We’re in for another pearler of a sporting weekend as Handre Pollard returns to fray to face Tonga, Liverpool take aim at Spurs and more!
BEST TEAM EVENT IN ALL SPORT?
It doesn’t really matter which side you have your money on, and it’s actually a great event to be neutral. When it comes to team sports there’s really nothing like it. The Ryder Cup, being held just outside Rome this weekend, brings a dozen golfers together representing the United States, and 12 from Europe, every two years.
It’s been contested since 1927 (96 years for those counting). The USA have won 27 times and the opposition 14, with no events held from 1939 to 1945 because of World War II. Team Europe are marginal betting favourites (1/1 against 11/10), with 11/1 the tie.
Last week the women’s equivalent, the Solheim Cup, ended in a tie. I find the hole-in-one odds quite interesting. There have been only six in the event’s history, the last two in 2006. The odds on the “no” for 2023 are 3/10 and the “yes” are 5/2. No hole-in-one and a USA win comes to 17/10, and that scenario and Europe is 16/10.
🔋 @collin_morikawa bringing the power this week. #RyderCup | #GoUSA pic.twitter.com/atQ4KymXUx
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) September 28, 2023
BOKS TO WIN – BUT BY HOW MUCH?
The Springboks remain 3/1 favourites to win the Rugby World Cup and it looks as though they will need to get past France in the quarter-finals. Without looking too far ahead though they meet Tonga on Sunday, with Handre Pollard returning to the side on the back of his return to fitness and continuing criticism of Manie Libbock’s place-kicking.
I would expect the Boks to have a more traditional approach in the first half against Tonga, in other words, establishing forward supremacy and Pollard knocking over the penalties, before being a bit more expansive in the second half.
The spread is around the 41-point mark, which seems about right. Maybe slightly less than 41 though? Odds of 5/6 for most points in the second half looks appealing!
The return of Handre Pollard
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 27, 2023
The @Springboks 23 set to take on Tonga this weekend#RWC2023 | #RSAvTGA pic.twitter.com/gPIZIyOPwE
SPURS VS LIVERPOOL IN PREMIER LEAGUE SHOWDOWN
Chelsea fans, me included, will be hoping that Nicolas Jackson’s goal in the 1-0 win over Brighton in a midweek Carabao Cup game hasn’t used up their scoring quota. Chelsea have been abysmal in front of goal again this English Premier League season and are on a scoreless run of 270 minutes, and counting.
They’re away to Fulham, a pitch and putt from their own home ground, on Monday night. Before then, the main attraction for this round is most certainly Tottenham hosting Liverpool at 18:30 on Sunday . Both are sides full of goals (15 in six games) and both are in the top four. It’s the perfect warm-up to the Boks vs Tonga Rugby World Cup match at 21:00.
Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has an impeccable record against Tottenham Hotspur 👌
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 28, 2023
What will happen when Klopp faces Spurs' latest coach, Ange Postecoglou, in the Premier League this weekend? 👀 pic.twitter.com/yM0f9yMoeN
CHARLES DICKENS IS POETRY IN MOTION
Hollywoodbets Durbanville is set to stage a race meeting full of interest on Saturday, with the return of the most talked-about colt in years, Charles Dickens. The racecourse itself has recovered well from the torrential rain which lashed the Cape and caused so much damage to the region.
Charles Dickens is the highest-rated horse in the country (MR 132) and has won eight of his 10 races, finishing second in his other two. He’s 2/7 to start his Cape Summer campaign with another win. And he should win.
Word from the stable is that he’s a better horse than he was last season; he has grown and matured even more and this season we’ll see the best of him. Which sets up a mouth-watering scenario for the big feature races that lie ahead.
Is this the best horse in South Africa? 🇿🇦
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) December 18, 2022
CHARLES DICKENS a brilliant winner of the G1 Cape Guineas, a race won by horses like Variety Club, Jay Peg and Horse Chestnut in years gone by! 🤩
Where would you like to see him abroad? 🌍pic.twitter.com/lPb1vPMWis
WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN GATHERS PACE
Cricket’s World Cup – this time the 50-over version – starts next week, on Thursday, so it’s best to get it mentioned now. The tournament opens with a game on Thursday between the holders, England, and the runners-up from the last edition, New Zealand.
In the betting market hosts India are 22/10 favourites, followed by England at 33/10 and Australia at 9/2. The Proteas? Well, not everyone is convinced of their winning chances and they are available at 17/2 if you’re looking to back them to lift the trophy for the first time.
At least they don’t go in as tournament favourites, so therefore the cruel “chokers” tag can’t apply to them, whatever happens.
We are 🔟 days away from The Proteas first #CWC23 encounter against Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 🇿🇦🏆
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) September 27, 2023
Here's a reminder of our @cricketworldcup fixtures 🗓
Woza Nawe Back The Boys 💪#BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/U13oXd7MMs
