It’s another action-packed weekend of sport ahead as we preview the biggest events including the Six Nations, the second test between India and England, as well as all the big Premier League matches.
France and Ireland get us underway on Friday night, and while there’s an exciting weekend of Football to look forward to, there’s also the big Fight Night of the weekend as Joshua Buatsi takes on Dan Azeez while India and England resume battle in their test series.
READ MORE: What the new £6.7bn TV deal means for Premier League on Sky, TNT
Friday
Cricket
India vs England 2nd test – 04.00 – TNT Sports/Discovery+
After England’s thrilling win in the opening test, India will be looking to respond in Visakhapatnam as the pressure is on the hosts to hit back and level the series.
The tourists were superb in the last test as they stunned the home crowd into silence on Day 4 en route to a victory by 28 runs, with Tom Hartley the pick of the bowlers as he produced a brilliant showing.
That should give Ben Stokes and his men a real boost in confidence and belief as they head deeper into this series, but there will be a reaction from India, and it’s difficult to see them dropping two on the bounce in home conditions. Back the hosts to level the series and swing the momentum back in their favour to set up what should be a thrilling back-end of this test series.
Six Nations
France v Ireland – Marseille – 20.00 – ITV 1
We start the 2024 6 Nations with a match between the two best sides in the competition, which with luck of the draw is the first rather than the last and deciding game. This was the game that many thought would be the World Cup final last year, but the All Blacks and the Springboks had other ideas. France lost their talismanic captain, Antoine Dupont, during that tournament and though he returned, he wasn’t at his dynamic best. Now France have to play the whole tournament without him as he prepares for the Olympic Rugby 7s. Ireland too have lost their captain as Johnny Sexton has now retired. On paper France’s lost should be greater, but the rest of the team is intact with match winners such as full-back Thomas Ramos and winger Damien Penaud. Both sides have new captains, Gregory Alldritt for France and Peter O’Mahony for Ireland and both sides have gone for a 6-2 split for their subs. The home side in the last two 6 Nations, France in 2022, Ireland in 2023, has won and gone to a Grand Slam winner. Expect home advantage to give Les Bleus victory in another close game.
Saturday
Six Nations
Italy v England – Rome – 14.15 – ITV 1
England start their 6 Nations with their easiest game against Italy, winners of the Wooden Spoon for the last eight years. So a great chance for coach Steve Borthwick to experiment without Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi. He has brought in Fraser Dingwall in the backs and Ethan Roots in the backs, but has gone for the conservative option at fly-half with George Ford instead of Fin Smith, who is on the bench. George Furbank, the Northampton captain, who is having an excellent season, is not on the bench. He should be. England to win easily enough in the end after their normal hesitant start, but a chance missed to be more experimental in a post-Farrell age.
Wales v Scotland – Cardiff – 16.45 – BBC 1
Can Scotland win in Wales for the first time in 22 years against a new look Welsh side? Wales, with a mixture of retirements and injuries, look like a side in transition. Sam Costelow comes in at fly-half and full back s debutant Cameron Winnett. By contrast Gregor Townend’s Scotland side look a far more settled unit with the excellent Finn Russell calling the shots. Scotland to spring a surprise and get their first victory in Wales in 22 years.
Boxing
Joshua Buatsi vs Dan Azeez – Sky Sports – 22:30
From friends to foes. On Saturday night we finally get to witness the highly-anticipated all-British light heavyweight clash between Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez.
The fight was originally scheduled to take place back in October, but due to a back injury sustained by Azeez, the contest was postponed. Both men are putting their undefeated records on the line to push on for a world title opportunity later this year.
Many are calling this a friendly rivalry as the pair have spent years training together and have become good friends along the way. They will have to put all that aside when they come face-to-face with each other at the OVO Arena in Wembley this weekend.
Buatsi is the favourite going into the bout, being the more experienced of the two fighters. He will be hoping his crafty boxing skills will be able to tame the hard-hitting Azeez, who will no doubt be pushing the pace. Who will come back to South London with all the bragging rights?
We see this one going the distance with Josh Buatsi narrowly winning on points.
Sunday
Premier League
Man Utd vs West Ham – Sky Sports – 14:00
This weekend Super Sunday kicks off at Old Trafford, with Manchester United hosting West Ham.
With only one point separating the two teams in the league, it is a huge opportunity for one of them to gain the upper hand in their quest for Champions League football.
David Moyes’ side aren’t on the greatest run of form at the moment, having drawn their last 3 league games and going out of the FA Cup to Bristol City along the way. On the flip side, the Red Devils have won their last two games in all competitions. Their return to some kind of form coincides with the return of several key players being back from injury. They will look to kick on now, especially after Kobbie Mainoo’s last-minute heroics on Thursday night.
In the last two meetings between the clubs, the Hammers have come out on top so they will be hopeful that history can repeat itself, yet again. They will hope to have their talisman, Lucas Paqueta back and available after his recent injury problem.
We are predicting a 2-1 home win for Erik Ten Hag’s men on Sunday.
Arsenal vs Liverpool – Sky Sports – 16:30
This is a game that Mikel Arteta and his side really cannot afford to lose. A loss would see them go 8 points behind Liverpool, which may be too big of a gap to claw back considering Liverpool’s impressive form.
The Gunners will have to produce a season’s best performance to defeat the league leaders on Saturday. They narrowly came away with all three points in their last outing against Nottingham Forest, while Liverpool eased to a comfortable win at home to Chelsea.
There is, however, cause for concern for Jurgen Klopp as in-form striker Darwin Nunez is a fresh doubt for the game on Sunday. He has been pivotal to Liverpool’s recent form, so this, along with Mo Salah still being unavailable is definitely a cause for concern.
The last two Premier League meetings between the two sides have ended in draws. Will Arsenal be able to topple the best defence in the league and put themselves right back into title contention?
We see another score draw on this occasion. 2-2.
