Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 5 September 12:30 pm

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

# Rugby: Rassie Erasmus has made seven changes to the Springboks’ match-day squad for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand in Cape Town. Canan Moodie will start on the wing and Willie le Roux at fullback. There is a new halfback pairing with scrumhalf Grant Williams earning his first start of the season along Handré Pollard. Eben Etzebeth is back in the starting lock position, while captain Siya Kolisi is fit and starting as well. Included on the bench are World Cup winners Jaden Hendrikse and Lukhanyo Am.

Meanwhile, Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe says they are expecting an even tougher and more intense encounter on Saturday after South Africa staged a strong comeback to beat the All Blacks 31-27 in Johannesburg last weekend. Kolbe says what will be important is getting off to a fast start, accurate execution, and sticking to their structures:

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams is one of ten goalkeepers nominated for the prestigious Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d’Or awards. He is the first South African to receive an esteemed nomination at the awards. Williams, who also plays for Mamelodi Sundowns, had 35 clean sheets in 59 games in 2023/’24. He will compete with top global goalkeepers like FC Porto’s Diogo Costa and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez for the award, with the winner announced in Paris on the 28th of October.

# Cricket: The famous Lord’s stadium in London will host the final of the World Test championship for the first time next year. The previous final took place at The Oval in the British capital last year, when Australia beat India. Nine Test countries are vying for the two top spots, who will face off in the final from 11 June. India is currently on top of the log, followed by Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Windies.

# And, tennis: World number one Jannik Sinner is through to his first US Open semifinal, defeating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4. The Italian will face Britain’s Jack Draper, who beat Australia’s Alex de Minaur to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal. In the women’s draw, American Jessica Pegula stunned world number one Iga Swiatek of Poland, 6-2, 6-4, to make her first major semifinal. Pegula, who will face Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova next, says she played well:

Stay tuned for more news………….