Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 19 July 12:30 pm

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

# We start with rugby: Portugal firmly believes it has the power to beat South Africa in tomorrow’s Test in Bloemfontein – the first ever between the two countries. The Wolves take heart from their unexpected victory over Fiji during last year’s World Cup in France. Portugal is currently in 15th position in the world rankings and the world champions in first. Portuguese captain Tomas Appleton says the Springboks influenced their game style, and his team wants to shock the world every time they are playing.

The World Rugby Under 20 Championship, supported by the City of Cape Town, concludes at the Cape Town Stadium and Athlone Stadium today. The tournament has featured 24 games over the last three weeks. The Junior Springboks will get the action rolling in a seventh-place play-off against Wales at 2pm. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says the championship game between France and England will kick off at 7pm:

# Tennis: Twenty-two-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal is through to the quarterfinals of the Swedish Open in Bastad. The Spaniard defeated Britain’s Cameron Norrie, 6-4, 6-4, as he continues his preparation for the Olympics in Paris. Nadal will face Argentina’s Mariano Navone for a place in the semifinals. Qualifier Timofey Skatov of Kazakhstan beat third seed Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands in three sets to reach his maiden ATP Tour quarterfinal.

# Cycling: Belgium’s Victor Campenaerts emerged from a breakaway trio to clinch victory in stage 18 of the Tour de France. This is the 32-year-old Lotto–Dstny rider’s first-ever Tour stage win. Tadej Pogacar maintained his overall race lead of three minutes and eleven seconds. The 25-year-old Slovenian, who is three days away from winning the gruelling race for a third time, says he is remaining confident:

# And finally, Olympics: The athletes’ village in Paris which welcomed its first visitors yesterday, is described as a model of low-carbon construction. It also doesn’t need air conditioning, as the temperature inside will be at least six degrees lower than outside. The village will host about 14-thousand-500 people at its peak, which will include nine-thousand athletes participating in the Games from next week. After the Summer and Paralympic Games, the complex will be converted into homes, at least a third of them destined for public housing.

Stay tuned for more news………….