The best of enemies: upday weekend sport preview
The North London derby, England v Australia squared and the Rugby League World Cup hits the knockout phase.
After a two-week international break in which England fans watched both football’s great entertainers Brazil and world champions Germany come to Wembley for 0–0 stalemates, thankfully the Premier League is back with a cracker — the North London derby.
You can also warm your cockles with some international rugby, the ATP tennis season winds to a close in London and the Rugby League World Cup knockout stage.
Saturday 18th
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur (Sky Sports Main Event)
Spurs are undisputedly the top dogs in North London and pitch up to the Emirates for Arsenal v Tottenham at midday expecting a result against a hit and miss gunners outfit. Arsenal are almost in must-win territory. Expect Spurs “injured” England trio to rise, lazarus-like for the derby — but where there is Alexis Sanchez there is hope. Let there be goals. (12:30)
“Get the bus keys lads…aye the double decker ones.” Leicester City manager Claude Puel (probably)
Elsewhere table-toppers Manchester City go to Leicester City looking to maintain their lead atop the standings having scored 16 in their last four league fixtures. The Foxes have kept just two clean sheets in 11 league outings so far.(15:00)
Other headlines? Pogback and Zlatan return for Manchester United, and David Moyes returns to a Premier League dugout with West Ham on Sunday.
England v Australia (Sky Sports Main Event)
Australia put in a royal performance in victory over Wales in Cardiff last weekend, and full back Kurtley Beale even got Prince William’s personal approval in that post-game photo. Australia meet an England side lording a long-awaited supremacy over their old foes. Can the Wallabies snap a four-game losing streak against the Red Rose in this weekend’s Cook Cup clash at Twickenham? (15:00)
Scotland v New Zealand (BBC 2)
Whisper it quietly but with three defeats in the past 12 months the All Blacks are vulnerable. That said, New Zealand looked imperious a week ago racking up 38 points away in Paris –the same number Samoa scored at Murrayfield against Scotland. Although Gregor Townsend’s team scored 44 points of their own, its unlikely they’ll be tight enough in defence to put away the All Blacks. Stuart Hogg will be looking to show what he could have done against the All Blacks last summer in a Lions shirt, had he escaped injury. (17:15)
Sunday 19th
Rugby League World Cup Quarter Final (BBC 2)
England will have their sights set on the semi-final but won’t want to overlook a rising and dangerous Papua New Guinea outfit. PNG won their last three in a row to qualify but away from their home stronghold Port Moresby, England will look to use their structure and experience to control the kumuls.
Sing it from the rooftops — a hero in England and Sydney alike, Sam Burgess is slated to return for the Lions having been injured since the opening tournament fixture against Australia. You can get up early or catch the replay once the cockerel is up. (05.00)
Women’s Cricket — Australia v England 2nd T20 international, Sydney
England’s hopes of retaining the urn lay in ashes after Friday’s defeat in the 1st Twenty20 international gave Australia an unassailable lead under the new points-based system. With two to go however, they can still draw the series and salvage some pride on a hard-fought tour.
Nitto ATP Tour Finals Final SS Tennis (Sky Sports Mix)
The curtain finally comes down on a marathon season of men’s tennis in London and the tournament table has become a “who’s left standing” rather than a “who’s who”. The organisers were probably dreaming of a Federer v Nadal final but the Spaniard’s retirement after the first match put paid to that. The six-time Swiss winner needs to get past David Goffin the semi to get there against one of either American Jack Sock or Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. (15:30)
