Op Nuweland (i.e. In Newlands Stadium) for Capetonian Rugby lovers has a special connotation understood only with a beer, friends, family, braai and biltong on match days. This match day Cape Town can boast a Currie Cup Final, and a deserved one I might add, for the first time in 12 years. It will also be the 12th time since 1939 that this illustriuos stadium hosts the Currie Cup Final, with only Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria hosting more (17). It has also been dominated by these two teams for the last 4 years with Western Province(WP) taking part in three of the last four finals. The Sharks can boast being in their fourth Currie Cup Final in as many years, each winning the title just once in that time. A stat each side will want to change as it's one thing to take part in a show piece and quite another to win one. WP are in the uneviable position of being tagged favourites come Saturday not just for them being the defending champions and them being at thier home patch but because t...

March 18, 2011 If I should have a daughter… “Instead of “Mom”, she’s gonna call me “Point B.” Because that way, she knows that no matter what happens, at least she can always find her way to me. And I’m going to paint the solar system on the back of her hands so that she has to learn the entire universe before she can say “Oh, I know that like the back of my hand.” She’s gonna learn that this life will hit you, hard, in the face, wait for you to get back up so it can kick you in the stomach. But getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air. There is hurt, here, that cannot be fixed by band-aids or poetry, so the first time she realizes that Wonder-woman isn’t coming, I’ll make sure she knows she doesn’t have to wear the cape all by herself. Because no matter how wide you stretch your fingers, your hands will always be too small to catch all the pain you want to heal. Believe me, I’ve tried. And “Baby,” I’ll tell her ...

By coming to Ellis Park and beating the Springboks 38-27 in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship on Saturday night, the All Blacks made an emphatic statement and confirmed they remain the world’s best team by some distance. Richie McCaw’s team scored five tries to four to win with something to spare, though it was nip and tuck for much of the way as the Boks repeatedly raised their supporters’ hopes only to reduce them in the next instant with mistakes and soft moments that ultimately cost them any chance of winning. The All Blacks effectively met the objective of winning the Championship when Beauden Barrett went through a host of ineffectual tackles, a major problem for the Boks on the night, for the fourth try that secured the bonus point they needed to make sure of the title. But they will have been pleased to put the seal on their superiority over their opponents by going on from there to win the game. New Zealand have always enjoyed a loose game more than South Africa has, a...

The world of rugby will be taking cumulative deep breath after the thriller in Johannesburg on Saturday but while the action was a perfect advertisement for the game, the result will send shudders around those hoping to de-throne the All Blacks. New Zealand's superiority showed yet again despite the best efforts of South Africa in the decisive game in the Rugby Championship. The 38-27 win not only handed the All Blacks yet another piece of silverware but also emphasised their position as the sport's undisputed masters. It is a status that is difficult to see anyone challenging for some time to come, meaning an air of predictability could overshadow the build-up to the Rugby World Cup in England which is just two years away. South Africa are widely regarded as the closest challengers to All Black hegemony and had high expectations at their spiritual home, if not snatching away the tournament laurels then at least winning the game. To take the Rugby Championship they ...

Moyes and Pellegrini will have their first taste of a Manchester Derby. For them it might be new experience but their objective remains the same as it is every year. Quite simply, this is the fixture you want to win just that little bit more than the next. I wouldn't say this is the biggest match in world football but its the biggest in Manchester and possibly their toughest test too this season. Each manager hasn't quite had it all their own way in the hot seat this season so being level on points coming into this fixture gives one team the incentive of developing a lead on their bitter rivals. But the clash between the managers won’t be the only head-to-head confrontation worth looking out for. City’s skipper Vincent Kompany, is expected to start for the first time since recovering from that opening day injury. And he has the ominous job of marking a red hot inform Wayne Rooney. When Kompany was asked if he is ready for that challenge he said : "It's brillia...

For 44 fights in 17 years and not one draw makes Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr understandably the odds on favourite on Saturday but he could possibly in Saul “Canelo” Alvarez face one of his toughest challenges of his career. Canelo has a win record of 42-0-1 granted the level of opponent is not of the caliber of those Money has faced and defeated over the years. That said boxing can be funny where Canelo just needs to connect one of his powerful punches and he could dent the 36-year-old’s perfect record. I look forward to see two facets of this fight. One if Canelo can be patient against Money? He might miss more than he connects but does he have the maturity to know that when does connect he has to make it count and not get frustrated by hitting air. In his favour there have been reports that Canelo is the only boxer who connects a higher percentage of his jabs than Money. Two who will have the stamina to win late rounds? A safe bet (if ever betting would be safe...

Its one of the greatest derby's in the world of football, the biggest fixture in English football, some call it the English "Classico". Manchester United manager David Moyes doesn't have a good record at Anfield 11 games now without taking three points off the home side. Its gets worse he has yet to win in the 37 away trips to Arsenal (0-3-9), Manchester United (0-3-8), Chelsea (0-6-6). Fortunately for Moyes this will be the strongest side yet he takes to Merseyside. It's a match Moyes has to win and maybe the head to head vs the two managers gives some encouragement as his win record in the four meetings vs Brendan Rodgers he has yet to lose with two draws against Liverpool and two wins against Swansea (i.e. as Everton boss). Four is the number with these two sides as a United win come this Super Sunday would make it four wins in a row. Liverpool can boast scoring first in the last four league fixtures and Steven Gerrard has scored four times in the last ...