Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 12 February 12:30 pm

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

# We kick off with rugby: Former Springbok flyhalf Franco Smith is touted as a possible successor to Warren Gatland as head coach of Wales. Gatland left with immediate effect after 14 straight losses. Cardiff’s coach, Matt Sherratt, takes over until the end of the Six Nations. Other names mentioned as permanent replacements are Ireland’s interim head coach, Simon Easterby, and former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. Fifty-two-year-old Smith played 18 matches for South Africa in the 90s and coached teams such as the Cheetahs and Italy. He currently coaches Glasgow Warriors.

Meanwhile, Six Nations officials put a stop to France’s plan for flyhalf Romain Ntamack to serve part of his ban for his club, Toulouse, this weekend. He was suspended after his red card for foul play against Wales in the first round. Ntamack already missed the loss to England and France hoped he would be available for next weekend’s clash with Italy. But the organisers say his status as a premium player for France means he would not have been available for Toulouse anyway.

# Cricket: Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from the Champions Trophy in Pakistan for personal reasons. His withdrawal means Australia will be without their entire World Cup-winning frontline pace attack for the tournament, which starts next Wednesday. This follows after injuries had already ruled out Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Marsh, alongside the retirement of Marcus Stoinis. Steve Smith will captain the team in Cummins’ absence.

# Soccer: Defending champions Real Madrid came from behind to beat Manchester City three-two in their playoff first leg at the Etihad Stadium. City took the lead through Erling Haaland, but Madrid hit back through Kylian Mbappé. Haaland looked to have won the game from the penalty spot, but with four-minutes left, Brahim Diaz equalised before Jude Bellingham scored the winner. PSG, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund also won their playoffs. Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, was happy with how his team defended :

# And finally, Tennis: World number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and world number three, Coco Gauff of America, have been knocked out in the second round of the Qatar Open in Doha. Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated Sabalenka while Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk saw off Gauff. Italian Jasmine Paolini, last year’s Wimbledon and French Open runner-up, defeated France’s Caroline Garcia. American Jessica Pegula beat Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, and Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur knocked out Qinwen Zheng of China.

Stay tuned for more news………….