Manchester United's Matthijs de Ligt reacts to a missed chance during the Premier League match at Old Trafford
PROTEAS WOEFUL FORM NOW 2 WINS OUT OF 8
I’ve long bemoaned the fact that two international cricket matches are now regarded as “a series”, as the media blindly follow that narrative. So, in losing to Ireland in a T20 game in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the Proteas draw their “series” 1-1. No third T20 game to decide the boss, although the ODI component starts on Wednesday, with three games being staged there.
Ross Adair was named Player of the Series in the T20s and this was another poor return for South Africa, who recently lost 2-1 to Afghanistan in the ODI’s and West Indies in three T20 games. In their last eight matches in T20 and ODI against Ireland, Afghanistan and West Indies, the Proteas have won two games.
TEN HAG FUTURE HANGS IN THE BALANCE
As dramatic as it may sound, Erik ten Hag’s future as Manchester United manager might be on the line this week. It’s one thing losing a match – the English Premier League is the most competitive in the world – but it’s the way in which one loses that can set off the alarm bells. United were poor and uninterested in their limp 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday.
With matches against Porto and Aston Villa coming up this week before the International break, should United lose both then Ten Hag might be getting his coat. Elsewhere in EPL action, Arsenal relied on two added-time goals to beat Leicester, while Man City were held by Newcastle. Liverpool? Oh yes. They went top of the table after a 2-1 win at Wolves.
USA WIN BUT INTERNATIONALS PLAY THEIR PART
The United States won the Presidents Cup for a 13th time in 15th editions, (18.5-11.5) which will again fuel the fire that the competition is redundant in terms of a serious men’s golf competition. However, while there was disappointment on behalf of The Internationals, who went into Sunday’s singles 11-7 down and the USA needing to get to 15.5 to retain the trophy, the event drew big viewerships.
They’d shown character in clawing back from 5-0 down after Thursday, but ultimately the star-studded USA line-up came through the test, with Xander Schauffele emerging as statistically the best player of the competition. However, for the neutral, the Presidents Cup showed that you can’t beat a team matchplay contest and you don’t need to have a million-dollar winner’s prize every week.
Bringing the trophy back to the United States 🇺🇸🏆
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 29, 2024
The U.S. Team has won the @PresidentsCup! pic.twitter.com/q4hGd8jnXt
KOLISI’S TRIBUTE HIGHLIGHTS BOKS BROTHERHOOD
Most of South Africa was chopping onions early on Saturday evening after Siya Kolisi had paid tribute to his “brother” Eben Etzebeth after the Springboks had secured the Rugby Championship with an emphatic 48-7 win over Argentina.
While Pieter-Steph du Toit was the official player of the match, Kolisi’s post-match tribute to Etzebeth, who became the most capped Bok in history in Mbombela, showed what a unique bond these players share. There were heroes all over the field as the Boks lifted the trophy for the first time since 2019, but Kolisi’s heartfelt speech highlighted that these players would walk through walls for each other. They deserve every ounce of respect and accolade they get.
WHY SOUTH AFRICA NEEDS A STRONG CHIEFS
There were 45,000 people at the Mbombela Stadiums to watch the Springboks beat Argentina but 83,381 fans at the FNB Stadium as reigning champions Sundowns came from behind to beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in their PSL match.
It shows the pulling power of Chiefs, who were unbeaten in their opening two matches, as were Sundowns, in this season’s League campaign. Ranga Chivaviro had got the stadium bouncing in the seventh minute with a classy finish before Lucas Ribeiro and Iqraam Rayners turned things around for Sundowns. What the game showed was that South African football needs a successful Kaizer Chiefs. There’s just a whole different vibe to the season when they are in contention.
HOME COMFORTS AGAIN DOMINATE URC RESULTS
Two weeks into the latest United Rugby Championship season and, like the opening round, there was only one away win – Cardiff beating the Scarlets in a Welsh derby. It highlights how difficult it is to win away in this competition, with both the Sharks and Stormers coming up short at Connacht and Ospreys, respectively.
However, the home-ground advantage benefited the Lions and Bulls, who won over Ulster and Edinburgh. Leinster and Cardiff are already the only two unbeaten sides, but Leinster won their opening game away from home in Edinburgh, which already marks them as an outfit to pay close attention to this campaign.
