This week Gary Lemke has look at the upcoming URC matches, Tiger Woods anticipation, Proteas struggles and more!
BACK TO SA DERBIES IN URC
No Six Nations, no Investec European Champions Cup, but a full round of United Rugby Championship matches, while for students the party starts with the Varsity Cup from Monday. A quick refresher where we stand. In the 16-team URC we start the second half of the season. From an SA perspective, the Bulls are fourth on the table, the Stormers seventh, the Lions 10th and the Sharks 16th. So, to restart things, there are two home “derbies” – the Lions against the Bulls and the Sharks hosting the Stormers.
Understandably, the two away sides are the favourites on Saturday. In the Varsity Cup, the tie of Monday’s opening round is undoubtedly the visit of 2023 champions NWU Eagles to Maties’ Stellenbosch stronghold. It already has the feel of a “final” about it.
Here is our team for the @Vodacom #URC Origin Round derby in Durban on Saturday.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) February 16, 2024
📢 Full announcement https://t.co/sc6GiAVlVx#SHAvSTO #iamastormer #dhldelivers #FromGrassRootsToGreatness pic.twitter.com/E62PBCPtWt
SOMEONE’S ‘W’ HAS TO GO, BUT WHEN?
Who will blink first in the EPL title race? Liverpool go for their sixth win in a row in the Saturday lunchtime slot at Brentford, while Arsenal are seeking their fourth straight win when they visit Burnley. Man City meanwhile are looking for the perfect seven wins on the trot when they host Chelsea. All those games are on Saturday. The law of averages says that the winning runs have to stop.
However, it might not be this weekend for those three clubs. Last season City reeled off 12 straight wins, while Liverpool and Arsenal both achieved seven in a row. This trio’s form has been similar all season. All have won 16 games, they have a goal difference of 32, 31, 31 and two points separate them.
Next up, a trip to the capital 🔜 #BRELIV pic.twitter.com/YExiGDBAfO
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 15, 2024
TIGER’S SHANK SHOWS HE’S HUMAN
This week’s stop of the PGA Golf tour is in California where The Genesis Invitational is being played. All eyes are on Tiger Woods, making his first start of 2024. This is the venue which hasn’t been kind to the 15-time Major champion in the past. He has won 82 times on the PGA Tour, but never at the Riviera Country Club. And in 2021 he almost died in a car accident on his way home, and it’s something of a miracle he’s back walking, let alone playing.
Tiger opened with a one-over 71, including an “amateur’s shank” with an 8-iron on his final hole. It came as a result of back spasms, which he later said, “my back was locking up”. Keep going, Tiger.
No one is immune to the dreaded shank.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 15, 2024
Not even Tiger Woods. pic.twitter.com/6qJQY1W5yU
PROTEAS STRUGGLE IN THE TEST ARENA
We were going to say there are three Test matches which are on the go at the moment, but, as this is written, one has finished and the other might well be over soon. South Africa’s boys were beaten by the men of New Zealand by seven wickets to lose the series 2-0, although David Bedingham and Dane Piedt stuck up their hands for future “first-choice” inclusion.
The Proteas women were rolled for 76 in the first innings of their one-off Test against Australia, who then put on over 500 runs in their reply. If it’s not over yet on day two, it will be on day three. The only Test therefore where we seem likely to have action on Saturday is in Rajkot, where India and England are battling it out for series supremacy.
NEW ZEALAND TAKE THE SERIES
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) February 16, 2024
A valiant effort from the Proteas,in Hamilton, was not enough as Kane Williamson's ton steers the Black Caps to a 2-0 series victory. 🇿🇦🇳🇿#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/7uivXRNqqV
FIREWORKS EXPECTED AT UFC 298
As we get ready to reach the milestone UFC 300 mark, this weekend sees UFC 298 take place inside the Honda Center in California. It’s a really appealing card, with the main event being the featherweight showdown between the king of the division, Alexander Volkanovski and the 3-ranked challenger Ilia Topuria. Volkanovski (26-3-0) is considered by many to be the pound-for-pound best and he’s back in a division where he has proved dominant.
He comes up against a man who is undefeated in 14 fights, an impressive streak in MMA. This should be worth watching! In a. middleweight fight, Robert Whittaker makes his comeback after being beaten by Dricus du Plessis. The No3-ranked challenger goes up against No7 Paulo Costa and this one looks a bit easier to call than the main fight.
Good night fight fans 😴@AlexVolkanovski | #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/djJPX97NGp
— UFC (@ufc) February 16, 2024
