South Africa's Best Bets This Week

The week ahead on Bets.co.za is packed with elite sport across rugby, football, cricket and horse racing, with major international tournaments and domestic competitions all rolling into a seriously busy schedule.

Six Nations finale: three nations, one crown, and permutations everywhere

The Six Nations Championship reaches its dramatic conclusion on Saturday, 14 March, with all three matches played on the same day in the traditional “Super Saturday” finale. Remarkably, three teams remain in the title race, setting up a tense final afternoon where every point could matter. 

France enter the weekend as favourites, but the championship is far from decided and the final standings could still swing dramatically depending on results across the three fixtures. For readers wanting to understand exactly how the championship could unfold, you can read our full breakdown of the final round permutations here, which explains every scenario still in play heading into the decisive matches. We also take a look at the odds for each of the three winners ahead of the final round.

France’s task looks straightforward on paper but rarely is when England are involved. The old rivals meet in what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter, with France knowing that victory should be enough to secure the championship. England, however, would take great pleasure in spoiling their neighbour’s celebrations and ending their campaign with a statement result.

Elsewhere, Ireland and Scotland clash in Dublin in a fixture that could yet decide the title should France falter. Ireland remain firmly in contention and will be backed by a packed home crowd, while Scotland know that an upset combined with favourable results elsewhere could still deliver an unlikely championship triumph. It is the sort of final-day drama the Six Nations has built its reputation on over the decades.

Italy will meanwhile aim to cap what has been widely regarded as one of their best Six Nations campaigns when they travel to Cardiff to face Wales. The Italians have shown real progress throughout the tournament, while Wales themselves appear to be finding some rhythm again after a difficult period. With both sides improving week by week, that meeting could be one of the most entertaining contests of the round.

Domestic rivalries ignite: URC derby drama and Super Rugby battles

While the Six Nations dominates the northern hemisphere conversation, the United Rugby Championship continues with a handful of important fixtures this weekend. Two matches take place on Friday night before attention shifts firmly to South Africa on Saturday for a blockbuster domestic derby.

The Bulls host the Stormers at Loftus Versfeld in what is always one of the standout rivalries on the URC calendar. These clashes rarely disappoint and often carry significant implications for the playoff race. With both sides boasting Springbok talent across the park, the Pretoria crowd can expect a physical and high-tempo encounter.

At junior level, the U20 Six Nations also reaches its final round, offering a glimpse of the next generation of stars emerging from Europe’s major rugby nations.

Across the globe, Round 5 of the Super Rugby Pacific promises another weekend of high-quality southern hemisphere rugby. The competition has already delivered several thrilling contests this season and the latest round features several intriguing clashes as teams look to establish early momentum in the standings.

Continental ambitions and title pressure in football

Attention in South African football turns to the Premier Soccer League, where a number of midweek matches are followed by six more fixtures across the weekend. With the campaign entering its decisive phase, every point is becoming increasingly valuable as the title race begins to take shape.

On the continental stage, Mamelodi Sundowns carry the hopes of South African supporters in the CAF Champions League as the quarter-final first legs take place this weekend. Sundowns have consistently been among the strongest sides on the continent in recent years and will be determined to place themselves in a strong position ahead of the return leg.

The CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals are also underway, adding another layer of continental intrigue for African football fans.

European club football delivers its own drama in midweek as the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League continue. The world’s most prestigious club competition rarely fails to produce memorable nights, and once the dust settles the focus quickly returns to domestic action across the continent. The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga all resume this weekend as clubs continue their push for titles, European qualification and survival.

New series begin as global cricket calendar rolls on

With the ICC Men's T20 World Cup now concluded - and India national cricket team successfully defending their title on home soil - attention turns quickly to the next stretch of international cricket.

South African supporters will be particularly focused on Sunday’s opening match of a five-game T20 series between the South Africa national cricket team and the New Zealand national cricket team in Mount Maunganui. The Proteas will be eager to build momentum in the shortest format as they continue preparations for future global tournaments.

Elsewhere, Pakistan begin an ODI series against the Bangladesh national cricket team on Wednesday, ensuring there is plenty of international cricket to follow throughout the week.

Looking slightly further ahead, excitement is already building for the start of the Indian Premier League, which returns on 28 March and once again promises several weeks of high-octane franchise cricket featuring many of the world’s biggest stars.

Racing continues across South Africa

Alongside the major global sporting events, our coverage also includes South African horse racing, with meetings taking place across the country throughout the week and weekend. As always, bettors can expect the latest previews, tips and race analysis right here on Bets.co.za as we guide you through the most competitive fields and promising runners.