Paddy Power Free Cashbacks for the Second Lions Test.

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A chink of light for the Lions? Both rugby history and recent results suggest that the Lions have put together a superb coaching team, and if anyone can make a winning team from the 2009 squad it is McGeechan, Gatland and Edwards, with their supporting cast.

It must also never be forgotton that it was the excellence of the coaching team which brought Lions victory on the 1997 tour when the Springboks were probably the better side. Then, as now, the Springboks were coached by a new man - Carel du Plessis. He was out thought by McGeechan at every turn.

The Springbok coaching team is very much on trial, and is neither wily nor remotely so experienced. Peter De Villiers, appointed last year, the first non-white ever to coach South Africa, had no experience of week in, week out pro rugby when he ascended to the role. The President of the South African Rugby Union, Oregan Hoskins, declared when Villiers was announced "we did not take into account only rugby reasons". In other words, it was in some ways a political appointment, with a black incumbent in the key position to advance the process of transformation.

Gold and Muir are both solid and intelligent men who are seen to be the power behind the throne. In their first season in charge, the trio guided South Africa to a rare win in New Zealand, but they were also beaten in South Africa by both New Zealand and Australia and finished bottom of the Tri Nations. They won gloriously at Twickenham, with half their top team missing. So who knows whether they do it by good fortune or good judgement?

The Lions coaching team should mesh nicely. McGeechan succeeded Gatland as the Wasps director of rugby, with Edwards holding the position as coach under both men. If the series is close, then expect the hard-nosed Lions team to plot their way to victory.

For Lions supporters, the anxiety lies in the fact that the Springboks may prove just too good to be coached to defeat.

Free Bets Tips:

South Africa Series Win 2-1 @ 7/4 with

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Venus & Sarena - A Family Affair

Since 1999, when Lindsay Davenport defeated Steffi Graf to win the Wimbledon title, signalling the beginning of the new era in womens tennis, the ladies's singles has almost entirely been dominated by Venus & Serena Williams.

In the past nine Championships, one of the sisters has always been present in the final, except in 2006 when Ameli Mauresmo defeated Justin Henin. Seven of these past nine titles bear the Williams name, five for Venus and two for Sarena, and on three occasions they faced each other in the final.

In this period, the only other players that have broken the Williams deadlock have been Marion Bartoli, the beaten 2007 finalist, who has shown very few signs of repeating the feat; 2006 champion Ameilie Mauresmo, a player in decline; the retired Justine Henin; and the 2004 champion Maria Sharapova, who undoubtedly has the game to win on grass but suffers from a recurring shoulder injury that often halts her progress.

So it would seem the Williams sisters are the only sensible route to profit for punters in the ladies singles this year.

But which one?

Well, Venus won the previous two titles and has the best grass court win percentage(91%) of anyone in tennis, including the men, making her the most obvious candidate. But a closer inspection of the statistics of last years final tell a different story, for Sarena had the upper hand in almost every department. The younger Williams sister had a better first serve percentage, fired more aces, had fewer double faults and unforced errors, won a higher percentage of points on her first serve and had nearly twice as many break points.

The key difference between the two was their performance in these break points, and their second serve. Sarena only managed to win 23% of the points on her second serve, compared to Venus's 56%, and converted only two of her 13 break points.

These two areas are not normally a weakness in Sarena's game, whose serve is among the best in the history of women's game. Her mental fortitude in the key moments of a match can hardly be called into question either, so it would be fair to assume its was just a bad day at the office, and that she'll be back with a vengeance this year in her quest for a third Venus Rosewater dish.

Free Bets Tips:

Sarena Williams @ 11.4 with

Free £25 Bet!

Kuznetsova @ 16/1 with

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Royal Ascot Free Bets

The Prince of Wales Stakes is the most lucrative race on day two of Royal Ascot and carries a hefty prize purse £450,000.

Evens favourite Duke of Marmalade lived up to his tag as he moved clear with a furlong to go and won the race in impressive fashion in 2008. johnny Murtagh rode a good race on the three year old to give Aiden O'Brien his first win in the great race at Royal Ascot. The jockey riding the horse with the favourites tag in 2009 will fancy their chances as the favourite has gone on to win the race three of the last four years.

Notably, eight of the last ten winners have arrived via Ireland or abroad with the two exceptions coming from Epsom. Saeed Bin Suroor is the most successful trainer where this race is concerned having sent out four winners in this particular Ascot event.

South Africa are bookmaker William Hill’s 5/2 outright favourites to win the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 as we head into the Super Eight phase.

What a week it’s been.

I am struggling to put some of these results into perspective, heaven knows what it must be like to be a cricket odds compiler? No Line on the Horizon, as U2 might put it.

Bono: happy or smug about Ireland's success? You decide

Australia out! Ireland through! Yer man Bono would be happy with that. England humiliated by the Dutch. To some a pin and blindfold might be a more reliable option than pouring through the formbook to find this year’s ICC World Twenty20 winner.

But that’s not a policy us sporting judges at William Hill News subscribe to. Oh no.

As far as the Aussies’ demise was concerned the clues were there for all to see, before the Sri Lanka defeat the men from Down Under had lost their previous four Twenty20 matches. Now it’s five. So maybe we shouldn’t be too surprised.

It generally pays to do your homework when it comes to punting.

Behind Proteas, Hills then go India 3/1, Sri Lanka 5/1, New Zealand 5/1, Pakistan 7/1, England 8/1, West Indies 9/1 and Ireland 100/1. ICC World Twenty20 Outright betting

Of those left I really like the chances of Sri Lanka. They are in distinctly winnable Super 8 Group F (see below) alongside classy but erratic Pakistan, New Zealand and Ireland.

And with what we’ll call the “Three Ms” - Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga - bowling like absolute demons, I think they have arguably the most effective Twenty20 attack left in the tournament.

Throw in willow wielders Kumar Sangakkara (6/4 to be top Sri Lanka batsman) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (6/4 to be top Sri Lanka batsman) who have really been among the runs so far and you have a pretty potent combination indeed.

Behind the Sri Lankans the boys that make the most appeal at 9/1 have to be the West Indies.

Skipper Chris Gayle was recently lambasted in this blog for his leadership of his side in the recent Tests and one-dayers (to the financial benefit of anyone who listened) but when it comes to Twenty20 the Windies are a totally different kettle of rice and peas.

The manner in which Gayle blasted 88 against the Aussies to take his side to a seven wicket victory was probably the best Twenty20 knock I’ve ever seen and I’ve a feeling it won’t be the last memorable innings by the Jamaican colossus.

Yes, his side is up against India, South Africa and England but at 9/1 I have to side with the Windies on value alone.

As for England they say it’s not how you start, it’s where you finish... That’s something skipper Paul Collingwood will have at the front of his mind after the humiliation of losing to minnows the Netherlands.

Some pride was salvaged with a solid win over a below par Pakistan but could you seriously back the Three Lions with confidence after their shambolic display against the Dutch? I think I’d rather back 100/1 Ireland than England.

Those O'Brien brothers, Niall and Kevin, look as handy as you like at the crease, and apart from Chris Gayle I’m not sure there are many better sloggers than big Kev left in the Super 8s!

Its that time of year to brush down the glad rags, colour coordinate your tie and your chosen horse's colours and then assume a lofty position to see racing's festival of exuberance unfold. Royal Ascot delivers in volume on style, class, and elegance and, if Mother nature obliges, it is likely to be on of the most enjoyable social events of the year.
Champagne consumption is likely to reach heropic levels as the worlds economic woes are put to one side for the five days of the festival.

Ascot Free Bets

Likewise, the on course betting activity is sure to remain buoyant as the best in the business put on a show worthy of regal proportions.

Coverage of Ascot will be beamed around the world via the BBC to over 200 countries and of course there will be wall to wall terrestrial coverage in the UK. Of the big races, most eyes will be focused on Aiden O'Brien's Yeats as he attempts to win a record fourth Ascot Gold Cup on Ladies Day. The Ballydoyle charge is, at the time of writing, edging favouritism although a weak displayu on his return in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes in Navan last month, finishing a well beaten sixth will have done little for his chances ahead of the defence.

Sir Michael Stoute's Patkai is currently vying for the favourites's tag after a stunning display in the Sagoro Stakes, also held at Ascot last month.

All in all, its shaping up to be another memorable Royal Ascot, and of course dont forget to claim your free bets on the racing!