Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 22 August 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with rugby: Aphelele Fassi will start at fullback in the Springboks’ second Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies in Cape Town tomorrow. This follows the withdrawal of Willie le Roux due to injury. Fassi, who has 13 caps, started last week’s Test against the Wallabies in Johannesburg, where the Boks suffered a 38-22 defeat.

Meanwhile, the loose forward, Jean-Luc du Preez, says he is eager to make the most of his first start for the Boks in seven years. The 30-year-old will start at the back of the scrum in the absence of injured captain Siya Kolisi in a loose trio with flankers Marco van Staden and Franco Mostert. Du Preez says it’s natural to feel the weight of what this opportunity means:

# Cricket: South African spinner Keshav Maharaj is back on top of the world rankings for men’s one-day bowlers after his heroics in Tuesday’s first match against Australia in Cairns. He took his first five-wicket haul to help the Proteas beat the hosts by 98 runs. Thirty-five-year-old Maharaj overtook Kuldeep Yadav from India and Maheesh Theekshana from Sri Lanka to reclaim the top spot he held briefly at the end of 2023. Aiden Markram is the best placed Protea ODI batter in 21st position. South Africa was bowled out for 277 in today’s second ODI in Mackay.

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named a 48-man preliminary squad to face Nigeria and Lesotho in two World Cup qualifiers next month. Midfielder Sipho Mbule is one of 13 players from Orlando Pirates in the squad, while there are ten players from Mamelodi Sundowns, including Ronwen Williams and Fawaaz Basadien. There is also space for Bongouhle Hlongwane, who currently plays abroad for Minnesota United. Bafana Bafana is currently top of Group C in the qualifiers with 13 points after six matches.

# And finally, tennis: World number one, Italian Jannik Sinner, should be fit for the defence of his US Open title. He had to retire from the final of the Cincinnati Open against number two, Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, on Monday, and also withdrew from the US Open mixed doubles. Sinner’s coach, Darren Cahill, says he is suffering from a virus but is feeling better and they believe he will be ready. The final Grand Slam tournament of the year starts at Flushing Meadows in New York on Sunday.

Stay tuned for more news………….