JOHANNESBURG - The race for the Formula One title is back on the cards, with the prancing horse threatening a royal comeback similar to the 2017 efforts of the very team - and driver - that they are in pursuit of.
This weekend’s action is at the famous Autodromo Nazionale Monza, which many a petrol head regard as the embodiment of all things va va voom. It’s a track that combines speed and skill and has served up plenty of treats over the years.
Surely there will be a response from Lewis Hamilton, but Ferrari will be looking for one, if not two podium positions. The Bones see Ferrari taking it at Monza, purely based on the speed shown last weekend - and the momentum going into this one. Max ‘your boy’ Verstappen will also put in a good show, as he usually does, so maybe sneak him into your place bets.
Next up is the English Premiership, which has a bunch of banker games one can climb in on. Leicester are at the dladla against the people’s favourite and Scouse pride, Liverpool. The visitors are going for four on the trot, and are hoping to maintain their standing at the top of the table. I fancy Leicester to upset a couple of teams this season, but maybe not tomorrow. I do see the home span scoring a goal, though, in a losing effort.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are a team on an early charge this season, and host Bournemouth. The Blues should win - a couple of goals is the way to go here, kids. Everton are at home to Huddersfield, and we reckon the Toffees should notching up a third win on the trot at Goodison Park, across all competitions.
West Ham welcome Wolves to the Olympic stadium, and this game should get the Hammers up and running. They will be hoping to begin to capture the old glory of Upton Park. That is a ground the fans surely miss, because even non supporters of the team miss that joint, and the blissful melody of bubbles blowin’ everywhere. Go for the fellas in claret and blue, if only for nostalgia.
#Seb5: ‘Everybody can feel or sense that there’s something special going on here’ #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/mHn36Jx9nC
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) August 30, 2018
The blue side of Manchester will be eager to show their bounce back ability after dropping points last week, so Newcastle may need to brace themselves for a real snot klap, in tomorrow’s late-night takeaway. As good as City are, they not quite the same slick machine without the Belgium Boss Kevin de Bruyne.
Other teams should make hay whilst they can, and try to open up a points gap on the defending champions. We also have the MTN8 Cup second leg between Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport, with the cheese boys going in as slight favourites, thanks to two away goals in the first leg. That advantage will be nullified if SuperSport win with any score. Now that is a possibility we like, and we say back the visitors +draw at 8/10, sit back and enjoy.
There’s also some lekker Currie Cup action on the go. After last weekend one must admit the Sharks look primed to go through the cup unbeaten, and we are backing them to do just that. The Saaarks (we miss you Ashwin) travel to the Cheetahs 2.0 and, in the spirit of 2 and 0, we say 20 points should be the margin of victory.
Then it is Pumas versus Western Province, with the home team having already reached their quota of wins for the campaign. The visitors won’t have it easy, but will surely do the business required to maintain the position on the log. Go for the Province guys by two tries, but watch out if the bookies have a ludicrous handicap.
Lastly, we have the Bulls at Loftus hosting the might of the Lions. This will be the pick of the weekend’s local dishes, and should serve up a cracking game of running rugga. The home team is not quite the same outfit without Johnny Mitch unfortunately, so we say back the Lions to win this close encounter by 10 or less points.