In his wrap this week, Gary Lemke takes a look at what was a positive week for South African sport, examines Chelsea’s troubles in front of goal and more!
MISERLY SA IN THE BOKS SEAT
The Springboks remain favourites at 3/1 (joint with France) to win the Rugby World Cup after a 76-0 win over Romania, which sets up a blockbuster showdown against Ireland (4/1) next Saturday night.
The Irish have been impressive themselves so far, beating Romania 82-8 and Tonga 59-16. Whoever wins next week should top the group. For all the talk about points scored, the RWC has always been won by the team with the best defence.
In 2019 the Boks conceded 67 points from seven games (average under 10). In 2015 NZ conceded 97 points, in 2011 NZ gave away 72 points, and in 2007 the Boks conceded 86. So far, in their first two games, the Boks’ aggregate score is 94-3.
💨 MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI’S HAT-TRICK TRY!!#RWC2023 #RSAvROM
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 17, 2023
pic.twitter.com/WWqxMoVoVo
PROTEAS PULL OFF SERIES WIN
Such is the toxicity of some elements of social media that you’d have thought the Proteas wouldn’t win a game of cricket against a school Under-13 D team after they went 2-0 down in the five-match ODI series against Australia.
However, Temba Bavuma’s men turned it around to win the final three games and the series 3-2. Marco “Plank” Jansen was Player of the Match in the decider at the Wanderers Bullring, and Aiden Markram was named Player of the Series.
It was also Quinton de Kock’s final ODI game in South Africa as he looks to cash in on the various T20 circuits. Next on the Proteas’ 50-over radar is the World Cup in India, from 5th October to 19th November. They aren’t by any means favourites, but will enjoy going in under the radar and will be a team the so-called “better sides” won’t be looking forward to playing.
Marco Jansen could do no wrong today!
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 17, 2023
What a performance 🙌 #SAvAUS SCORECARD ▶️ https://t.co/Am2V1CYgwB pic.twitter.com/73JgDCz6O8
CHELSEA CAN’T BUY A GOAL
After 46 matches of the Premier League season, the law of averages screamed out for a goalless draw. It simply had to happen. And, almost as if it was written in the stars, it involved Chlesea, a squad assembled at a cost of nearly £1 billion under the ownership of Todd Boehly.
They failed to score for the second successive game, but this time kept a clean sheet, albeit against Bournemouth. It is an unfathomable situation that they are in.
Mauricio Pochettino’s charges scored five goals in their first five games, having netted 38 times over the entire last season. In their last 43 Premier League matches, they’ve averaged a goal scored per game. Is there really such a thing as a sporting jinx?
Bournemouth shut out Chelsea 🔑🔒 pic.twitter.com/eCCkhWLmn3
— 433 (@433) September 17, 2023
VERSTAPPEN’S WINNING STREAK ENDED
Speaking of jinxes, we wrote in our look ahead to the weekend that Max Verstappen hasn’t ever won the Singapore F1 GP and that his winning streak of 10 would be under serious threat.
We also mentioned there was a 100% chance of a safety car. Verstappen qualified 11th on the grid and the safety car came in the 19th of 62 laps. The world champion and 2023 champion-elect finally came home in fifth place behind Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. And for those who follow the sport, and in light of the above, the result came as no surprise.
A grandstand finish to a glittering race! 🤩
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 17, 2023
The Smooth Operator is back! 💪#F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/9reQvOpYkf
RARE DRAW MEANS GRASSO KEEPS BELT
It’s not often a five-round UFC title fight is declared a draw, but that’s what happened when Alexa Grasso retained her flyweight crown against challenger, but favourite, Valentino Shevchenko.
This was a rematch of the first encounter that Grass won, after being behind but getting a fourth-round submission. It was another intriguing contest.
Grasso seemed busier and edged the strikes and significant strikes columns, but the Russian had four takedowns to one. The UFC doesn’t allow a judge to declare a round a draw and the official scorecards read, in terms of rounds, 2-3, 2-3, 3-2, suggesting the challenger won.
But, judge Mike Bell made the fifth round 10-8 in Grasso’s favour which meant his card was tallied at 47-47, while the other two read 47-48, 48-47.
Alexa Grasso thought she was the rightful winner of the Valentina Shevchenko rematch 🏆
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 18, 2023
Full story: https://t.co/KsziZtDmkk pic.twitter.com/OU9xw2a1VB
