This weekend, Gary looks at a thrilling sporting weekend ahead which will see the Springboks face the All Blacks in a friendly, the EPL rolls into week 3 and more!
What’s left in the Van’s tank?
The Athletics World Championships wind up in Bucharest and for South Africa it’s been another disappointing campaign. As they head into the final weekend it feels like they’re a UK contestant in the Eurostar competition – nul points.
Wayde van Niekerk was a big medal hope but he was unable to make an impact in the men’s 400m final, finishing last (8th). Van Niekerk gave South Africans – and global track and field enthusiasts – one of the great moments in sports history when he clocked that 43.03 in winning gold at Rio 2016.
He was, to put it mildly, the next Usain Bolt of the sport. He severely damaged his knee in an ill-advised game of touch rugby a year later and has never been the same. Next year’s Paris Olympics offer what is, hopefully, one final shot of showing what might have been.
#TeamSA 🇿🇦
— Tromps Mothowagae دانيال (@DanieMothowagae) August 24, 2023
In Wayde van Niekerk’s words:
🗣️“Very frustrating. Disappointed.
Obviously, I have to take full responsibility. We all know it was well off par from what I can do. Also, comparing it to the medallists, it's not a good performance at all.”@City_Press pic.twitter.com/wsLJpLzyVp
London’s Friday friendly
What’s that moo-ing sound we can hear in the background? Oh yes, it’s rugby’s cash cow. There’s no reason other than filling Twickenham with London ex-pats and having a rugby international between two of the biggest brands in world rugby.
I find it a nothing game and one where the winner certainly won’t hold any bragging rights heading into the upcoming World Cup in a fortnight. In fact, apart from the money. It’s a match where only bad can come – injuries top of that list.
But it is what it is, a public sparring session, a middle net, an exhibition. Don’t get your blood pressure or heart rate up too much, but enjoy the spectacle. Just stay off the midnight WhatsApps afterwards.
🏆 Game Day in London
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 25, 2023
Don’t miss any of the action as the #Springboks take on the #AllBlacks in our final warm-up game before the #RWC#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/B1yfVhsSzH
Four EPL bankers?
There’s a full round of English Premiership matches this weekend – look out for my EPL column later – and it’s another Friday night kick-off when Chelsea host promoted Luton Town.
This one should be a mismatch from start to finish, although there are no gimmes in this League. However, despite Chelsea kicking off where they ended last season – they’re 15th, with one point vafter two gnes – they can be thankful it’s Luton who come to town.
Chelsea should win tonight, while the other weekend bankers should be Arsenal (vs Fulham), Man United (vs Nottm Forest) and Man City (away to Sheff United). That awesome foursome comes out at 14/10.
Premier League weekend Fixtures🍿#PL #EPL pic.twitter.com/batj7XBMXj
— FOOTBALL NEWS🥇 (@FootbqllNews) August 25, 2023
More Dutch delight for Max fans?
If Max Verstappen wins Sunday’s Netherlands F1 Grand Prix in front of his home fans, it will be the ninth straight victory for the Dutchman in his Red Bull. That in itself will equal the record for most consecutive wins currently held by Sebastian Vettel, who also did it in a Red Bull, in 2013.
Verstappen is already 125 points clear of teammate Sergio Perez in the drivers’ championship standings, after results of 1-2-1-2-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 heading into the final eight races. Or, is there another way of putting the sequence as z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z? Some 105 000 Dutchmen and women at Zandvoort will strongly disagree.
Will Max be celebrating again on Sunday? pic.twitter.com/IbNluXaKtN #MaxVerstappen #f1 #Formula1 #redbull
— TrackDays (@trackdays) August 22, 2023
Ka-ching Cash Kings
Men’s golf’s season-ending PGA Tour event is in full swing with the Tour Championship being held in Atlanta, Georgia. It is that event with the handicapped start – for instance Collin Morikawa shot 61, Keegan Bradley a 63 and Viktor Hovland a 68, but all three were tied at 10-under-par at the top of the leaderboard after round one.
The format doesn’t suit all golf aficionados, but hey, this is sport and gimmicks are the in-thing. Besides, there’s money up for grabs – lots of it. The last place finisher picks up $500 000 – they will moan that it’s unfair to report it as such because that they still have to be taxed, pay their caddie, manager, physio etc – while the winner scoops $18-million and runner-up $6.5m. So, in essence, everyone’s richer for the experience.
The lowest round of his career 👏@Collin_Morikawa moves to solo second after a flawless round @TOURChamp. pic.twitter.com/0KUVe8W3VM
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 24, 2023
