The Springboks won back-to-back Rugby World Cups and became only the second team to do so. Man City once again outclassed Man United in the Derby. This and more as Gary Lemke wraps up the weekend in Sports!
BOKS THRIVE ON THE COLLECTIVE
It looks like a snub from World Rugby, but their Dream Team of the Year is a team of 15 individuals. Don’t take it too seriously. The Boks would put 20 past it on any given day. It’s like the Baabaas. Yes, I’d have Eben Etzebth, and I’d throw in Frans Malherbe, Cheslin Kolbe and Malcolm Marx, but the Boks’ strength is in the collective. They’re a team, not 15 individuals. And that’s what won them the World Cup. Breakthrough I’d have Wesley Moodie and coach Jacques Nienaber, but the perception is he’s in Rassie’s shadow. The discussion in the media and on everyone’s lips during the entire World Cup was of the “Bomb Squad”, and the importance of it to the Bok cause. Besides, we’ll take the trophy that matters.
PROTEAS AGAIN WOBBLE BATTING SECOND
In the last weekend blog I questioned whether the Proteas’ Achille heel in what has been an impressive Cricket World Cup campaign is their batting second and chasing a total. They’ve scored 428, 311, 399 and 382 when batting first, but were bowled out for 207 whn losing to Netherlands and scraped over the line at 271-9 against Pakistan. Still, the semi-finals loom where it will probably be either Australia or New Zealand waiting for them. When it happens, I’d be more comfortable seeing the Proteas bat first, than chase.
NOW NGANNOU CAN CASH IN
I didn’t get to see the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou heavyweight fight in Saudi Arabia. It eventually started after 1.30am SA time on Sunday. I “watched” it on a round-by-round basis online, via various media correspondents. Most, not all, felt the MMA man deserved the points win after 10 rounds, especially given his fast start and dropping Fury in the third round. Official stats showed Fury landed more punches (71-59), while Ngannou looked to fade in the last two rounds, landing only six punches. No doubt it was much closer than anyone thought would be the case. Which in itself is a victory for Ngannou, who now stands to make more money in his next fight than he did in his whole MMA career. A lingering observation though is that, given this fight doesn’t count as an official boxing match and won’t appear on Fury’s record, how seriously did he train for it? Ngannou lost the fight but he’s won a future.
RACING’S GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE
The crowd at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Sunday, a “Beerfest” with the after show featuring Kurt Darren, was wonderful to see. Hollywoodbets and businessman Greg Bortz have rescued racing in the Cape and this Sunday sight proved that. Even golf legend Gary Player was on course. A Sunday meeting, the day after the Rugby World Cup final, and perfect weather, proved that racing can compete with other sports. The inside of the track was also packed – and a sign of the developments to come at both Hollywoodbets Durbanville and Kenilworth.
UNITED HAVE LOST THEIR OLD TRAFFORD AURA
Manchester United had gone 31 unbeaten matches at Old Trafford until Brighton ended that streak in September. And, like so many things in sport, when it happens once, that clock of invincibiliy is stripped, and it happens again. And again. Crystal Palace beat United 1-0 two weeks after Brighton did and then Galatarasay did, but Man City’s 3-0 EPL win on Sunday was the most comprehensive. No, Erik ten Hag is under extreme pressure as United coach. And that’s the price for being the manager of a club as big as United. They’ve won five and lost five of their 10 EPL games and are already eight points behind fourth-placed Liverpool. Expectations remain high around Old Trafford, but you get the feeling it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Elsewhere this weekend it was good for Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and Villa, not so good for Chelsea, Brighton and Newcastle.
MAX AGAIN IN THE DRIVING SET
Max Verstappen cruised to a 16th win in 19 Formula One races this season, after Red Bull teammate Sergio Perz crashed at the first corner of his hom Mexican GP and Verstappen disappeared into the distance. Again. All we can really do to summarise Verstappen’s season is to keep ticking off the records he is breaking. Sinc December 2021, he has won 32 races, the same number that Fernando Alonso has won in his entire career. Alain Prost won the last of his 51 victories in his 199th start at the age of 38. Verstapopen is 26 and has taken 182 races to win 51 times. His 16th win of the season also broke the record he himself set. Is Verstappen the most dominant driver of his generation? Is his dominance driving away interest in the sport? Will next season be any different?? Discuss.
