Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 4 February 12:30 pm

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

# We kick off with rugby: Springbok Sevens player Ryan Oosthuizen says they are confident they will put on a better performance in the Perth Sevens this weekend. The Blitzboks finished fourth in Singapore last weekend. South Africa is in Pool A alongside Spain, Fiji, and Argentina. Oosthuizen, who will play in his 60th World Series tournament, says he is pleased with the outcomes of all the team’s discussions, mainly focusing on responsibilities and standards:

More rugby news is the Prendergast brothers, Sam and Cian, will be together in Ireland’s starting team for the first time in tomorrow’s Six Nations opener against France at the Stade de France in Paris. Cian will make his debut in the competition on flank while Sam will don the number ten jersey. Head coach Andy Farrell made seven changes to the starting-15 from November’s 24-13 defeat to the Springboks in Dublin. Ireland is without both first-choice wingers Mack Hansen and James Lowe due to injury.

# Cricket: Two-time champion England is under pressure in the T20 World Cup after its embarrassing Ashes series against Australia, and its poor showing in the one-day World Cup and previous T20 showpiece two years ago. The team boasts several big-name batters such as Jos Buttler, Phil Salt and Ben Duckett, while captain Harry Brook and Tom Banton can do serious damage in the middle stages. Pundits point out a potential weakness among the pace bowlers, with Mark Wood injured and Jofra Archer just returning from injury.

# Golf: The Official World Golf Ranking says only the top ten finishers in LIV Golf’s 14 individual stroke-play events will earn world ranking points this year. This is the first time since the Saudi Arabia-funded breakaway tour was formed in 2022 that players will have the chance to earn ranking points. The ranking board says the points were being restricted to the top ten finishers because it recognises there are several areas where LIV Golf does not meet the eligibility standards. LIV’s season begins in Saudi Arabia today.

# And finally, soccer: Arsenal moved a step closer to winning their first major silverware since 2020 by beating Chelsea 4-2 on aggregate in the Carabao Cup semifinal. They carried a 3-2 advantage from the first leg, and Kai Havertz’s stoppage-time goal sealed the victory for Mikel Arteta’s side. Arsenal will face either Manchester City or Newcastle in next month’s final at Wembley. Arteta says they deserved to make the final:

Stay tuned for more news………….