Manchester City and rival Arsenal clash. Photo/AP
Chris Rattue ranks the top sporting events to watch in the coming days.
4) Caitlin Clarke, Monday 8am – Sky
March Madness in the basketball world has been a hot topic among women, with the success of University of Iowa shooting ace Caitlin Clark at the forefront.
“Moon of Madness” refers to the American college basketball finals. The final has long been a hotbed of talent that has fascinated this country and now excites other countries.
Clark is such big news that the Women's NBA and the 3-on-3 League, founded by rapper Ice Cube, are reportedly fighting over her spot.
The Guardian described the 22-year-old as a “supernova who will take women's basketball to new heights” and a “basketball savant”.
She is the most famous college athlete, male or female, and her presence attracts many television viewers.
Clark has the ability to score from anywhere and passing talent. Experts believe she will become a central figure in the burgeoning women's game.
With a little luck, Clark will face LSU star rival Angel Reese in the quarterfinals Monday morning.
This is an individual and team rivalry with a great history, with LSU defeating Iowa in last year's title game.
3) Crusaders vs Chiefs, Friday 7.05pm – Sky
A bit of relief for those feeling the weight of a rising power, a fallen Super Rugby champion…and a battle between New Zealand Rugby Chairman Dame Patsy Reddy and her pesky local unions. The Crusaders are a metaphor for New Zealand rugby, which was once a mighty sport in contention.
2) Warriors v Newcastle, Sunday 6.05pm – Sky
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck returns to fullback, the position where he made his mark…and that's not the only good memory evoked by this match.
The Warriors had a fantastic performance against the Knights at Mt Smart last season, winning the NRL play-offs in an impressive manner.
Unfortunately, the 2024 Warriors will struggle to maintain the high standards of 2023.
The Knights lost suspended New Zealand prop Leo Thompson, but the Warriors welcomed back gritty powerhouse Marata Niukole.
Oft-injured dummy-half Wade Egan has also been named as a possible player by manager Andrew Webster, so it's likely he will be on the field this time around.
1) Manchester City vs Arsenal, Monday 4.30am – Sky
It was the final meeting between two English Premier League title contenders, and there was plenty of drama at every turn.
And the corresponding match last year was a turning point when Manchester City defeated the pace-setting Gunners.
Manchester City may have suffered their worst result in this month's international campaign, especially with the injury to England defender John Stones, who has great license to progress in Josep Guardiola's system.
Another title contender, Liverpool, have a tricky home game against the Brighton side, who have enjoyed a good run of late against Jurgen Klopp's side (2am Monday, Sky).
Ridiculous fact: Arsenal had lost 12 games in a row against Manchester City before winning in October.
