PICK OF THE SPORT: Three great Six Nations matches await rugby lovers this weekend, writes Dylan Bettencourt.
England face their toughest test since they lost to the Springboks in the World Cup in 2023.
They’re up against France at Twickenham in London in a Six Nations match that may actually determine the outcome of the entire tournament.
England fans are running out of patience with coach Steve Borthwick. The Red Rose did okay against Ireland last week, but they didn’t win. As always they ran out of steam in the last 20 minutes and lost the match by only five points. But a miss is as good as a mile and Borthwick may be facing the chop soon – unless he can perform a miracle and surprise the experts.
France ripped Wales apart last week as expected, but they didn’t seem to get out of second gear. How will they respond when pushed? Right or wrong, the French have a reputation for losing interest when it matters most and that may be the case on Saturday.
Whatever else happens, there is always the prospect of watching Antoine Dupont perform his magic. England’s Marcus Smith, playing at fullback, is going to have his hands full if Dupont does what he does best and gets the French backline on the front foot.
➤ Scotland have home ground advantage when they host Ireland in Edinburgh, but that’s about the only advantage they’ve got. Although they have exceptionally talented players like Finn Russell, Duhan van der Merwe and Huw Jones, they just can’t seem to get it together as a team when it matters.
➤ The race for the wooden spoon is on! The remains of the battered Wales team travel to Rome to face Italy. As always Italy can be expected to give their best and, sadly, Wales can be expected to give their worst. The team that loses this match seems destined to have the honour of walking away with the wooden spoon.
➤ Stormers coach John Dobson has had some tough choices to make for the team to face the Bulls at Cape Town stadium. Manie Libbok, Cape Town’s favourite son, is still out and that is a blow. He is replaced by Jurie Matthee. Dan du Plessis is back from a knee injury and he may not be at his best. The Bulls, however, are charging ahead at full speed. Something for the real fan is the match-up between Evan Roos and Cameron Hanekom – both are serious Springbok contenders and both are out to win the game for their home unions.
DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls at Cape Town Stadium, Saturday at 2pm on DStv channel 201.
Italy v Wales at Stadio Olimpico, Rome, 4.15pm on DStv channel 211.
England v France at Twickenham, London, Saturday at 6.45pm on DStv channel 211.
Scotland v Ireland at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Sunday at 5pm on DStv channel 211.
➤ The stage is set for the ultimate SA20 Final as MI Cape Town face off against Sunrisers Eastern Cape in what promises to be a high-octane clash!
MI Cape Town comes in as slight favourites with a 58% win probability, thanks to their consistent form and explosive batting lineup. But don’t count out the Sunrisers Eastern Cape—with 42% odds, they’ve shown resilience and the ability to pull off big upsets when it matters most.
Both teams have battled fiercely through the season, and now it all comes down to one game. Expect nail-biting moments and edge-of-your-seat drama as these two powerhouses fight for the SA20 crown.
The final is set for 5.30pm on Saturday and will be live on DStv channel 212.
➤ Get ready for an electrifying middleweight clash at UFC 312 as Dricus du Plessis defends his belt against Sean Strickland in a battle that promises fireworks!
Both fighters are evenly matched on paper—Du Plessis (22-2-0) and Strickland (29-6-0) share identical stats in height (1.85m), weight (83.9kg), and reach (193cm). But the real story lies in their fighting styles. Du Plessis, known for his aggressive, high-pressure striking, will look to overwhelm Strickland early, while Strickland’s calculated, defensive approach and crisp boxing could turn this into a strategic chess match.
Watch the action from as early as 5am on Sunday on DStv channel 210.
Pictured above: England rugby team.
Source: @EnglandRugby
