This week Gary Lemke has a look at the world champion Springboks making their return to action since lifting the Rugby World Cup, while at home the Bulls are favourites to lift the URC trophy.
NO SUCH THING AS A WEAK BOKS
The world champions, the Springboks, are taking on Wales in London on Saturday. Who said rugby wasn’t a global sport? The last time the Boks played the Welsh at Twickenham was during the 2015 RWC, with South Africa winning 23-19.
The margin might well be similar this time round given the absence of Bulls players and the juggling act Rassie Erasmus is performing. Still, the Boks have plenty of firepower, with four new caps in the 23-man squad, captained by Pieter Steph du Toit. Perhaps just reward for his extraterrestrial effort in the Rugby World Cup final.
Excitement all around as coach Rassie Erasmus names the first Bok squad for the year! 🤩
— Springboks (@Springboks) June 18, 2024
Four debutants and 50 up for a stalwart! 🇿🇦
More at the following link: https://t.co/7LSmiNQAfp#Springboks#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/VqkeFAEr00
HOME COMFORTS POINT TO BULLS WIN
It would take a Herculean effort for the Glasgow Warriors to beat the Bulls in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship final at Loftus. The Scottish franchise left it all out on the park in beating tournament favourites Munster away and now, a week later, have had to travel to South Africa – Pretoria, nogal – and play a Bulls team high on confidence and with their ardent fans cheering them on.
The Warriors will live up to their name, but you have to think that they need to be 10 points ahead with 15 minutes to go, before both fatigue and altitude gets to them.
UFC SIMMERS BEFORE BOILING OVER
With the announcement of Dricus du Plessis’s UFC middleweight title defence against Israel Adesanya for 17 August, the hype and trash talk will ramp up in the next eight weeks. However, such is the frequency of the sport’s schedule that there’s plenty happening before then.
One of the men Du Plessis beat to get a title shot was Robert Whittaker. The former champ with a 26-7 record, headlines Fight Night in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, where he’s favourite to beat Ikram Aliskerov, Du Plessis no doubt will be watching closely for a potential rematch.
All business from The Reaper 💀@RobWhittakerMMA weighs-in at 186lbs!
— UFC (@ufc) June 21, 2024
[ #UFCSaudiArabia | TOMORROW on ABC | 3pmET/12pmPT | #RiyadhSeason ] pic.twitter.com/efVJZUAxBi
TO BAT OR BOWL? THAT IS THE QUESTION
Men’s cricket’s T20 World Cup rolls on and there’s a chance that by the time you read this, you’ll know the result of the Super Eight showdown between England and the Proteas. The other two teams in the group – West Indies and the USA – meet on Saturday.
It’s been a tough tournament to predict, and probably even tougher for a captain to decide whether to bat or bowl after winning the toss. However, the bowlers seem to be winning the battle. There have been “only” six scores of 190 runs or more, while 12 times a side has been bowled out for under 100. In that context, Quinton de Kock’s 74 runs off 40 balls against the USA couldn’t have come soon enough for the Proteas.
🏏 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐃𝐀𝐘 | #SAvENG
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 21, 2024
Today we take on the defending champs! 👊
Watch our boys in 🟢🟡 go head-to-head with England in St Lucia as we look to maintain our unbeaten T20 World Cup campaign.
🗓️ 21 June
🏟 Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, St Lucia
🕚 16:30 CAT
📺… pic.twitter.com/xI6H43mGpp
VERSTAPPEN LOOKING TO REIGN IN SPAIN
After the monotony of Monaco came the chaos of Canada as Formula One showed both its faces. This weekend we’re in Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix and the crowds will be cheering for Carlos Saintz, although it’s unfathomable how the Ferrari can be so good one race, and so poor the next.
However, despite Max Verstappen’s six wins from nine races, there have been indications that the pack have a glimmer of hope. The Ferraris of Saintz and Charl Leclerc, and the McLaren of Lando Norris have given Verstappen and Red Bull something to think about. However, it’s a track that suits Red Bull and last year Verstappen beat off Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in their Mercedes’ by 24 seconds. Is win No7 out of 10 races loading?
OLYMPIC ENTRY ON THE LINE FOR BLITZBOKS
The Blitzboks will be strong favourites to book their ticket to the Paris Olympics this weekend when they compete for the final spot up for grabs in the competition. The irony is that should they win and go on to represent Team SA in the Games, they will have a strong medal shout.
They should win their group matches against Mexico, Tonga and Chile while realistically it should be between the Blitzboks and Great Britain to pick up the last qualifying spot.
The #Blitzboks are all set for an important weekend at the Monaco Repechage 💪#PoweredByUnity pic.twitter.com/UzEuZydNEs
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) June 20, 2024
ALSO ON THE MENU …
Copa America, the South American equivalent of the Euros, kicks off this weekend and again the bragging rights should go to either Argentina or Brazil … the women’s Proteas put up a much better fight against India, but still lost the second ODI and will be hoping to avoid a series whitewash.
There were four centurions in the midweek match … Racing’s Grade 3 Langerman has attracted a small, but quality field of eight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. Record-beaking freshman sire One World has three in the race, including the odds-on One Stripe.
