20. The draw is available at 27/10 if you are willing to take a risk on Guinea-Bissau finding some away form.
VERDICT: DRAW 27/10

Tanzania (24/10) vs Algeria (21/20) (Draw 21/10)
Having a look at Group 4 where, with all 4 teams separated by only 3 points, there is still a lot to play for. The clash in Dar es Salaam is a must win match for both Tanzania and Algeria, with both teams stuck on 4 points with two rounds to play. Tanzania goes into the match on the back of some impressive home results and can be confident, having won 6 of their last 9 encounters in Dar es Salaam. Algeria will be looking to bounce back from their humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of rivals, Morocco, in June. Algeria has failed to win on the road during this campaign and will need a much improved performance if they are to do so here. The last meeting between these two ended 1-1 in Blida but a similar result will do nothing for either team here. It is somewhat of a surprise to see Algeria as favourites, as I don’t expect them to pick up the win they need. A double chance on Tanzania/draw is perhaps your best bet here. The draw is available at 2/1 if you are willing to risk it.
VERDICT: DRAW 2/1

Rwanda (14/10) vs Cote D'Ivoire (7/4) (Draw 21/10)
Group 8 sees Cote D’Ivoire travel to Rwanda as they look to maintain their 100% record. They have coasted through qualifying, as you would expect from a side boasting stars across the park, averaging 3 goals a match. Rwanda find themselves at the foot of the table and will need nothing short of a miracle if they are to get something out of this match. They did manage to pick up a solid 3-1 victory over Burundi in their last home match but they face very different proposition here. The corresponding fixture between these two ended 3-0 in favour of the Ivorians and I expect much of the same here, available at 18/10.
VERDICT: COTE D'IVOIRE 7/4

Cameroon (1/33) vs Mauritius (31/1) Draw (12.5/1)
Cameroon find themselves on the verge of missing out on a tournament which they have won on four occasions, having only won 1 of their 4 matches so far. This weekend they find themselves up against island nation, Mauritius, in a must win match. Mauritius have struggled, to say the least, having been beaten four times in as many matches. They have conceded 15 goals in those four matches and will just be hoping to keep the scoreline respectable here. Cameroon have recalled Alex Song, who has not played since the World Cup where he had a falling out with coach Paul LeGuen and captain Samuel Eto’o. The last time these two met in Cameroon, the hosts came out 5-0 victors thanks to a brace from Samuel Eto’o. I expect much of the same here.
VERDICT: CAMEROON (1/33)

Namibia (17/20) vs Gambia (11/4) (Draw 24/10)
Next we have a look at Group 6 as Namibia continue to look for their first points of the campaign when they host Gambia. Namibia have struggled so far through qualifying, conceding 11 goals in their 3 matches, including a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Gambia. Gambia are still in with a chance of qualifying, so long as they pick up maximum points from their remaining 2 matches. They will be buoyed by their 3-0 friendly victory over a strong Congo DR side last time out and should prove too strong for the Namibians in Windhoek. They will need a comprehensive winning margin if they are to challenge Burkina Faso for top spot of the group though. Gambia at 11/4 seems like a bet that is almost too good to be true.
VERDICT: GAMBIA 11/4

Sierra-Leone vs Egypt (betting not available)
Sunday sees a new look Pharaohs side travel to Freetown in what is a must win game for both sides. Egypt has only a slim chance of qualifying for the African showpiece but they must win both their games and hope for other results to go their way. They have decided to send a young team with an eye on next summer’s Olympic Games. Freetown has been somewhat of a fortress for Sierra Leone with their last defeat there coming back in 2008 to Nigeria. Goals have been tough to come by in this group and I expect a close affair here with the draw a likely outcome.
VERDICT: DRAW

Madagascar (10.5/1) vs Nigeria (2/9) (Draw 4/1)
The final game that we are going to look at involves the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who will be looking to grab all three points in their pursuit of Guinea at the top of Group 2. Their opponents for this match, Madagascar, will take some confidence into the match after holding the group leaders to a 1-1 draw in their last home match. Nigeria will be looking to get some goals under their belts ahead of their final group match against the Guineans in Abuja and I fully expect them to do so.

Now that is a weekend of football to look forward to. Let us hope Bafana Bafana can grab the 3 points they require in Niger and can reclaim their place amongst Africa’s elite. And that’s it for now folks, happy punting. Sala Kahle, and so long for now.


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Prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices are subject to change.

Chile (17/10) to Burn Mexico in Barca

Mexico v Chile, Friendly, Sunday 4 September 2011, Barcelona

Domestic football takes a rest this weekend as International fixtures come to the fold.  There are both AFCON and EURO qualifiers as well as friendly encounters for those countries that don’t part take in either tournament. This weekend sees North America’s Mexico go up against South America’s Chile in Barcelona.

To Win (90 Min)

Both sides equal to the challenge

Mexico 16/10
Chile 17/10
Draw 22/10

Mexico has been a strong, well organized team for a fairly long period and is seen as one of the power houses of world football. They had an average 2010 World Cup in South Africa, making it through to the last 16 via a better goal difference. They were eventually outdone 2-1 by their neighbors Argentina. They had a much better performance in the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2011, demolishing the likes of Cuba 5-0 and ultimately being crowned champions which ensured them a path into the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Manager Jose Manuel de la Torre has tampered a lot with his current squad bringing in fresh faces to add to the depth. The name on every Mexican’s lips is without a doubt Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, the youngster has been tipped to play a major role in the national squad for many years to come and has been the favorite to take over the captaincy band from Rafael Marquez. This Mexican team is on an incline and has a lot of talented youngsters coming through the ranks.

Chilean football is on a rise after going through a rough patch. Chile has always been a figure in world football taking part in eight world cups in recent times. Chile had an average 2010 World cup as they made it through the group stages, beating the likes of Honduras and Switzerland on their way. They were eventually outclassed by the tournaments favorites and South American giants Brazil 3-0. In the recent Copa America 2011, Chile proved their critics wrong making the quarter-finals beating the likes of Mexico and Peru on the way. They did however suffer a shock result when they were dumped out of the cup by minnows Venezuela 2-1. Since then Chile have yet to lose and are in a rich vein of form.

With new sensation Alexis Sanchez leading the line and recording 14 goals in 41 appearances there is no wonder Chile have moved up to 8th spot on the FIFA world rankings. Manager Claudio Borghi will be hoping to maintain their unbeaten record thus far and improve on their FIFA ranking.

VERDICT (90 Min): CHILE 17/10
Although this might be a friendly, both teams will be going to gain the victory and get revenge as these two met in the Copa America with Chile being the victors and that should be the same outcome in this encounter.

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Bafana (15/10) to handle the Niger Heat

Niger v South Africa, AFCON Qualifiers,  Sunday 4th September, Niamey

South Africa’s mission to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals continues this weekend when they face Niger away in their penultimate Group G match. Bafana Bafana are on the verge of securing a berth in the continental finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea early next year, but this could prove to be their toughest match of the qualifying tournament. 

Bafana to carry on 5 match unbeaten run

To Win (90 Min)
Niger 33/20
South Africa 15/10
Draw 2/1

Niger lies 2nd in the group with 6 points from 4 matches. They are just two points adrift of Bafana, and they will certainly be eyeing a victory which would send them top and put them within touching distance of a first ever qualification for the Nations Cup finals. This will be their most important match as their last group match will be against an Egyptian team whom they should beat after Egypt announced that they will be fielding their U-23 team in the last two qualifying matches as they have little hope of qualifying for the AFCON with 2 points from their 4 matches.

Having contested two international friendlies in the past month, Niger are showing that they will make a bold bid to oust Bafana Bafana from their perch. In their first warm-up match, Niger surprised Togo in Niamey when they came from behind after being 3-1 down in the first half, to score twice in the second half and force a draw. Two weeks ago they travelled to Liberia where they frustrated their hosts, the Lone Stars, to a goalless draw. Coach Pitso Mosimane can expect a mixed bag of tricks when he takes Bafana to what is described by the United Nations as ‘the most inhospitable country’ in Africa. They showed against Togo why for the past two years they have been almost unbeatable at home.

Having secured away draws in Freetown and Cairo in qualifying so far, Pitso Mosimane’s men head to Niger knowing that they will face fierce heat and a hostile crowd – factors which helped Niger record home wins over Egypt and Sierra Leone. Bafana are coming off an impressive 3-0 win which saw Katlego Mphela get a brace and Captain Siphiwe Tshabalala also getting on the scoresheet. Pitso Mosimane has started a new era for the national team and they are now unbeaten in the last five matches and have lost just one of nine (1 nil against USA last November) since Mosimane took over from Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira after last year’s World Cup.

Mosimane will be without four key players due to injury – regular Captain Steven Pienaar, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and English-based duo Kagisho Dikgacoi and Davide Somma – but has still been able to select an experienced squad that features just one uncapped player in Mamelodi Sundowns’ Musa Nyatama. PSL Player of the season Thulani Serero will be looking to impress in Bafana colours and will be looked upon to provide the attacking spark from the midfield.

VERDICT (90 Min): SOUTH AFRICA 15/10
Bafana have been sublime in recent matches, pushing the ball well and dominating possession. They were comfortable 2 nil winners in the first round match and are tipped to win away here.

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India (23/20) out for Redemption

England vs India, 1st T20, Wednesday 31 August 2011, Old Trafford

Dhoni will need to shine for India today.

It's the World Cup champions versus the Twenty20 World champions this evening, as India and England go head to head in the one-off Twenty20 in Manchester this evening. After being whitewashed 4-0 in the Test series, India will be out to redeem themselves with their 1st victory over England this tour.

To Win
England 15/20
India 11/10
Draw 50/1

These two sides have only taken each other on in two T20s, with them each winning one a piece. The most recent was at Lords in June 2009, where England managed to defend a mediocre total of 153.  The previous T20 was in the T20 World Cup in Durban, where Yuvraj Singh recorded the fastest ever 50 (off 12 balls), after he hit Stuart Broad for six 6's in over.

However, Yuvraj Singh is not in the squad today, and India have recalled Rahul Dravid to the starting line-up.  With the poor form the Indians have shown with the bat thus far, Dravid is the only one who has shown some resistance.  He will be joined in the middle order by Kholi, Sharma and Raina - all who have made their name in the shortest format of the game in the IPL.  Kholi and Sharma had the privilege of not being in the test squad, and should provide some fresh legs for the Indian batting line-up.

England will be lead by the Test Man of the Series, Stuart Broad, who will look to carry his form into today's encounter. The T20 format has always been the experimental platform for English cricket, and there are a few new faces in the starting line-up with Hales, Stokes, Butler, and Dernbach likely to make their debuts today.  England will rely on their middle order stalwarts in Pietersen and Morgan, both who have captained England in the past, to lead the team with Broad.

In the last 3 T20s at Old Trafford, only one has been completed, where England beat New Zealand by nine wickets.  In their last 3 ODI's at this ground, England have been victorious, where they beat Australia, Sri Lanka and their oppostion today, India.

VERDICT: ENGLAND 15/20
England are a team full of confidence, and it is very likely they will carry that confidence into today's match.  They are the T20 champions for a reason and they should be too strong for the Indians today.  With Broad, Bresnan, and Swann spearheading their attack, I expect them to trouble the Indians just as they did in the Test Series.  If England bat first, I would wait until the opening pair are removed to take my bet, as opener Kieswetter has looked susceptible on the green English wickets. You can bet on this match Live In-Running, only with Hollywoodbets.net.

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Written by @DevinH21 for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!

Prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices are subject to change.

Australia (33/10) to start off new era with a win

Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test Match, Wednesday 31 August, Galle

A new look Australian side begin their quest to return to the summit of the ICC test rankings tomorrow when they take on a Sri Lankan side that is also going through somewhat of a transitional phase. Many eyes will be on Michael Clarke, who will be leading Australia for the first time. He struggled through the ashes series, averaging only 21.58 with the bat and will be under pressure to maintain Australia's impressive record in Sri Lanka. Only one Australian remains from the last tour to Sri Lanka, Ricky Ponting, who will be looking to find his batting form after being released from the shackles of captaincy.

TO WIN:

A new look Austalian side looks to start with a win in Galle.

Sri Lanka 4/1
Draw 6/10
Australia 33/10
 
Australia have an extremely impressive head-to-head record against Sri Lanka, having won 13 of their 16 test encounters. It gets even better when looking at tests in Sri Lanka, with the Aussies picking up 5 wins, while losing only once. The last time these two teams met at Galle, Australia ran out victors by 197 runs. Tillakaratne Dilshan top scored for the hosts with 104 in the first innings. Looking more closely at the ground, we see that Galle has been a result-orientated venue, with only one draw in the last 5 tests. This was the last test played there when Chris Gayle’s triple hundred over the opening two days all but ended the contest. As is to be expected with sub-continental wickets there should be plenty of turn on offer thanks to a bone-dry surface and very little grass. All this suggests a result could be on the cards.

Having a look at the teams we see that seamer Trent Copeland and off spinner Nathan Lyon will make their test debuts in this match. Lyon will become the 12th spinner to be tried by Australia since Shane Warne’s retirement in 2007. Both Michael Clarke and Usman Khawaja enter the match on the back of centuries in the warm-up match.

Sri Lanka’s squad has also been given an overhaul with Dilhara Fernando, Farveez Maharoof and Dinesh Chandimal missing from the group that toured England. With Lasith Malinga having announced his retirement from Test cricket it will be up to Shaminda Eranga and Seekkuge Prasanna to fill the void. Eranga managed to impress during the one-day series and he will be looking to stake a claim for a spot in the test team.

BEST BET: Ricky Ponting top Australian batsman (3/1)

While many may doubt whether Ponting still has the capabilities to cut it at the top level of the sport I still believe that he has plenty to offer Australia’s middle order. His experience of Sri Lankan conditions will be of utmost importance to his teammates during this tour. I expect him to play with the freedom of old, having unburdened himself from the shackles of captaincy. One last fact to note, the last time Ricky Ponting played a Test series not as captain, against India in 2003-04, he made two double-centuries and averaged 100.85. Freedom.

VERDICT: DRAW 6/10

You may be wondering why I’m predicting a draw on a pitch that has generally produced a result over the years. Well a quick glance at the weather predictions changed my point of view on the whole situation. With rain predicted for all 5 days it will be a miracle to get a result from this one. So there you have it. If things do get close, I’ve got this rain dance that works all the time. 50% of the time.

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Written by @CommodoreVegas for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!

The clock is ticking Wenger

What a terrible month for the people of North London. As if dealing with their worldly belongings either being looted or set alight, now it seems their beloved football teams are going up in flames as well. For anyone that follows the Premier League you must be well aware of the lambasting the North Londoners took at the hands of the city of Manchester over the weekend. Where did it all go wrong? In a day and age where success is bought not gained Tottenham and Arsenal risk falling behind the pack with their inability and unwillingness to splash the cash. It comes as no surprise to me that the current top 4, albeit after only 3 games, is made up of those that have spent the most over the summer, not those who have the best youth academy. If having the best academy determined the level of a clubs success then West Ham would’ve been a constant member of the top 4 and may even have had some of that European glory that @TheBig_Sam longs for. We all know better though. It is clear for all to see, perhaps not Arsene Wenger that Arsenal Football club have drifted slowly into the dangerous waters of feeder club territory and the sharks in the water smell blood and have been mercilessly begun to pick them apart.

Can Wenger put out the fires burning in North London?

Gone are the days of selling players that were past their prime and getting a good deal for the club. There is no doubt that Wenger has a sterling track record when it came offloading talent at the right time. That policy seems to have changed though in recent years. No longer are these players past their peak, but rather entering the prime of their career. It all started with Kolo Toure and Emanuel Adebayor who were 27 and 25 respectively. Looking at this summer’s sales, Clichy is 26 and Nasri and Fabregas are only 24, still yet to reach their peak. What is even more alarming is that four of these players, either in their prime or very close to it, were sold to a direct rival. Weakening yourself and strengthening your opponents is not good business. These players didn’t travel across the channel to ply their trade in pastures new, they ventured slightly north and now Arsenal are paying the consequences. It is very naive business, both by Wenger and the Arsenal board. Can you imagine Apple releasing Steve Jobs from his role only to allow him to move over to Microsoft? I wouldn’t go so far as to say there is one person to blame for such poor vision as I can’t profess to know what is going on behind closed doors at the Emirates but something needs to change. There is a problem and it needs to be fixed now. There is little over 24 hours, as of writing until the transfer window slams shut and an overhaul is not an option, it is a necessity. Arsenal will get nowhere with a knee-jerk reaction such as sacking Wenger but there can be no doubt that a review of many of his policies is required. Liverpool found themselves in a situation similar at the start of last season and an inability to act before January cost them European football. I don’t wish to see the same happen to Arsenal. It’s just bad business. European football epitomises a successful club. It enables you to attract the biggest stars, all the while adding considerable TV revenue to the coffers. If you wish to find yourself at the top you simply have to spend money and in so doing you will reap the rewards of higher revenue and better players.

I don’t buy this hoopla of United developing a great young side. Most of these young players were brought in, for considerable sums of money. Sir Alex identified what positions needed strengthening with young, proven talent and went out and spent the money. I believe that there is still room in the modern game for developing players that buy into the philosophy and ethos of a club. Sir Alex is the greatest exponent of this thinking, with his loan policy now bearing fruit with Cleverly, Welbeck and co. This is where the two teams differed most on Sunday. Man United’s young stars all had considerable Premier League experience for their age while Arsenal’s team smacked of naivety on the big stage and they suffered dearly for it. In recent years, of the 15 players Wenger has purchased, only 2 have had any Premier League experience and it has been reflected in their ability to cope with the demands of the English game. I don’t advocate buying a full squad of stars, as has been the case for some clubs, no names mentioned, but what I cannot fathom is how Wenger can continue to commit the same mistakes year after year, with no attempt to rectify them. The closest structure to Arsenal is that of Barcelona, who have prided themselves on developing great players over the years, but even they realise that spending money is a necessity in the modern game. They have spent large sums of money when required to supplement what is already an extremely talented squad.

Man United versus Arsenal is a match that has produced a great rivalry down the years, between the players and the coaches. Who can forget pizzagate, Martin Keowns attack on Ruud Van Nistelrooy and the Viera/Keane rivalry? Those are moments that are etched into my memory and although the scoreline will be hard to forget there was only one memory that will stick with me after Sunday’s match. The biggest indication on how far Arsenal and Wenger’s stocks have fallen was the post-match interview with Sir Alex Ferguson. I have seen many emotions in a Fergie interview over the years but this was the first time I had see him pity the opposition. Here was one of the most competitive men the world has ever seen wishing his team to stop scoring. Oh how the mighty have fallen. The sporting world is littered with champions that stayed on for longer than they should of and I sincerely hope that Wenger can steer clear of that bracket. Arsenal football club needs a fundamental change in their philosophies and perhaps even their personnel. I just hope they realise it sooner rather than later because the clock is ticking.

Written by @CommodoreVegas for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!

Auxerre (21/10) to axe down Nancy

Auxerre vs Nancy, French Cup, Tuesday 30th August, Stade Marcel Picot

Nancy host Auxerre at Marcel Picot Stadium on Tuesday night for their 3rd Round French Cup playoff.  Nancy have had a poor start to their Ligue 1 season with only a solitary point after 4 games. Auxerre on the other hand have achieved a victory and two draws. Nancy held the upper hand the last time they clashed, with a 3-1 victory at this very stadium.

Auxerre have been in goal scoring form this season 

To Win (90 Min)
Nancy 13/10
Auxerre 21/10
Draw 2/1

Nancy finished 13th in the Ligue 1 last season, and have thus far had a less than satisfying start to their season.  They got off to a good start with a 1-1 draw against Ligue 1 winners Lille, but then undid their good work with losses to Saint-Etienne, Sochaux and Lorient – teams that all finished above them in the log last season.

Auxerre finished 9th in Ligue 1 last season and had a bad start to their 2011/12 campaign with a 3-1 loss to Montpellier, a team they finished 5 positions above last season. However they bounced back with a 2-2 draw against last season's runners-up Marseille, a 1-1 draw with Bordeaux and a 3-1 victory over recently promoted Ajaccio.

In the head-to-head between these two sides the last 9 League games have been very even steven, with three draws and three wins a piece for Nancy and Auxerre.  Nancy won the most recent encounter 3-1, with two of their goals coming in the first 14 minutes.

In the last 5 matches at this venue:
2011: Nancy 3-1 Auxerre
2010: Nancy 0-1 Auxerre
2009: Nancy 1-2 Auxerre (Club Friendly)
2009: Nancy 0-2 Auxerre
2007: Nancy 4-1 Auxerre

TOP BET: OVER 2.5 GOALS 12/10
There has been an average of 2.7 goals in the last 10 games between these two sides, and seeing that Auxerre have found the back of the net in their first 4 games of the season with 8 goals – one goal from Nancy should seal the deal here.  If it was 9/10, I would say avoid – but at 12/10, there’s definitely value there for a punt.

VERDICT: AUXERRE 21/10
Auxerre have shown they are capable of beating Nancy at home, and were definitely the stronger of the two sides last season.  They are also coming off a string of decent results, while Nancy on the other hand will be a team low on confidence after the rocky start to their season.

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Written by @DevinH21 for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!

Prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices are subject to change.

Barca (1/5) for Season Opener

Barcelona vs Villarreal, La Liga, Monday 29th August, Camp Nou

The champions of Europe Barcelona host Villarreal at Camp Nou tonight, for the 1st game of their 2011/12 La Liga campaign. Barcelona are coming off another trophy win, after defeating Porto on Friday night for the UEFA Super Cup. Villarreal finished 4th on the log last season, and will look to get their season off on the right foot with a good performance here tonight.

Fabregas to get his 1st La Liga start tonight

To Win (90 Min)
Barcelona 1/5
Villarreal 11.5/1
Draw 53/10

This fixture has never been short of goals, with the scoreline in the last 5 games at Camp Nou being:
2010: Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal
2010: Barcelona 1-1 Villarreal
2009: Barcelona 3-3 Villarreal
2008: Barcelona 1-2 Villarreal
2008: Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal (Spanish Cup)

Villarreal will be entering this game full of confidence after they qualified for the Champions League this past week, with a 3-0 win over Odense. In their 3-1 loss in this fixture last season, Villarreal put up a good battle, but the sheer brilliance of Lionel Messi prevailed and Villarreal’s defensive line was no match for the little master. They have a full strength side entering this match, and will need a good start to upset the current league champions.

VIllarreal will have their best chance to attack the Barcelona net in many years, as a number of injuries are currently hampering the Barcelona midfield and defensive line. Pique and Puyol have already been ruled out of this match due to injury, while Adriano is out after picking up an ankle injury on Friday night. Dani Alves is also ruled out due to suspension.  However, with Mascherano, Abidal, Fabregas, Xavi and Iniesta still in the mix, Barcelona is not short of talent in their starting line-up.

VALUE BET: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE 9/10
Although Barcelona conceded the least amount of goals last season (only 21 in 38 matches), in the last 8 La Liga matches between these two Villarreal have managed to find the net in 7 of them. Barcelona did play on Friday night, and if fatigue comes into play, it could be Villarreal’s best opportunity to get on the board early on.

TOP BET: Halftime-Fulltime Double BARCELONA-BARCELONA 72/100
Currently there is more value on this occurring than the 1/5 on Barcelona to win outright and judging by the scorelines from the football this past weekend, you can expect Barcelona to come out firing. In four of the last five games between these two sides, Barcelona have managed to score in the 1st half, and they have led at halftime in three of those matches.  Barcelona are a team on fire at the moment, and I expect them to stamp their authority on this match early on.

VERDICT (90 MIN): BARCELONA 1/5 
Barcelona are merely too good at the moment, and after winning three trophies in a period of ten days, I expect them to come through here with flying colours. I recommend that you look at the twelve other available markets on this game to find the value here.

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Written by @DevinH21 for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!

Prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices are subject to change.