Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 20 August 12:30 pm

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

# First up we have rugby: Stand-in Springbok captain Jesse Kriel says their leaders should have stood up in last weekend’s Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies at Ellis Park, which South Africa lost 38-22. He leads the Boks in Saturday’s re-match in Cape Town in place of injured Siya Kolisi. Kriel can’t put his finger on the exact problem, but realises they will have to sort that out. Coach Rassie Erasmus made ten changes to his starting 15, bringing back experienced players such as Willie le Roux, Handré Pollard and Cheslin Kolbe.

Meanwhile, New Zealand will be without Patrick Tuipulotu and Anton Lienert-Brown for their second Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday. Tuipulotu sustained a facial injury in their 41-24 victory against the Pumas last weekend. The 56-Test veteran is expected to be sidelined for around six-weeks. Lienert-Brown, who sustained a head knock, is undergoing concussion protocols to determine his return to action. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has admitted that losing such experienced players is a setback for his team.

# Mixed martial arts: Defeated South African middleweight UFC world champion Dricus du Plessis plans to take some time off to reflect on Sunday’s fight against Khamzat Chimaev. The Russian claimed his 15th professional victory when he overshadowed Du Plessis with a unanimous decision in Chicago. Du Plessis’s head coach, Morné Visser, revealed his charge isn’t interested in an immediate rematch since they have to fix a few things first. He says when you’ve been dominated in such a way, you don’t deserve an immediate rematch.

# Soccer: Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah has won the Professional Footballers’ Association men’s player of the year award for a record third time. The Egyptian scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists as the Reds won the Premier League title last season. PFA women’s player of the year award went to Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey, who scored 19 goals in all competitions in her first season with the Gunners. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Arsenal’s Olivia Smith scooped the men’s and women’s young player of the year awards, respectively.

# And finally, tennis: Top seeds Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper are through to the semifinals of the revamped US Open mixed doubles championships. The American/British duo secured two wins, including a first-round victory over Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz. They will next face third seeds Casper Ruud and Iga Swiatek. Reigning champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori advanced to the semifinals with two straight-set wins. Americans Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison, who entered the draw following Katerina Siniakova and Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal, also advanced to the last four.

Stay tuned for more news………….