Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 26 October 12:30 pm

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

# We begin with rugby: Springbok loose forward Kwagga Smith has signed a three-year contract with the Bulls. The two-time World Cup winner recently completed an eight-year stint with Shizuoka BlueRevs in Japan. A major knee injury he suffered in May has ruled him out for the remainder of the season. This means the 33-year-old will make his Bulls debut early in the new year. Smith says he is excited to join the team, emphasising playing under coach Johan Ackermann at the Lions previously was one of his best experiences.

Meanwhile, the Boks are sweating over the fitness of versatile André Esterhuizen, who picked up a foot injury captaining the Sharks in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship match against Cardiff in Wales. He went off in the first minute, with his team going on to win 36-21. Sharks lock Stephan Lewies said earlier most players don’t like to play on artificial surfaces like at Cardiff Arms Park due to the prevalence of injuries. The Boks play Italy, France and Ireland in next month’s Nations Championship matches in Europe.

# Cricket: South Africa will be without fast bowler Anrich Nortjé for the third and final Test against Australia, starting in Cape Town tomorrow. He sustained a groin injury in the second Test in Gqeberha. Gerald Coetzee is an almost like-for-like replacement but has not played a Test in nearly two years, and all-rounder Corbin Bosch is also an option. Coach Shukri Conrad could also opt for a slower bowler instead, with left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy an option. The series is perfectly poised at one-all going into the final Test.

Meanwhile, Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey says they are keen to turn their batting form around and provide a team-wide contribution of runs in the deciding Test against the Proteas. After the first-innings collapse for 99 in the second Test, Australia’s lowest first-innings score since 2016, coach Andrew McDonald bemoaned that the batting order was unable to soak up pressure for long enough to stem the tide. Carey admitted that their batting wasn’t up to standard:

# And motorsport: Italian Kimi Antonelli is closer to clinching his maiden Formula One Drivers’ Championship title after winning the United States Grand Prix. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished second and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen third. The Mercedes driver’s nearest rivals, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, took fourth and teammate George Russell eighth to stay in mathematical contention. Antonelli will clinch the title in Mexico City on Sunday if he finishes in the top nine:

Stay tuned for more news………….