Dylan Bettencourt
PICK OF THE SPORTS: The Blue Bulls and the Stormers have set their sights on an all South African final in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
➤ It has been some journey for the South African teams in their debut URC campaign, it started off poorly with the games hosted in the northern hemisphere.
However, once the games were played in South Africa, the momentum shifted and the debutants took hold of the tournament.
South Africa had three of their four teams in the quarter-finals. The Blue Bulls were matched against the Sharks and emerged victorious last weekend.
Now into the final four of the competition, both South African sides have European opponents to get past for a spot in the final.
On Friday night the Blue Bulls and favourites Leinster go head-to-head in a mammoth clash. The kick-off is scheduled for 8.35pm.
Saturday will see the Stormers run out in an attempt to book a place in the final.
The Cape Town side will host Ulster at the DHL Stadium on Saturday afternoon, kickoff is scheduled for 3pm.
Both URC semi-finals can be watched live on DStv channel 201.
➤ Formula 1 returns this weekend with yet another street race as the sport heads to Azerbaijan for the Baku Grand Prix.
At the midway point of the season it is the Red Bulls who have shown to be the team to beat in 2022.
Both Red Bull drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, have helped their team win the last four Grand Prix’s.
Ferrari who looked to be a force in the beginning of the season seem to have fallen off the pace somewhat in the last month as Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz struggle for form.
The Baku circuit is extremely tricky, but unlike Monaco last week, it offers plenty of opportunities for overtaking down the lengthy main straight.
The pressure is firmly on Ferrari to prove that they can compete wheel-to-wheel with Red Bull and produce a win this weekend.
The race is scheduled for lights out at 1pm on Sunday, the action can be watched live on DStv channel 215.
➤ The Uefa Nations League continues into the weekend with several standout fixtures but there is no bigger match than Saturday’s clash between England and Italy.
Last year England handed the title to Italy in the European Championship final. Italy claimed the crown when England missed three shots at goal in the penalty shoot-out at Wembley last July.
But now England have a chance to regain some dignity by defeating the team that denied them the chance of making history.
The repeat of the matchup of the same teams that contested the Euro 2020 final will kick off at 8.45pm on Saturday night. The match is live on DStv channel 203.
Image source: @SARugbyMagazine
