The Week In Sport

Monday 11th June – Sunday 17th June

The sporting world trekked a familiar path this past week, with a certain amount of familiarity about results across the board. The Southern hemisphere continued their dominance on the rugby field over the visitors from up north, as they made it a clean sweep in the Inbound Tours. Formula 1 continued in a similar vein, with yet another winner, making it an astonishing 7 different winners so far this season. It was business as usual in the tennis world, while in golf McIlroy shook off recent demons before suffering a last-hole meltdown at the St Judes Classic.

And in football, Bafana Bafana continued to disappoint the nation, missing chance after chance, with Teko Modise injuring a street vendor with a shot that left the stadium. The only real shock of the weekend came from Las Vegas, where shocks are the norm, with Manny Pacquiao losing on a controversial split-decision. But enough with the past – let us look forward, for we have quite a week ahead.

SOCCER

This week is a football fans wet dream. The highest quality of football will be on display and perhaps tellingly, it’s competitive football. Friendlies are the bane of my existence, they really are no substitute for cut-throat tournament football. My money is staying firmly entrenched in my pocket, no one can be trusted here. All teams have enough quality about them to cause an upset, so I’d stick to live-betting. If you insist on placing down a little wager, I must implore you to take a gander of our Euro 2012 stats zone, which is sure to help you make the right call. Group B is bound to provide us with drama, with Wednesday’s clash between Netherlands and Germany of particular importance after Holland went down in their opener. Teams should open up a bit as they move into the tournament, so I fancy there to be goals aplenty this week. Bet accordingly.

Monday 11th June
17:00 - 20:00 SS3 UEFA Euro 2012 France v England
20:00 - 23:30SS3 UEFA Euro 2012 Ukraine v Sweden

Tuesday 12th June
17:00 - 20:00 SS3 UEFA Euro 2012 Greece v Czech Republic
20:00 - 23:30 SS3 UEFA Euro 2012 Poland v Russia

Wednesday 13th June
17:00 - 20:00 SS3 UEFA Euro 2012 Denmark v Portugal
20:00 - 23:30 SS3 UEFA Euro 2012 Netherlands v Germany

Thursday 14th June
17:00 - 20:00 SS3 UEFA Euro 2012 Italy v Croatia
20:00 - 23:30 SS3 UEFA Euro 2012 Spain v Republic Of Ireland

Friday 15th June
17:00 - 20:00 SS3 UEFA Euro 2012 Ukraine v France
20:00 - 23:30 SS3 UEFA Euro 2012 Sweden v England

Saturday 16th June
20:00 - 23:30 SS3 UEFA Euro 2012 Czech Republic v Poland
20:00 - 23:30 SS5 UEFA Euro 2012 Greece v Russia

Sunday 17th June
20:00 - 23:30 SS3 UEFA Euro 2012 Portugal v Netherlands
20:00 - 23:30 SS5 UEFA Euro 2012 Denmark v Germany

RUGBY

The Springboks did what they do best over the weekend, stomping the English into the ground at a unusually cold Kings Park. New Zealand and Australia made it 3 from 3 for SANZAR and the great thing is, they’ll do battle all over again this weekend. Before that though we’ll have the final group matches from the Junior World Championships where the “Baby Boks” will need to match the seniors result by defeating the English if they wish to progress to the knock-outs.  Elsewhere there’ll be action from the IRB Nations Cup, but I could think of nothing worse than watching Portugal against Italy’s reserves on a rugby field. For the punters amongst you there may be some value to be had when Argentina face France in a match that has favoured the South Americans in recent times.

Tuesday 12th June
14:30 - 16:40 SS1 IRB Junior World Championship Ireland v Italy
16:40 - 18:40 SS1 IRB Junior World Championship France v Australia
18:40 - 21:00 SS1 IRB Junior World Championship South Africa v England
14:30 - 16:40 SS5 IRB Junior World Championship Argentina v Scotland
16:40 - 18:40 SS5 IRB Junior World Championship Wales v Samoa
18:40 - 21:00 SS5 IRB Junior World Championship New Zealand v Fiji
14:45 - 16:50 SS6 IRB Nations Cup Portugal v Italy A
16:50 - 19:00 SS6 IRB Nations Cup Romania v Argentina Jaguars

Wednesday 13th June
14:45 - 17:00 SS1 Int. Rugby - Inbound Tour Midweek Match - SA Barbarians South v England

Saturday 16th June
09:00 - 11:45 SS1 Int. Rugby - Inbound Tour New Zealand v Ireland 2nd Test
11:45 - 14:15 SS1 Int. Rugby - Inbound Tour Australia v Wales 2nd Test
16:00 - 19:30 SS1 Int. Rugby - Inbound Tour South Africa v England 2nd Test
23:00 - 01:00 SS7 Argentina International Rugby Argentina v France 1st Test

Sunday 17th June
07:00 - 09:00 SS1 Pacific Nations Cup Samoa v Japan
14:30 - 16:45 SS1 IRB Junior World Championship 5th Seed v 8th Seed
16:45 - 19:00 SS1 IRB Junior World Championship SF 1
19:00 - 21:15 SS1 IRB Junior World Championship SF 2
12:15 - 14:30 SS5 IRB Junior World Championship 10th Seed v 11th Seed
14:30 - 16:45 SS5 IRB Junior World Championship 9th Seed v 12th Seed
16:45 - 19:00 SS5 IRB Junior World Championship 6th Seed v 7th Seed
16:45 - 19:00 SS7 IRB Nations Cup Portugal v Uruguay

TENNIS

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will resume their mammoth struggle on Phillip Chatrier on Monday after play was suspended on Sunday due to rain. It was a welcome respite for Nadal who, despite winning the first two sets, was up against it having lost 6 games on the trot before play was abandoned. The break should do him good, and few would bet against him returning on Monday to claim his 7th French Open title. Also starting Monday is the traditional warm-up event for Wimbledon, as the grass court season begins at Queens. Andy Murray will be looking to defend the title he won last year, and is joined by 6 of the world’s Top 12 players. Keep an eye on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who will be looking to go one better than last year, by defeating the miserable Scot this time around.

Monday 11th
13:00 - 16:00 SS2 Roland Garros: Day 15 - Men's Sgl Final
13:30 - 21:30 SS5 Aegon Tennis Championship, Queens

Saturday 16th June
14:00 - 20:00 SS7 Aegon Tennis Championship, Queens - SFs

Sunday 17th June
15:30 - 19:00 SS6 Aegon Tennis Championship, Queens – Final

CRICKET

The focus this week shifts back to the shorter forms of the game, as Sri Lanka and Pakistan continue what has been a topsy-turvy series thus far. West Indies will look to build upon the momentum they have created in the final test when Chris Gayle joins them for the ODI series against the English. England have had their troubles in the shorter forms of the game and there may be a surprise in the offing here, especially if Gayle swings from the hip. Then of course there’s the far less intriguing meeting between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in the shortest form of the game. Don’t expect too many big hits from these malnourished cricketers…

Monday 11th June
11:45 - 19:30 SS6 Eng Cricket - Investec Test Series England v West Indies 3rd Test Day 5

Wednesday 13th June
10:45 - 19:15 SS5 SL Cricket - ODI Series Sri Lanka v Pakistan 3rd ODI

Saturday 16th June
11:30 - 20:00 SS2 Eng Cricket - Natwest Series England v West Indies 1st ODI
10:45 - 19:15 SS5 SL Cricket - ODI Series Sri Lanka v Pakistan 4th ODI

Sunday 17th June
12:45 - 16:30 SS7 Zim Cricket - Twenty20 Triangular Series Zimbabwe v Bangladesh 1st T20

GOLF

Finally we turn our attention to The Olympic Club in Atlanta for what is widely regarded as the toughest tournament in golf, The US Open. Rory McIlroy realised his prodigious talent last year when he fleeced the field for all they were worth as he finished 8 shots ahead of the second placed Jason Day. Tiger Woods has been installed as the bookies favourite on the back of his win at the Memorial a fortnight ago, but he offers little value for the punters, especially given his recent record in majors. Look out for our full preview later this week.

Thursday 14th – Sunday 17th June
21:30 - 04:00 SS1 US Open Golf, The Olympic Club, Atlanta

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