This week Gary Lemke has a look at the Blitzboks booking an unlikely semi-final spot as the Paris Olympics gets underway, while Max Verstappen's F1 dominance continues to come under threat.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN. PARIS 2024 IS ON!
The Paris Olympics officially get under way on Friday night, although the men’s rugby sevens was among those which started early. There had been optimism around Team SA’s first medal on Saturday, with the sevens, and they left it until day two before showing why.
They beat New Zealand in the quarter-finals to set up a semi with France. The other semi sees Fiji and Australia. We’re one win away from a bronze, at least. The only other medal chance for Team SA this weekend is Candice Lill, in the women’s mountain biking. We have to wait until Tatjana Smith in the 100m breaststroke to definitely put one in the bank, before she goes on to what is likely gold in the 200m. It’s always dangerous trying to predict medals returns, but perhaps the safest bet would be to say Team SA will improve their three of Tokyo 2020 but fall short of their best of 10 in their history. Five anyone?
VERSTAPPEN’S DOMINANCE UNDER THREAT
A week after Oscar Piastri won his maiden Formula One race in Hungary, they get to do it all again in Belgium at the popular Spa-Francorchamps. The Australian benefited from team orders issued to Lando Norris in the other McLaren and the chances are high that in a similar situation, roles will be reversed.
This is the 14th of 24 races on the calendar, and while Max Verstappen hasn’t quite reached squeaky bum time, his rearview mirrors have been full with the McLarens, Ferraris and Mercedes over the past few rounds. Now, he has added problems. He will start with a 10-place penalty, while his employers have told him he can’t stay up later than 3am ‘gaming’. Well, he IS sponsored by Red Bull … Verstappen has still won seven of the 13 grand prix races so far, but Belgium will give us a further chance to assess whether or not his rivals have caught up with Red Bull. The circuit is his favourite, so it should be good viewing.
EDWARDS, ASPINALL FANCIED ON HOME SOIL
Challenger Belal Muhammad has been vocal on social media this week ahead of UFC 304 in Manchester on Saturday night. The 36-year-old challenger takes on 32-year-old Brit Leon Edwards for the welterweight belt and says that once he wins he has every right to be regarded as the best-ever welterweight.
Yes, it’s fighting talk but it’s also pie-in-the-sky. In any case, I doubt he will win. The co-main event is that for the interim heavyweight championship where Tom Aspinall defends against Curtis Blades. As with all heavyweight fights, don’t blink or you might miss the finish, and expect the home favourite to get the job done.
Relive the moment @Leon_EdwardsMMA delivered a devastating headshot knockout that dethroned Kamaru Usman at UFC 278 👊
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2024
Presented by [@aireslifetune], protect yourself against EMFs. Protect Yourself at all Times. pic.twitter.com/ogHspuGPkr
ENGLAND’S ‘BAZBALL’ BLOWING AWAY WINDIES
England’s Ollie Pope says that in the right conditions, his team could get 600 runs in a day (90 overs) in Test cricket. They’ve already managed over 400 twice producing emphatic defeats of West Indies, with the final Test being played from Friday.
“Bazball” as it’s called, is not about trying to hit every ball for six, despite what the detractors say, but it’s about being aggressive and positive. The thing is, it can also go spectacularly wrong. It’s a high-risk strategy but such an advert for Test cricket. One would expect, that after racking up a winning 2-0 series lead, the hosts will again bully their opponents into submission.
Ollie Pope 🗣️
— ЅᏦᎽ (@13hamdard) July 26, 2024
There might be a day where England go and get 500-600 runs in a day in the future. And that's a cool thing to have"#EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/gaGtbfcPjJ
LIONS, BULLS TO CONTINUE UNBEATEN RUN
We’re into the fourth week of the Currie Cup Premier Division and already find ourselves down to two unbeaten teams. Both the Golden Lions and Blue Bulls have 100% winning records, while the Cheetahs and Pumas have lost once. This latest round sees whipping boys the Griffons hosting the Cheetahs (who will win this one), while the Lions entertain the visiting Sharks. A home win? Elsewhere there could well be two more home wins as the Bulls receive Western Province and the Pumas welcome Griquas.
MAN OF THE MATCH looking phenomenal on Henry Immelman 👀🏆#BackTheBulls | #DefendTheHerd pic.twitter.com/j1MLjx6n7S
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) July 22, 2024
FOLLOW FOURIE AS SEASON COMES TO AN END
We’re almost at the end of the 2023/24 racing season and the curtain all but comes down on it at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. It’s a magnificent programme with four Grade 1’s, three Grade 2’s, and two Listed races. The “main event” is the eighth race, the R1.5-million HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m.
It probably goes without saying, but Richard Fourie will be looking to put an exclamation mark to a record-breaking season. It’s one of those competitive days that you must include him in every exotic you take across the card. On Monday we’ll reflect on his performance.
