Sending coach Johan Ackermann off in style and ending New Zealand’s stranglehold on significant rugby trophies will be the top priorities for the Lions when the Super Rugby season draws to a climax on Saturday.
Up against the Crusaders in the final in Johannesburg (SS1, 3pm), this will be no straightforward task for the Lions, as impressive as their season has been this year.
They will be looking to scorch the Saders in the high altitude conditions, but the New Zealanders remain a daunting side to outwit.
One thing is for certain, the Lions cannot afford to give this team as big a lead as they gifted the Hurricanes last week. If that happens, it will be a painful afternoon for the home fans.
On a somewhat lesser scale but no less passionate will be the massive schoolboy derby in the Western Cape when the unbeaten Paarl Boys’ High team face arch-rivals Paarl Gymnasium (SS10, 3.55pm).
This is surely the biggest schools match in the country, with as many as 20 000 supporters fired up for the proceedings. Given their superb record in recent years, Boys’ High must start as favourites but the Gymnasium class of 2017 will be thirsting to make a name for themselves.
South Africa’s roller-coaster cricket series against England enters the final chapter with the fourth test starting on Friday (SS2, 11am) and the tourists desperate to salvage something from a less than happy trip to the United Kingdom.
Question marks, however, remain behind the Proteas’ fragile batting and unless they can show a great deal more determination in the next five days, the prospects do not look good.
As the curtain begins to descend on the career of the greatest sprinter of all time, there should be a massive audience for Usain Bolt’s final 100m appearance in the World Athletics Championships on Saturday (SS8, from 7.50pm).
A living legend, nobody will be betting against the Jamaican going out with typical flamboyance when the 100m final takes place late on Saturday evening.
