Pick SA’s five best at #IAAFWorlds, and back the Lions!

Luvo Manyonga will look to go one better than at last year's Rio Olympics. Photo: David Goldman, AP

Luvo Manyonga will look to go one better than at last year's Rio Olympics. Photo: David Goldman, AP

Published Aug 4, 2017

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It’s time for the world to bid farewell to Usain Bolt,

The man, the superstar, the legend, the ultimate G.O.A.T,

Though we are in a time of farces like Conor against Floyd,

We all know which is the greatest tale ever told.

Bolt and his feats on his feet will never get old,

He’s sure to sign off with another trail of gold.

While we are on the World Champs, in sizzling London, let’s not forget Mzansi’s (and soon the world’s) shining light, Ma se kind Wayde van Niekerk.

Funny enough, the great Bolt has opted not to enter the 200m. He has had his niggles, but these bones detect a whiff of respect (and maybe a dollop of fear) towards Van Niekerk, who has dominated the half-tracker this year.

Van our Man is favourite for the 200m (6/10), while Bolt’s dance partner Yohan Blake is at 28/10.

Bank on Wayde to do a Michael Johnson and do the ‘Two and Four’, fo’ sho

Our golden girl Caster Semenya will do the business in the women’s 800m race, and if you like your favourite ducks in a row, go Wayde double, Caster and then Bolt the Man (quadruple at 17/10).

Oh, keeping it local and lekker, put some moola on Luvo Manyonga (3/10), who has dominated the long jump this season.

He is coming off an injury nyana, but he loves the big stage. Stay with me here, folks, and go the whole hog by chucking Luvo into the four-legger of legends, and you get 5/2 for five favourites. Take it and run!

Oh, maybe spare some change on Akani Simbine sneaking a medal in the 100m. These bones have a feeling

Moving right along, to the main event in mighty Hillbrow.

The late Louis Luyt must be necking a few Lion Lagers in anticipation of Saturday’s Super Rugby final, while Rudolf ‘Kamp Staaldraad’ must be licking his chops at the prospect of changing his legacy. 

There will be no better way to say shap! to Johan Ackermann, who has put the roar back into the Lion pride.

Last weekend, we went with the head and thought the Hurricanes would have too much firepower.

That worked out well, innit!

This week, how about we go with the heart. Lions to rumble, and sneak it by six in a high-scoring thriller.

The Lions want to go all the way this time around in the Super Rugby final. Photo: Reuters

Back in Blighty, the Proteas need to catch a vuka to square the series this weekend.

It’s probably Russell Domingo’s final Test, so would be nice for the boys to give him a bit of Protea fire, before he gets fired. Eish ...

England know they only need a draw (5/2), and it always rains in Manchester. So get on that sensible bit of sauce.

Elsewhere, there’s some tasty golf over the next fortnight.

The WGC at Bridgestone leads on to the final Major of the season, so spot the form boys this week, and make a note for the PGA Championship. Beware the wounded Rory... just saying.

Finally, in the world of footy, Arsenal and Chelsea raise the curtain for the English season.

After the madness that has occurred in Paris, it’s hard to care, really. Unless you’re blowing £200 million on a player, you’re just small fry now.

Haibo, can you imagine the odds you would have got 10 years ago, if you said one man could cost £200m in 2017?

Nay, man, the world has gone nuts!

The Mercury

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