Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 13 August 12:30 pm

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

# We start with rugby: Bulls coach Johan Ackermann says they are relishing the chance to test themselves against the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. The Bulls have had to split their pre-season to accommodate the game, as ordinarily they would have just returned from their off-season break. The All Blacks have defeated both the Stormers and Sharks in their opening two games of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour. Ackermann says ideally, he would have liked to get some players match-fit:

All Blacks centre Billy Proctor has meanwhile been ruled out of the rest of the tour after fracturing his shoulder blade in the 38–21 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town last Friday. Flyhalf Richie Mo’unga has been called up as his replacement and is set to arrive in Johannesburg tomorrow. Thirty-two-year-old Mo’unga, who has played in Japan for the last three years, making him ineligible for New Zealand selection, has had to earn his way back by playing in the National Provincial Championship.

# Soccer: Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis says they will need to bring their A game when they face old rivals Nigeria in Morocco tonight. The winner will advance to the FIFA Inter-confederation play-offs and remain in contention for a place at next year’s World Cup in Brazil. Both teams failed to reach the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations semifinals, which would have guaranteed automatic qualification. Ellis expects a tough game:

# Cricket: Proteas coach Shukri Conrad says Duan Jansen is a dynamic allrounder cut from the same cloth as his twin brother, Marco, and has been on his radar for some time. Marco shone for South Africa with bat and ball since 2021. Duan is expected to make his debut for his country in next month’s T20 tri-series against Namibia and Zimbabwe in Windhoek after impressing for Joburg Super Kings in the SA20, Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, and the domestic team, the Titans.

# And tennis: Defending champion Ben Shelton will face fellow American Brandon Nakashima in the Canadian Open final in Montreal. He defeated compatriot Learner Tien, while Nakashima beat Spaniard Rafael Jodar to book his spot in his first ATP Masters One-thousand final. In the women’s draw in Toronto, world number two, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, will take on Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the final. Rybakina rallied from a set down to beat American Coco Gauff, while Swiatek defeated Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.

Stay tuned for more news………….