RENELLE NAIDOO
IT WAS a nervy build-up to the Boks v Samoa match on Saturday, with many not sure what to expect after coach Heyneke Meyer had chosen to stick with skipper Jean de Villiers and a few other veterans including Victor Matfield.
The pressure and tension was immense, expectation at its peak, as was the anger and heartbreak following their shocking loss to Japan, but South Africans rallied together to show their unwavering support for the Boks.
And we breathed a collective sigh of relief when the Boks dispatched the Samoans with ease! But let’s be honest, the Pacific Islanders were hopeless and didn’t put up much of a fight. It was a convincing victory against Samoa but plenty still needs to be done if the Boks are to advance all the way at this World Cup.
Based on their first two performances, it is easy to suggest that they would seriously struggle against bigger and better opposition such as the All Blacks, Wallabies, Wales, and France, with England maybe thrown into that mix.
Jean de Villiers will play no further part in the World Cup having injured his jaw during Saturday’s match, which could turn out to be a massive psychological blow to the team or a positive.
He hasn’t been in great form and there are still question marks over his selection in the first place, which perhaps makes Meyer’s job for their coming fixtures a tad easier. He was loath to drop his skipper and now he doesn’t have to worry about this dilemma.
It was a desperate win, one that was non-negotiable by the two-time World Champions, and now we wait to see what else they have in their bag of tricks for Scotland on Saturday, which could determine the group winners. THERE were 35 goals scored during eight English Premier League fixtures on Saturday, with Manchester United emerging as the only club not to concede any.
The tone was surely set when Spurs sensationally humiliated Manchester City 4-1, which was a result no one had predicted, choosing to brush aside City’s loss to West Ham as a mere blip.
What is evident is that City will not, as many had predicted at the start of the season, run away with the title.
Their home Champions League loss to Juventus must have hurt more than we could tell.
Obviously I’m not complaining, because Manchester United is benefiting from City’s woes – their 3-0 win against Sunderland sent them straight to the top of the table.
I’m not happy with the way they are playing, but a win is a win and that really is all that matters. The other big winners this weekend were Arsenal, Liverpool and to an extent Newcastle United.
The Toons have been woeful this season but actually should have beaten Chelsea. However, Steve McLaren no doubt welcomed the draw. I still can’t work out what has gone wrong at Chelsea and don’t see how they’re going to revive their season. Jose Mourinho is now in David Moyes’ territory with regards to setting unwanted records for the defending champions.
And Liverpool? Brendan Rodgers has overstayed his welcome at a club that has nosedived ever since their title challenge two seasons ago. The owners need to man up and make a call, especially with rumours doing the rounds that Jurgen Klopp is the likely replacement, and Rodgers evidently uncertain about his future. Rodgers is adamant he won’t resign and will take his cue from his bosses instead, but that could just be because he remains a deluded manager, out of touch with the club. THERE are just four rounds to go in the MotoGP championship and it’s going to be a nerve-wracking one for Valentino Rossi fans.
Jorge Lorenzo effortlessly reduced Rossi’s lead to just 14 points at Aragon on Sunday and has blown the title race wide open as we look ahead to Japan in two weeks’ time. I wouldn’t write off Marc Marquez – he might not defend his world title, but he looks good to throw a spanner in the works at the remaining races in Japan, Australia, Malaysia and at the season-ending MotoGP in Valencia on November 8.