In the weekend’s highlight, the Boks started their World Cup defence with an 18-3 win over Scotland. Elsewhere, Israel Adesanya was soundly beaten at UFC293, Gauff and Djokovic shone at Flushing Meadows and more! Gary Lemke looks back at the weekend’s action!
Boks now bookies’ favourites after opening round of RWC ties
Following the first round of Rugby World Cup matches, South Africa are now 28/10 favourites to win the tournament. They were by no means faultless against Scotland, but it was another dominant second-half performance, going from 6-3 up to 18-3, which saw them comfortably see off the No5-ranked team.
France, who beat New Zealand in the opener, are 3/1 second favourites, followed by the All Blacks at 9/2, Ireland are at 5/1 and then it’s 12/1 England and 14/1 Australia.
Clearly, it’s the pool showdown between the Springboks and Ireland which is going to have the biggest effect on the odds in the coming weeks before the playoffs. I actually thought the Boks are full value for their position at the top of the boards.
This. On. Repeat. 🤤
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 11, 2023
The kick from Manie Libbok. 😍#RWC2023
pic.twitter.com/wPB1nhLATb
Adesanya shocked at UFC293
One of the most invested people watching UFC293, where Israel Adesanya was defending his middleweight crown against underdog Sean Strickland in Sydney was South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis. “You can be so glad I’m not the one in there with you tonight,” Du Plessis shared on Twitter (X) during the fight. Afterwards, he posted, “Wow! Did not see that coming.”
Nor did most of the MMA world as the Nigerian-born, Chinese-adopted, naturalised New Zealander (Adesanya) lost to the 32-year-old Strickland, who took his UFC record of 28 wins and five defeats. Du Plessis is the No1-ranked contender for Strickland, and would be favourite to take the belt if the two meet next.
Strickland also confirmed Du Plessis’ opinion that he himself would “manhandle Adesanya”, but now the focus for Du Plessis switches to the American veteran.
Never in all my years did I think I would see another man treat Israel Adesanya like this on the feet pic.twitter.com/w7XKnNt8bP
— Super Fan🇮🇪 (@McGregorRousey) September 10, 2023
Gauff claims maiden Slam
Coco Gauff seems to have been on the scene for a long time, but the Amerian is still only 19 and won her first Grand Slam title, lifting the US Open trophy in front of her adoring home fans in New York. Gauff is one of the nice people of the sport – former champion Naomi Osaka now has a daughter who said hopes will grow up to idolise Gauff – and the way the American won 2-6 6-3 6-2 suggested she has more Grand Slams in the tank.
Of small consolation for the beaten finalist, Aryna Sabaleka, is the fact she will go to No1 in the world following this Grand Slam. No1 in the world or a Grand Slam trophy? Online footage showed her smashing her racket when she returned to the dressing room. Clearly, she would also rather have the trophy than the ranking.
Coco Gauff went from being a kid in the stands to a US Open champion.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2023
Anything is possible. pic.twitter.com/1kce1ANO6E
Novak reaffirms GOAT status
Well done Novak Djokovic. Perhaps he has now put to bed the lingering debate as to who is tennis’ GOAT. His win against Daniil Medvedev was his 24th Grand Slam singles victory, and it’s unlikely to be a record threatened in the coming years, no matter what Carlos Alcaraz and the coming gneration promise.
We have to remember that Djokovic was also denied the opportunity to compete in a couple of Grand Slams because of his anti-vax approach to Covid-19, which saw him banned from playing in the US and Australian Opens. Let’s celebrate his legend in the remaining time that he is with us, on the court.
Novak Djokovic 🐐
— Eurosport (@eurosport) September 10, 2023
Simply the Best 👏 pic.twitter.com/YAjcwxhJDa
Binder’s San Marino spill dents prospects of third-place season finish
Brad Binder’s chances of a podium at the San Marino MotoGP, as well as his prospects of finishing third in the riders’ standing at the end of the season took a turn for the worse when he spun off the track on the eighth lap.
Unhurt, the South African ran back and climbed back aboard his Red Bull KTM, but the damage was done. He fought back to finish 15th, but the gap between him and third-placed Marco Bezzecchi has now opened to 45 points on the rankings, after 12 of 20 races.
Literally wrestling his way through the field! 💪
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) September 9, 2023
What a move from @BradBinder_33 to grab 6th 🤯#SanMarinoGP 🇸🇲 pic.twitter.com/44o9efg67o
