Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 31 July 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We begin with rugby: The three-decades wait for a proper All Blacks tour of South Africa is over. The team will be officially welcomed at the Cape Town Stadium this afternoon before kicking off the tour against the Stormers at the same field next Friday. New Zealand will also play the Sharks, the Bulls and the Lions, three Tests against the Springboks in South Africa, and another in Baltimore in the US. The last time the All Blacks lost a weekday-match in South Africa was against Free State in 1976.

Meanwhile, the defending Currie Cup champions, Griquas, will welcome log-leader Cheetahs in Kimberley tonight in the first action of the third round. Tomorrow, the Stormers will host the Sharks in a coastal derby in Cape Town, followed by the Jukskei derby between the Lions and the Bulls in Johannesburg. Sunday will see Boland and Pumas against each other in Wellington. Boland is currently second on the log after winning both their first matches. The Lions are third, followed by Griquas, the Sharks, the Stormers, the Pumas and the Bulls.

# Commonwealth Games: Paralympian Masala Makutu secured South Africa’s first track and field medal in Glasgow, winning silver in the men’s T12 100-metres. The 20-year-old finished in a personal best time of 11.04 seconds. Sinesipho Dambile produced a blistering 19.82-second performance, the second fastest time ever recorded in the Games, to book his place in the men’s 200-metres final. Meanwhile, the women’s netball team has bowed out of medal contention after going down 58-54 to England. South Africa’s medal tally stands at 23.

# Cricket: Former Proteas all-rounder Albie Morkel has been appointed as new head coach of Joburg Super Kings for the upcoming SA20 season. He takes over from Stephen Fleming, who stepped down earlier this month. The 45-year-old served as Fleming’s assistant for four years. Morkel says he is looking forward to building on the strong foundations they have already created and helping the team achieve its full potential. The fifth edition of SA20 starts on January 17, with JSK opening their campaign against Paarl Royals the next day.

And more cricket news: Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has been appointed as the England men’s Test head coach. The 53-year-old succeeds his former international teammate Brendon McCullum, who was sacked earlier this month, but remains coach of the limited-overs sides. Joe Root has been reappointed as Test captain, a position he held from 2017 to 2022 before being replaced by Ben Stokes, who has retired. Fleming’s first Test in charge will be England’s tour of South Africa in December and January, comprising three Tests.

Stay tuned for more news………….