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- Written by @HDiemont
Couch Critic reflects on the Super Rugby semi finals in this week’s edition of Post Match Scuffle, brought to you by BetOlimp.co.za
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- Written by @HDiemont
In my final year as a student I was one of those fortunate souls to have my own wheels (no it unfortunately did not help whatsoever with the ladies). Whilst it was incredibly cool having my own wheels – both for me and my mates – the only downturn was the fact that it was a Toyota Tazz with only four gears going forward. With family in Hermanus I travelled from Stellies via Sir Louwry’s pass on a monthly basis. Now, let me tell you, when a truck stops your momentum going up the mountain pass it’s incredibly frustrating having to gear down to first and be required to slowly build back up from 40km/h…
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- Written by @HDiemont
I’ll admit a bias here. Though I was never a forward myself I just love it when the brick shit house, the tall timber, the big boys, the fatties either get over for an unlikely score or play an important role in the lead-up to a try – it just catches my eye more than when it is pulled off by the fast, skinny blokes alone. On that note I’d like to jump right into a few of these moments that we witnessed during the last full round of Super Rugby in 2019.
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- Written by @HDiemont
Think of kicking in rugby and your mind goes to Naas Botha hoofing the ball miles into the air or the Heyneke Meyer “liefling” strategy whereby Derick Hougaard used his right foot at nauseum. Whilst times might have changed it does not mean there is no place for boot to ball in modern rugby and Week 17 of Super Rugby proved this in no small measure. So, on this note lets briefly explore the phenomenon that is the attacking tactical kick by looking at the different modern day kicks – I promise it will give you a kick!
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- Written by @HDiemont
I strongly subscribe to a post weekend /pre-week reset. Rugby results might have seen you slip down the Superbru log; some money could have gone down the loo as the results just kept going against you; your supported team cocking it up leaves you wondering how you are going to handle the social media abuse form mates; or you just don’t know how you’re going to face your Liverpool work colleagues for the coming week.
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- Written by @HDiemont
A maestro, a wizard and a mathematician walk into a bar… Yes, believe it or not this is how things went down in Super Rugby Week 15…
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- Written by @HDiemont
For the better part of this Super Rugby campaign coach Rassie must have had tears in his eyes and no hair left to pull out. Yet both the Sharks and Stormers have proven there could be a proudly South African template to going toe-to-toe with the Kiwi’s. The Bulls, Stomers, Sharks and Lions have also all proven very competitive overseas.
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- Written by @HDiemont
It was a Steven King script, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, produced by Tarrantino and starring Richie Mo’unga as the anti-hero and Elton Jantjies as the villain as the Bulls were massacred at Loftus on Friday and the Lions almost ended up butchering things at Ellis on Saturday. Here’s how things went down in Week 13 of Super Rugby.
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- Written by @HDiemont
It was another crazy weekend where cards were handed out like it was someone’s birthday, the mightiest of them all got a huge fright at their fortress and amidst the draws there was a slow-mo sprint from Thor! All in weekend’s work of Super Rugby…
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- Written by @HDiemont
The Lions got chowed in the real lion’s den whilst the Sharks swam better in foreign waters. The Kiwi’s put on a show but there were some local pretenders as well, as Happy Feet Willemse and Dancing Dillyn Leyds gave the Capetonians something to smile about. Here’s how Week 11 of Super Rugby went down…
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- Written by @HDiemont
Few things beat the peace and tranquillity of an Easter weekend visiting with family in Hermanus. Cue waking up to the sound and smell of the ocean, browsing around interesting markets in the area and having an epic fish braai with enough Kabeljou to feed all the apostles and their plus one’s. Of course, there are a select few of us that can allow something to interfere with this tranquillity…
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- Written by @HDiemont
The theme park that is Super Rugby is well and truly still open for business and delivering weekly thrills and spills. The Sharks decided to clown around in Durban whilst the Stormers pulled off a magic trick that Dynamo would be proud of by picking up a victory in Australasia.
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- Written by @HDiemont
It was a jungle out there this past weekend. The Sharks bit back by dispatching Swys’ cubs in the concrete jungle whilst the Tahs were left singing the Blues. Elsewhere the Bulls bashed and bullied their way to a 10-point lead but when all was said and done the calf ended in the pit. In Melbourne the Wolves were finally put down.
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Steven King as writer and Spielberg as director wouldn’t be able to script things better than what transpires in Super Rugby at times. With action, drama and intrigue here’s my critic’s review of this particular miniseries.
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- Written by @HDiemont
I’m sure you noticed those people, or been one of them yourself, who flashes the Colgate whites and waves at every fellow motorist passing you in the game reserve. Or they enthusiastically greet any and all passers-by whilst strolling along the beach (often even elaborating on fishing conditions despite not knowing your Shad from a Marlin).
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- Written by @HDiemont
In American sport dramatic sport comebacks lead to epic sport movies – in the Southern Hemisphere we call it just another week of Super Rugby.
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Here’s how my Monday morning around the water cooler chat would sound after Round 4 of Super Rugby.
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- Written by @HDiemont
Couch Critic’s weekly Super Rugby and sports betting blog, Post Match Scuffle, published courtesy of BetOlimp.co.za
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- Written by @HDiemont
Here’s how my Monday morning around the water cooler chat would sound after Round 2 of Super Rugby.
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- Written by @Olimp_SA
Oh it’s back people, it’s back!!
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- Written by @HDCouchCritic
So the “P” in PMS is for Post and not Pre,but it’s Super Rugby week and I just can’t wait (and I’ll just drop a bit of Post in there to keep it real as well).
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- Written by @HDCouchCritic
February is upon us and that brings about a few certainties of life as a South African:
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There has been some significant movement in the outright World Cup betting markets following the conclusion of the Rugby Championship.
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I am coming off one of those weekends I would rather forget.
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The Springboks last gasp draw against New Zealand in Wellington have seen them installed as 4/10 favourites to win the Rugby Championship with just one round of games remaining.
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The Springboks delivered an impressive display against the Wallabies in Johannesburg on Saturday to win by 18 points, comfortably beating the 6 points handicap the bookmakers had given them.
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After a temporary lull rugby fans have plenty to look forward to this weekend with three Currie Cup matches and the opening two Rugby Championship tests.
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I usually get very involved with the Durban July hosting a big get together, however this year I had a 50th birthday party to attend so scaled back considerably although that did not apply to my bets.
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The first Saturday in July is always one of my favourites of the year with the running of the Vodacom Durban July and also the start of the Tour de France.
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Bok coach Rassie Erasmus cast his net wide when calling up players to his training camp in Pretoria this week. South African fans will have taken note of the large contingent of overseas players who have the opportunity to prove themselves.
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It doesn’t happen often but every now and again a weekend comes along where everything goes your way.
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The 18th and final week of the Super Rugby regular season takes place this weekend and judging by how much money I have already got down, it is going to be very much a make or break weekend for me.
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- Written by Administrator
This past weekend started very well for me and on Friday I landed my opening bet being 44 points or less in the Blues v Bulls game. I couldn’t watch the match, but was tracking the live scores and was relieved when the final whistle went at 22-22 meaning my bet had just snuck in.
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- Written by Brent Graham
Sports fans and punters have long been waiting for the second half of 2019 as we have both the Cricket and Rugby World Cups to look forward to.
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- Written by Brent Graham
Brooks Koepka survived a back 9 wobble to go wire to wire in the PGA Championships on the weekend. I had backed the joint Tournament favourite at 11/1 and my other main bet on the weekend was Dustin Johnson also at 11/1 so I was very relaxed down the stretch, knowing that if Koepka did go belly up, Johnson would be the beneficiary.
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- Written by Brent Graham
One of the highlights of this past sporting weekend was the Champions Cup Final between Saracens and Leinster. This match showcased the very best that European rugby has to offer and the intensity was certainly on a par with that of a test match.
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- Written by Brent Graham
As much as I love my rugby and in particularly betting on it there comes a time every year where I feel I need to take a step back and allow myself to enjoy some of the other sports.
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- Written by Brent Graham
Readers of last week’s column will know that things hadn’t been going my way with a few bad bets followed by a few bad beats. I was certainly not alone though and a good punting mate of mine Brendan has every reason to feel bitter after this past weekend.
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- Written by Brent Graham
There have been many times over the years when I have explained to my wife just how close I was to winning a bet only to be robbed in the dying seconds of the game. She always responds “all that counts is the bottom line”.
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- Written by Brent Graham
I had always anticipated going to bed in the early hours of Monday morning after watching the back 9 of the Masters, hopefully with a number of players in contention.
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