TheBounce Weekend Preview – 19 July.

Thursdays really are fantastic days in the life of a sports fan. Thursday is the day when you well and truly realize what awaits you for the weekend, and when speaking about this weekend, I think it is best you sit down to read this one.

This weekend is, wait for it… INSANE! Rugby, Cricket, Golf – all of a level that will quite literally see you salivate from the mouth, so without further fluffing – let’s get into it!

Cricket

Test Match

Thursday- Monday: England vs South Africa – The Oval – 11:30

Boom! The Big One! The first Test in the three Test series to decide all series’. The phrase much anticipated was coined for such an occasion, so make sure you are in position to watch from 11:30, and hopefully the weather plays ball.

For a full preview of this series – click here

For full betting markets – click here

Rugby

SupeRugby Playoffs

Saturday: Crusaders vs Bulls 09:35

TheBounce says: Crusaders by 13

Crackerometer: 8

Crusaders:

15: Israel Dagg 14: Adam Whitelock 13: Robbie Fruean 12: Ryan Crotty 11: Zac Guildford 10: Dan Carter 9: Andy Ellis 8: Richie McCaw 7: Matt Todd 6: George Whitelock 5: Sam Whitelock 4: Luke Romano 3: Owen Franks 2: Corey Flynn 1: Wyatt Crockett

Replacements:

16: Quentin MacDonald 17: Ben Franks 18: Tom Donnelly 19: Luke Whitelock 20: Willie Heinz 21: Tom Taylor 22: Sean Maitland

Bulls:

15: Zane Kirchner 14: Akona Ndungane 13: JJ Engelbrecht 12: Wynand Olivier 11: Bjorn Basson 10: Morne Steyn 9: Francois Hougaard 8: Pierre Spies 7: Jacques Potgieter 6: Dewald Potgieter 5: Juandre Kruger 4: Flip van der Merwe 3: Werner Kruger 2: Chiliboy Ralepella 1: Dean Greyling

Replacements:

16: Willie Wepener 17: Frik Kirsten 18: Wilhelm Steenkamp 19: Deon Stegmann 20: Jano Vermaak 21: Louis Fouche 22: Francois Venter

You look at this and you think, obviously the Bulls have a chance. They are a young ambitious team, nothing to lose and have a fair whack of talent from 1-15. That and the Crusaders aren’t the team they used to be returning some rather forgettable performances at home this year and they are missing their best player Kieran Read. Sure, bring them on! But then you look at the Bulls backline and compare it to the Crusaders and go, ‘ya – maybe not so much.’

Click here for a variety of bets for this match.

Saturday: Reds vs Sharks 11:40

TheBounce says: Sharks by 5

Crackerometer: 6

Reds:

15: Luke Morahan 14: Dom Shipperley 13: Anthony Faingaa 12: Mike Harris 11: Digby Ioane 10: Ben Lucas 9: Will Genia 8: Scott Higginbotham 7: Liam Gill 6: Jake Shatz 5: Adam Wallace-Harrison 4: Rob Simmons 3: James Slipper 2: Saia Faingaa 1: Greg Holmes

Replacements:

16: James Hansen 17: Ben Daley 18: Radike Samo 19: Beau Robinson 20: Jarrad Butler 21: Ben Tapuai 22: Nick Frisby

Sharks:

15: Louis Ludik 14: JP Pietersen 13: Paul Jordaan 12: Tim Whitehead 11: Lwazi Mvovo 10: Frederic Michalak 9: Charl McLeod 8: Ryan Kankowski 7: Marcell Coetzee 6: Keegan Daniel 5: Anton Bressler 4: Willem Alberts 3: Jannie du Plessis 2: Bismarck du Plessis 1: Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements:

16: Craig Burden 17: Wiehahn Herbst 18: Steven Sykes 19: Jacques Botes 20: Cobus Reinach 21: Meyer Bosman 22: Odwa Ndungane

Go on Sharks! I was in two minds when it came to writing this. I genuinely think the Sharks can win this one, but every time I back them they seem to disappoint. Not this time though, Reds are without Cooper and even though the Sharks haven’t got Steyn and Lambie, they have a shit hot forward pack and an exciting backline. Onwards to Newlands boys – do us proud!

Click here for a variety of bets for this match.

Golf

The Open

Thursday – Sunday: Royal Lytham & St Anne’s – 09:45

If there wasn’t enough already on, we have The Open too. An amazing tournament held in an amazing sporting environment where the winner will only be decided right at the death.

For a full preview on the event – click here.

There is of course still some Tour de France to enjoy along with all of this so make some plans with your mates now, you don’t want to miss any of the above!