Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 7 November 12:30 pm

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

# First up, we have rugby: Springbok centre André Esterhuizen says they are bracing themselves for a tough encounter against Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on Sunday. The Boks head into the clash with several key positions still up in the air due to depth and injuries. Coach Rassie Erasmus will announce his match-day squad tomorrow. Esterhuizen says their narrow halftime lead in the opening World Cup pool match in France last year showed how competitive Tests against Scotland can be:

Staying with rugby: The British and Irish Lions will don a jersey in a darker shade of red during next year’s tour of Australia. It features a pattern woven into the fabric that symbolises the union of four nations. The tour will consist of 11 matches, including three Tests against the Wallabies, from 20 June to the second of August. The Lions won their last series in 2013 against Australia, followed by series losses against the All Blacks and the Springboks in 2017 and ’21, respectively.

# Cricket: South Africa and India will face off in the first of four T20s at Kingsmead in Durban tomorrow in a repeat of the World Cup final four months ago which India won by a mere seven runs. The Proteas will be without their three most successful World Cup bowlers, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortjé and Tabraiz Shamsi. India also tour without most of its leading players, who are preparing for a Test series against Australia. The other T20s take place in Gqeberha, Centurion and Johannesburg.

# Road running: Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya is set to make her Boxer Super Run debut in Tshwane on Sunday. Her fiercest competition will come from Glenrose Xaba, who recently won the Cape Town marathon, setting a new national record. Semenya believes the race over five kilometres offers invaluable opportunities for young athletes, adding that the 147-thousand-rand prize purse is fantastic as well. Boxer Superstores’ marketing head, Lee-Ann Pillay, says Semenya’s involvement is an inspiration to all competitors.

# And finally, tennis: China’s Olympic gold medallist, Qinwen Zheng, is through to the semifinals of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 22-year-old defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-1, 6-1. Zheng is the youngest player to make the semifinals at the WTA Finals in her first appearance since Petra Kvitova in 2011. Meanwhile, already eliminated Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka in three sets. Despite the defeat, the Belarusian still finishes the round-robin stage as the group winner.

Stay tuned for more news………….