The last two days have provided plenty of talking points, no matter what sport you follow. From the Merseyside derby, to the Rugby World Cup, to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe there has been plenty to take on board. We take a look at what you should have learnt (totesport betting).
1. Wales and Ireland are genuine contenders
While all the focus in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup was on the southern hemisphere teams and England these two nations arrived in New Zealand seemingly to make up the numbers. Neither had enjoyed the kind of build-up which would suggest they’d do well in New Zealand, Ireland losing all four of their warm-up matches.
However, the Welsh and the Irish have hit purple patches just at the right time and qualified from the group stages without too much bother. Ireland topped the group after a fantastic win over Australia, while Wales came through the group of death in second after narrowly losing to South Africa.
The two Six Nations team now go head-to-head in the quarter-finals with genuine aspirations of winning the tournament. Ireland are 8/11 for the win, with Wales 11/10 in arguably the pick of the quarter-finals. England or France better watch out, the winner of this one will be tough to beat.
2. England still searching for spark
England fans will have breathed a huge sigh of relief when Chris Ashton crashed over on Saturday to make sure they saw off the plucky Scots. Martin Johnson’s men are through to the quarter-finals but have shown nothing to suggest they will match their final appearance of four years ago.
Problems on and off the field continue to dog England and the only blessing as far as they are concerned is they have been paired with a French side with as many issues. France (11/8, England 4/7 – match betting) have been shambolic thus far and even playing like they are England should go through. However, bigger tests are on the horizon and based on their current form Johnson’s men are likely to come unstuck.
3. Northern Ireland’s golden golf era set to continue
Northern Irish golf has never known a period like it, two major champions to their name and now the winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Michael Hoey. The 32-year-old had only managed one top-10 finish this year before the weekend but kept his nerve as he overhauled compatriot Rory McIlroy on the back nine in the final round.
The top three at the prestigious European Tour event was made up of players from Northern Ireland, former US Open champion Graeme McDowell finishing third behind McIlroy. With Darren Clarke claiming the Open and McIlory the US Open, Hoey’s victory rounds of a year to cherish for the Northern Irish.
4. City don’t need Carlos Tevez
If City fans were worried they’d struggle without Carlos Tevez then Saturday’s 4-0 demolition of Blackburn will have gone along way to calm their nerves. The opposition certainly wasn’t the best but there was enough to suggest that if the moody Argentinian left tomorrow no-one at Eastlands would miss him.
Since arriving at the club Tevez has been vital to City’s success but Roberto Mancini has brought well this summer and in Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko he certainly has plenty of strength in depth. City are 5/2 to win the Premier League this season and for once aren’t relying on one man to perform. Those days, along with Tevez’s, are over for City.
5. England moving on from ‘golden generation’
Having promised to give new blood a chance after their disastrous World Cup campaign Fabio Capello is finally starting to deliver. The Italian announced his squad for the Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro on Sunday and notable by their absence were Rio Ferdinand and Steve Gerrard. Both have been struggling with injuries recently but did feature for Manchester United and Liverpool at the weekend. In the past these two would have been called straight back into the squad for such a vital game.
However, Capello decided that he didn’t need them and in the likes of Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Scott Parker and Gareth Barry he has more than able deputies. The days of the supposed ‘golden generation’ are over and Ferdinand, Gerrard and Frank Lampard will all have to fight for their places from now on. England are 8/11 to beat Montenegro on Friday night, with the draw 9/4 and a home win 10/3 as they look for the point they need to qualify.
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