Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 17 July 12:30 pm

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

# We kick off with rugby: Saturday’s Test between South Africa and Portugal in Bloemfontein will make history for more than one reason. It will be the first-ever Test between the world champions and Portugal, and Hollie Davidson of Scotland will become the first woman ever to referee a Bok encounter. Salmaan Moerat will make his debut as South African captain in a squad which includes seven uncapped players. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus expects a high-tempo game at the Free State stadium, with kick-off at 5pm:

The first-choice Springboks are taking a 10-day break from today between the shared series against Ireland and the start of their preparations for the Rugby Championship. Meanwhile, management is sweating over the fitness of stalwarts Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx and Franco Mostert, who are all nursing serious injuries. The Boks’ first encounter in the Championship will be against the Wallabies in Brisbane on the tenth of next month.

# Golf: Two former champions, Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen, are among the South Africans who will tee off in the first round of the Open at Royal Troon in Scotland tomorrow. They will join compatriots such as Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Darren Fichardt and Dean Burmester in the oldest tournament in the world. Defending champion Brian Harman will tee off with American compatriot Sahith Theegala and Viktor Hovland of Norway. Three-time champion Tiger Woods of America is grouped with compatriots Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.  

# Cricket: England has made one change to their squad for the second Test against the West Indies starting at Trent Bridge tomorrow, with pace bowler Mark Wood recalled. He replaces the retired James Anderson, who ended his record-breaking career following the win in the first Test at Lord’s. England won by an innings and 114 runs in a little over two days. Wood, who has 108 wickets in 34 Tests, last played for England during their tour of India earlier this year.

# And, news from the Olympics: Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo is set to take a long-awaited dip in the Seine today to demonstrate the river is clean enough to host outdoor swimming. Despite investing billions of rand to prevent sewage leaks into the waterway, the Seine has been causing suspense after repeatedly failing water quality tests before the Games start next week. Only since the beginning of the month, with heavy rains finally giving way to drier weather, have samples shown the river to be ready for the open-water swimming and triathlon.

Stay tuned for more news………….