Gary Lemke looks back at a jam-packed sporting weekend as the URC quarter-final fixtures are to be confirmed, as Man City are favourites to lift the FA Cup.
URC QUARTER-FINALS TO BE CONFIRMED
All that remains in the round-robin phase of the United Rugby Championship are the last of 18 matches, which will determine the final order on the table.
The top eight go into the quarter-finals, where first (Leinster) will meet eighth, and then second versus seventh, and so on. The Bulls are currently second and can afford to rest players at home against the Dragons. Fourth will play fifth, which at this stage is the Hollywoodbets Sharks against the Stormers.
Problem is, Leinster host Glasgow Warriors, which could drop the Scottish club to fourth if they lose, although again Leinster can afford to take it easy. The Stormers should beat Cardiff on Friday night, while the Sharks are home to the Scarlets. The Lions host the Ospreys in a meaningless game.
CITY FANCIED TO LIFT AN EIGHTH FA CUP
Man City start odds-on favourites (8-11) to beat Crystal Palace and win the English FA Cup for the eighth time – which would join Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham on that mark – while Palace, twice runners-up, are seeking their first major trophy in their 119-year history.
Despite their bumpy ride in the League, City look to have too many guns for their London opponents (their historical head-to-head also favours City 39-17).
But they call it the romance of the Cup, and I was inside Wembley when Wimbledon shocked Liverpool 1-0 in the 1988 final. Mildly insteresting is that Palace will wear white socks, and not their usual blue, to avoid a clash with City’s.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SLOTS UP FOR GRABS
There are two English Premier League games being held on Friday night to clear the runway for Saturday’s FA Cup final. The round will resume on Sunday, and then on Monday and Tuesday.
Under lights on Friday night are two huge matches in the context of determining the top five slots, which will qualify for next season’s Champions League. Simply put, both Aston Villa (vs Tottenham) and Chelsea (vs Man United) need to win, because failure to take the three points would be, in sports terms, disastrous.
Another massive game is at The Emirates on Sunday, where Arsenal host Newcastle. It really is going down to the wire.
LOW NUMBERS ON CARDS AT QUAIL HOLLOW
The US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow is the second men’s Major of the year, and all the hype has been around Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau. Being golf, it’s rare to make a pre-event all and look good afterwards, so we won’t do that (Psst, the out-of-form Ludvig Aberg at 33-1 anyone?).
However, the last time the Major was at Quail Hollow, Justin Thomas won on eight-under par. The winning score could well be double-figures under this time, though, given there has been a lot of rain which has softened the course. Six South Africans are in the field, with Dean Burmester (175-1) the most favoured in the betting.
WHY QUALIFYING IS SO IMPORTANT AT ‘IMOLA’
Formula One stops off at the home of Ferrari for the Emilia Romagna GP this weekend, which means that Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will be treated like royalty.
Both have a tough task at a track better known as Imola, and it’s a circuit where the two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will again set the pace, while Max Verstappen’s Red Bull is there to complete the boxed podium trifecta.
It’s a tight track with limited overtaking opportunities, which makes qualifying doubly important. However, a new minimum two-stop rule has been put in place to try to increase the excitement and overtaking levels. Last year, the 10 fastest in qualifying were the first 10 finishing positions.
OTHER SOUTH AFRICAN INTEREST
While South Africa’s leading sprinters are back home following their medal heroics at the World Relays last week, Shaun Maswanganyi is the only South African competing at this weekend’s Diamond League meeting in Doha, where he competes in the 200m …
There’s a full round of Betway Premiership fixtures, and if Cape Town City don’t beat Polokwane City away, they will be confirmed as having to contest the playoffs to retain their spot in the top flight next season …
And, 3-2-1, the Indian Premier League is back after a break due to the India-Pakistan flare-up, and some of the sides have been affected by foreign players flying out, some of whom have returned, others who haven’t. The four matches this weekend include the two favourites, Royal Challengers Bangalore (vs KKR) and Gujarat Titans (vs Delhi Capitals).
