Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 30 September 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with rugby: A first-ever consecutive Rugby Championship title awaits the Springboks if everything goes according to plan come Saturday. South Africa faces Argentina at Twickenham in London in the last round after two huge victories over the All Blacks and the Pumas following mixed results in the first three rounds. If the Boks beat Los Pumas again, even a 100-point victory for New Zealand over the Wallabies earlier on Saturday won’t be enough. If South Africa loses, the team winning the New Zealand-Australian clash will win the competition.

# Soccer: Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, says Fifa’s decision to deduct three points from Bafana Bafana in the World Cup qualifiers is deeply regrettable. South Africa has been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the game against Lesotho in March. Governing body Safa has been ordered to pay 215-thousand-rand, while Mokoena has been issued with a warning. McKenzie says his department will lead a thorough investigation into the incompetence that led to this sanction.

More soccer news: South Africa’s Amajita suffered a 2-1 defeat to France in their Fifa Under-20 World Cup Group E opener in Chile. Anthony Bermont put France ahead in the 25th minute. South Africa equalised courtesy of a penalty converted by Jody Ah Shene in the 33rd minute. France’s star forward Lucas Michal’s 80th-minute goal proved to be the winner. Amajita will be back in action against New Caledonia on Friday, and will face the US on Sunday.

# Netball: The North-West University’s Eagles are the Varsity champions after beating defending champions University of the Free State’s Kovsies 57–49 in the final in Bloemfontein. It is the Eagles’ third title, and their first since 2016. The Kovsies dictated the pace and led the first three quarters. The Eagles responded with determination and composure in the closing quarter, overturning the deficit with relentless defensive pressure and clinical execution in attack to seal victory. Coach Elsunet du Plessis praised her players for their resilience and mental strength.

# And finally, cricket: England Women’s coach Charlotte Edwards expects at least a semifinal finish in the one-day World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, starting today with the match between the two hostesses in Guwahati. England’s first encounter is against South Africa on Friday. England lost to Australia in the final of the previous tournament in 2022. Edwards hopes their victories over Australia and India in recent warm-up matchets will boost their confidence. The eight teams play each other once and the top-four advance to the semifinals.

Stay tuned for more news………….