Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 13 November 12:30 pm

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

# First up, rugby: French coach Fabien Galthie has described the Springboks as one of the best teams in the world ahead of tonight’s Nations Championship Test in Paris. He says the four-time world champions are effective in every area of the game, leaving opponents very little space or time to attack. Galtjie says South Africa’s physical approach also influences the tactical and technical aspects of a match. Kick-off at the Stade de France is at 10.10 tonight, South African time.

Meanwhile, veteran flyhalf Beauden Barrett will captain the All Blacks for the first time against Wales in Cardiff tomorrow. Barrett, who is set to earn his 149th Test cap, takes over the captaincy from Codie Taylor, who is being rested. Loose forward Anton Segner and wing Fehi Fineanganofo will both make their first Test starts, while flyhalf Richie Mo’unga and lock Josh Lord are back in the team. Coach Dave Rennie says Barrett deserves this opportunity:

# Cricket: Proteas coach Shukri Conrad says they won’t underestimate Bangladesh in the two-match Test series, despite South Africa currently being second in the World Test Championship standings and the Asian country fifth. The Proteas improved their standing with the recent series victory over Australia, but Bangladesh beat Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies and Pakistan in recent years. The series will be followed by three one-day matches and three T20s. The first Test starts at the Wanderers on Sunday, and the second in Centurion on the 23rd.

More cricket, Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins has dismissed former teammate Usman Khawaja’s claims about the ball-tampering during their 2018 tour of South Africa. In his newly released autobiography Sabr, Khawaja alleged the whole team knew about the plan to rough the ball with sandpaper during the third Test in Cape Town. Only captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and bowler Cameron Bancroft were sanctioned. During a media conference in Sydney, Cummins expressed frustration with Khawaja’s conduct:

# And tennis: World number five Jessica Pegula has advanced to the semifinals of the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, America. The American saved a match point to outlast Czech Linda Nosková, eliminating her compatriot Coco Gauff in the process. Nosková topped Group one with Pegula claiming the second qualifying spot ahead of Gauff on sets won. Pegula will face Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals, while Nosková awaits the winner of the decisive clash between Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.

Stay tuned for more news………….