Event of the Day: South Africa versus England
Our event of the day is the Rugby Union International match between South Africa and England at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg. This is the first of three Tests in the series between the Springboks and the Red Rose. The following two will take place in Bloemfontein and Cape Town respectively, scheduled for the next two Saturdays. Both sides have lost their first summer internationals of 2018 – South Africa losing narrowly to Wales 22-20 in Washington, D.C. last Saturday, while England suffered a home defeat to the Barbarians, 63-45 in London two weeks ago. Eddie Jones’ England side are still hurting from a Six Nations failure where three consecutive defeats saw them surrender their title to Ireland, who beat them 24-15 at Twickenham to win the Grand Slam. Their fifth place finish, was England’s worst Six Nations since the competition was expanded in 2000 and they’ll be desperate to end their losing run today.
South Africa will be equally motivated under new head coach Rassie Erasmus, as a fresh new era begins in South African rugby. In the sides’ last meeting in November 2016, England won 37-21 at home and it was their first win over the Boks in ten years. The last time these rivals played in Johannesburg was six seasons ago and South Africa won 36-27 to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead. Siya Kolisi will become the first black Test captain in South Africa rugby’s 127-year history. For the visitors, Owen Farrell will take the captain’s duties as he fills in for the injured Dylan Hartley. We can expect a thrilling clash in Johannesburg.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the heavyweight boxing match between British fighter Tyson Fury and Albanian Sefer Seferi at the Manchester Arena in Manchester. A 10-round bout is Fury’s first since 2015. In the WBO World Welterweight Title match, Australian Jeff Horn faces American Terence Crawford at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It’s Day 3 at both, the European Tour’s Shot Clock Masters at the Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg and the PGA Tour’s FedEx St. Jude Classic at the TPC Southwind in Memphis. In a selection of football Friendly Internationals, Sweden host Peru at the Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg; whilst Denmark take on Mexico at the Brøndby Stadion in Brøndbyvester. It’s Day 14 of the 2018 French Open at Roland Garros in Paris with the Ladies’ Final between Simona Halep and Sloane Stephens. In Formula 1, there is qualifying for the Canada Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. It’s the fourth day of the 1st Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain; whilst England Women take on South Africa Women in the 1st ODI of their series, at the County Ground in Worcester. Elsewhere in International Rugby Union, Australia take on Ireland at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. In MLB, the Washington Nationals come up against the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park in Washington.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by England Rugby, South Africa Rugby