What happened in the world of sport in June.
WRITTEN BY THE EDITOR ON JULY 02, 2017. POSTED IN SPORTSJune was going to be the month where the Proteas were going to do their fans proud and win an ICC tournament. 1998 was the one and only time they had done it before, so it's fair to say they were due.
So let's start with cricket then shall we...
CRICKET
ICC Champions Trophy
The Proteas went this tournament with a good squad, some good form, and as good a chance as any when you considered there were no real other outright favourites in the tournament.
A solid 96 run win against Sri Lanka saw them get off to a decent start. Then a familiar collapse against Pakistan, coupled with some rain resulted in a D/L defeat.
So it was then onto the India clash, the final one in the pool stages, which was now a must win. Must win - must choke.
What a disaster. 140/2 became 191 all out. Absolutely disgraceful.
Anyways, India went through and beat Bangladesh in the semis, securing a spot against Pakistan who sort of surprisingly beat England.
Even more surprisingly was that Pakistan then beat India in the final!
But enough with cricket, it was depressing, and the only other things worth reporting back on were the Aussies player pay dispute, and the South T20 league thingy was officially launched.
RUGBY
SuperRugby
The tournament went on it's annual break, but there was a round at the start of the month involving the Australasians. And yet another round where the Crusaders won. So that's 14 from 14 for this unstoppable team this year.
British and Irish Lions Tour
The rugby highlight was of course the Lions tour of New Zealand, and one that has been rather tough for the visitors. Here's how the results went.
Provincial Barbarians 7-13 B&I Lions
Blues 22-16 B&I Lions
Crusaders 3-12 B&I Lions
Highlanders 23-22 B&I Lions
Maori All Blacks 10-32 B&I Lions
Chiefs 6-34 B&I Lions
New Zealand 30-15 B&I Lions
Hurricanes 31-31 B&I Lions
Of course the Lions tour with two teams essentially, so perhaps there is no point drawing too much into the mid week games.
It's all about the Tests, and the All Blacks were just so much more superior in that first one.
SA vs France
The Boks had so much to prove in this Test series versus France, and thankfully they came out looking like a decent side again. From the first Test to the last, there was only one team in this, and with that the Boks take great momentum into the Rugby Championships.
1st Test - SA 35-12 France
2nd Test - SA 37-15 France
3rd Test - SA 37-14 France
The highlight of the series was the display by the Boks in Durban for the 2nd Test.
Sadly new Bok skipper Warren Whiteley agrevated a groin injury and is now out for July and most of August. So Eben Etzebeth looks set to have an extended run as Bok captain.
Internationals
Here is a wrap of the other notable results from the international rugby matches that took place in June.
Results via supersport.com
FOOTBALL
Champions League Final
It was the final that was meant to be. Real Madrid, the best club in the tournament, and Juventus the toughest nut to crack with their veteran goal keeper who was looking to end his career on a distinctive high.
It sadly turned out to be very one sided.
Worse still, Sergio Ramos just reminded the world that footballers are mostly just a bunch of cheating manipulative pricks.
Nedbank Cup Final
SuperSport United 4-1 Orlando Pirates
Pirates had one last chance to try and salvage something from a dreadful season. They met SuperSport United in the final of the Nedbank Cup, but the team that finished just above the relegation zone in the league were no match for the defending champs.
Big ups to SuperSport for the 360 cam, something they will no doubt continue to evolve for their live offerings.
GOLF
It was all about the US Open in June, and a very different one it was. Erin Hills was hosting the event for the first time, and though there was talk about the rough being unplayable, the fairways were more than fair by US Open standards.
Rickie Fowler started well with a magnificent 65. As good as it was though, other players were also taking advantage of the generous conditions, with Justin Thomas shooting a 63 in the third round.
Things were looking pretty good going into the Sunday, but early on in round 4, it was very clear that Brooks Koepka was the only winner here.
It will be remembered as the US Open that was perhaps a little 'too easy'. But there were some major names that failed to make the cut: Johnson, Day, McIlroy, Rahm...
FORMULA 1
The more the season progresses, the more it is appearing to be an actual contest this time round. Mercedes and Ferrari are battling it out in each race, and in some stages, even coming to blows.
Vettel has had the better of the start of the season, so Hamilton is no doubt doing what he can to catch up. So naturally there was much speculation around this incident in Azerbaijan.
In the actual racing, well neither driver made the podium.
Ricciardo got the win, but it didn't change much in the overall standings that look like this going into the Austrian Grand Prix.
Standings from supersport.com
Earlier in the month Lewis Hamilton was the winner of the Canadian Grand Prix, getting him back into the title race behind Vettel.
OTHER
Athletics
Wayde van Niekerk is on a simply incredible career trajectory. As he quietly becomes the 200m favourite for the World Champs in August, he also managed to beat another Michael Johnson world record in June.
It was the Cavs vs Warriors again in the NBA finals, but unlike last year, this was really one sided with the Warriors taking it.
Rafael Nadal made it an incredible 10 French Open titles by completely blowing away Stan Wawrinka in the final.
The women's event at Roland Garros was more open than ever, and without Serena Williams in the draw, it was Jalena Ostapenko that claimed the title.
That's pretty much it for June action wise, now onto the best from Twitter.
From Twitter in June.
Seeing the images of @TigerWoods Just leaves me with a heart of sympathy. I have been there.And n dark place to get out of.Dick deep champ..
— derick hougaard (@derickhougaard) June 2, 2017
Hashim Amla doing Hashim Amla stuff.
Proteas batsman Hashim Amla made history against Sri Lanka by becoming the quickest player to reach 25 centuries in ODIs. #CT17 pic.twitter.com/HJ00Ixa3sy
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) June 6, 2017
Blues beat the Lions
FULL-TIME! Blues 22-16 Lions.
— Sky Sports Rugby 🏉 (@SkySportsRugby) June 7, 2017
A famous win for the Blues in Auckland over the British and Irish Lions. Recap: https://t.co/3EGdxUVTU2 pic.twitter.com/I8iuJDZ2aK
RedTube getting into the game in low level football.
WTF: Pornography site RedTube becomes the official shirt sponsor for Massachusetts football team @WashingtonSqFC. 😳 pic.twitter.com/HMAjabZtCM
— SPORF (@Sporf) June 7, 2017
JP Duminy's ODI pedigree comes into the spotlight
JP Duminy has scored 4 Centuries in 175 ODI'S.
— Sam Ribeiro (@sammy5456) June 7, 2017
Three against Zimbabwe
And one against The Netherlands. pic.twitter.com/IFcWgE60yO
The Boks get a new sponsor which ties up a golden cell network rugby tweet.
3 Cell C Sharks players selected for the MTN Springboks after good form in Vodacom Super Rugby #dataforeverybody
— Pieter Bergh (@PieterBergh) June 8, 2017
New Bok sponsor logo wasn't exactly well received though.
There, we fixed it. @Springboks @MTNza pic.twitter.com/GVfGgcQ5cW
— The Pundits (@thePunditsSA) June 9, 2017
Charl Schwartzel doing Charl Schwartzel things.
So Charl Schwartzel is my new favorite golfer pic.twitter.com/iW2IjNRGQ2
— Gregg Weikel (@Thekid156) June 9, 2017
Huge win for Bafana Bafana as they finally beat Nigeria.
90'+4 #SAvsNigAFCON 0-2: Match ended https://t.co/V24FHDFRWU pic.twitter.com/VlaaCSVivt
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) June 10, 2017
The strangest trophy in rugby.
Dylan Hartley's face says it all 😂#ENGvARG pic.twitter.com/cPZfsaH4TR
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 10, 2017
The Proteas are so bad that even the ICC trolled them during that India loss.
🤔 #INDvSA #CT17 pic.twitter.com/pflZ66zApA
— ICC (@ICC) June 11, 2017
That Proteas choke in more detail.
1-76
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 11, 2017
2-116
3-140
4-142
5-157
6-167
7-178
8-184
9-184
10-191
South Africa lost their last eight for 51https://t.co/pnGlcS2zzY #INDvSA #CT17
'That' run out.
Every. Single. Fucking. Cricket. Trophy. Event. We. Make. Ourselves. Look. This. Fucking. Stupid. pic.twitter.com/HNVKpH1ngy
— Quinton not de Kock (@notdekock) June 11, 2017
It really wasn't Faf's finest match for the Proteas.
Faf du Plessis today
— சிவசங்கரன்.சி (@Siva2192) June 11, 2017
8.2 overs
36 runs
3 wickets#INDvSA #CT17 pic.twitter.com/mxoDOIxmkx
Mr Gary Player uses the US Open to continue his feud with Robert Trent Jones Jnr.
My very best to the all the players, fans and the USGA as the golf world comes to Erin Hills for the year’s 2nd Major. pic.twitter.com/VL3CKGHyOo
— Gary Player (@garyplayer) June 12, 2017
The Lions lost another game on tour.
FT | They've done it! The @Highlanders defeat @lionsofficial 23 - 22 in Dunedin! #HIGvBIL #LionsNZ2017 pic.twitter.com/vaMwiZXFOU
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 13, 2017
Aussie make a rough start against Brazil.
Australia manager: "We're playing Brazil lads, so keep it tight early on." pic.twitter.com/TZoGcas0P0
— Andy Ha (@_AndyHa) June 13, 2017
Baby Boks choked it against England, but one player made a big impact.
Remember this name JUARNO AUGUSTUS #FUTUREBOK @4KobusWiese @BreytonPaulse @Ashwinwillemse pic.twitter.com/y1yrYp7Xoc
— danian timm (@ddt_golf25) June 13, 2017
McIlroy went into the US Open firing. Then missed the cut.
Rory McIlroy didn't hold back when he found out they cut down the fescue. pic.twitter.com/YbnLBzuJOH
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 13, 2017
Waqar Younis having none of the excuses for England losing to Pakistan in #CT17 final.
Stop giving that lame excuse Eoin Morgan regarding the used pitch,,,,You guys been thrashed fair n square by Pakistan #CT2017 #PakvsEng
— waqar younis (@waqyounis99) June 14, 2017
Rickie Fowler makes history, again fails to win a Major.
Leading the way ✍🏼
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) June 15, 2017
Rickie Fowler becomes the first player in 37 years to shoot seven under par in the opening round of the #USOpen. pic.twitter.com/aepjMJgzCB
Elkington tried to take on Rory, got 3rd degree twitter burns.
More like 200mil... not bad for a "bored" 28 year old... plenty more where that came from. pic.twitter.com/R2nigEaee7
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) June 17, 2017
Justin Thomas did this in the 3rd round of the US Open.
.@JustinThomas34 shoots the lowest score to par ever recorded in a #USOpen with a 9-under 63 at Erin Hills!!! pic.twitter.com/DkgMWmzkZ6
— GOLF.com (@golf_com) June 17, 2017
Perhaps tweet of the month from Peter Crouch.
Summer for me is about time with family . pic.twitter.com/dtft1CZoyl
— Peter Crouch (@petercrouch) June 19, 2017
This would be a close second.
A magic #throwback of @jantjies_elton and @SerfonteinJan #eltonenjan #player23 #SoulVanDieSpan @followthebounce @Springboks pic.twitter.com/wTPJ6F4SIT
— Lewton Thomas (@lewt_t) June 20, 2017
Wayde van Niekerk gets better again, this time in the 100m.
.@WaydeDreamer clocks 9.94 personal best in Velenjehttps://t.co/iz7BPFx5lc pic.twitter.com/DE8PnSQDQa
— IAAF (@iaaforg) June 20, 2017
Phil Mickelson parts ways with long time caddy.
Phil and Bones: 1992 - 2017 pic.twitter.com/tOeEqaT3Sy
— Skratch (@Skratch) June 20, 2017
This is just awkward.
This is just too funny 😂 pic.twitter.com/qrcp7ZKKXU
— Jim Edwards (@MMA_Jim) June 25, 2017
But not as awkward as this.
#UFC #Fighter Justine Kish Poops herself #during #UFC #Fight Night #vs Felice Herrig https://t.co/choiNZXNef pic.twitter.com/YZYQCw4VDc
— N1Videos.com (@n1videos) July 2, 2017
Good on Justine though, she totally claimed it.
I am a warrior, and I will never quit #ShitHappens haha be back soon.
— Justine Kish (@JustineKish) June 26, 2017
Jordan Spieth holes a bunker shot and the internet goes wild.
.@JordanSpieth has won the @TravelersChamp in INCREDIBLE fashion.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 25, 2017
UNBELIEVABLE! 😱🏆#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/qkeeaCg3ye
The catch of the year in cricket.
"$5000 dollars for a clean catch?"
— BigSport (@BigSportGB) June 26, 2017
"Hold my beer..." 👏 pic.twitter.com/kFfZrefCV0
Wayde van Niekerk the fastest over 300m, improving his insane stats.
.@WaydeDreamer is now the first man in history to go:
sub-10 for 100m
sub-20 for 200m
sub-31 for 300m
sub-44 for 400m
— IAAF (@iaaforg) June 28, 2017
Want to catch up on what has happened during the previous months of this year, click below.
Tags: june sports recap, june sports, sports review, proteas choke, real madrid, brooks keopka