Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 9 March 12:30 pm

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

# We kick off with rugby: Springbok Sevens coach Philip Snyman says he is proud of the team’s clinical performance in the Vancouver Sevens final against Spain in Canada. South Africa scored six tries to overpower Spain 38-12 and secure their third tournament victory in five events in this season’s world series. Snyman says he is happy with the team’s consistency and squad depth:

Fifteen-man rugby: England’s first-ever loss to Italy saw them slipping down to sixth in the world rankings. Italy, who recorded their first victory over England in 33 Tests, is still tenth. South Africa and New Zealand are still the top-two countries in the world, followed by Ireland, who beat Wales in this weekend’s Six Nations fixtures. France is still fourth despite losing to Scotland on Saturday, and Argentina is now fifth. Scotland is seventh, Australia eighth and Fiji ninth.

# Cricket: East London in the Eastern Cape should be ready to host one-day World Cup matches next year, but Kimberley in the Northern Cape is not up to scratch yet. Both their unions are currently under administration. Border’s administrator, Greg Fredericks, says December’s ODI between the Proteas and Bangladesh should give a fair indication over Buffalo Park’s readiness. Northern Cape administrator Jesse Chellan still needs to meet with the provincial government over the quality of the Kimberley Oval. South Africa co-hosts the tournament with Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, the Proteas will depart Kolkata tomorrow after being stuck in India after the T20 World Cup due to the conflict in the Middle East. Players who will be involved in a five-match T20 series in New Zealand from Sunday, will travel directly from Kolkata to Mount Maunganui, while the rest will return home. Meanwhile, Proteas allrounder Corbin Bosch’s younger brother, Eathan, won’t get the chance to make his debut for South Africa because an injury forced him out of the tour. Keshav Maharaj will captain the side.

# And Iran’s soccer coach, Graham Arnold, wants their World Cup qualifier in Mexico later this month postponed due to the travel disruption caused by the Middle Eastern conflict. His charges are due to face Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey on the 31st. Arnold is worried local-based players won’t be able to travel to Mexico in time. He says using only overseas players would weaken his team and hinder their chances of qualifying for the first time since 1986, describing the encounter as their biggest in 40 years.

Stay tuned for more news………….