Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 12 August 12:30 pm

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

# We start with rugby: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will improve to joint tenth in the list of Test veterans when he takes to the field in the Rugby Championship match against Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday. He will increase his all-time South African record to 134 matches, joining Welsh prop Gethin Jenkins. Etzebeth and Lood de Jager will partner in the second row, with Franco Mostert providing cover on the bench. The other members of the bomb squad are Bongi Mbonambi, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Kwagga Smith.

The Springbok Women’s squad is assembling in Johannesburg today before departing for the World Cup in England on Thursday. Thirty-two players, led by Nolusindiso Booi, have been selected, with the squad boasting a combined total of 689 Test caps. South Africa will face Brazil, Italy, and France in Pool D. Bok Women head coach Swys de Bruin says what excites him most are the combinations they will work with, which he believes will push them towards the play-offs:

# Soccer: South Africa registered their first victory in Group C with a 2-1 victory over Guinea in the African Nations Championship in Kampala, Uganda. Bafana Bafana opened the scoring in the tenth minute through captain Neo Maema. Guinea equalised through Moussa Camara before halftime. In the 54th minute, Wayde Jooste set up man-of-the-match Thabiso Kutumela for South Africa’s second goal. This victory follows Bafana Bafana’s 1-all draw against Algeria in their opening match.

# Cricket: A huge task awaits the Proteas in Darwin today where they have to prevent Australia from winning a tenth consecutive T20 match to salvage the three-match series. The hosts defeated the visitors by 17 runs in Sunday’s first match when Tim David was the main destroyer, smashing 83 runs off just 52 balls. When he came in to bat, Australia was struggling on 75 for six but he punished the South African bowlers as the hosts fought back. Australian captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss today and sent the Proteas in to bat.

# And finally: Mixed martial arts: South African fighter Dricus du Plessis says he is the underdog in the third defence of his middleweight world championship title. He faces Khamzat Chimaev in Chicago, Illinois, this weekend. Du Plessis has a 23-2 win-loss professional record and is on an 11-fight victory streak. But he believes the Russian is the best opponent he’d ever faced. Chimaev is undefeated after 14 professional fights. Du Plessis says what’s in his favour is his unique style that makes it very difficult for anyone to mimic.

Stay tuned for more news………….