Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 18 September 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with cricket: Temba Bavuma will sit out today’s historic first ODI against Afghanistan in in the United Arab Emirates due to illness. In his absence, Aiden Markram will lead the team. This ODI series marks the first-ever meeting between Afghanistan and South Africa outside of ICC tournaments. The second ODI on Friday will also be played in Sharjah. This series will be followed by a series of ODIs and T20Is against Ireland in Abu Dhabi.

# Rugby: Rising Springbok star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been ruled out for about four and half weeks, as he has undergone knee surgery. The 22-year-old injured his knee during the first Rugby Championship match against New Zealand in Johannesburg last month. Despite carrying the knock, he featured off the bench in the second All Blacks Test in Cape Town. Coach Rassie Erasmus says Feinberg-Mngomezulu will only be available for the November tour of the UK:

More news about the sport is that Siya Kolisi will be in the coaches’ box when the Springboks take on Argentina in the Rugby Championship in Santiago on Saturday while he is nursing a facial injury. Salmaan Moerat will captain the team. Kolisi played the game in Cape Town with a broken nose after a collision with the All Blacks’ Sam Cane at Ellis Park, and has postponed an operation. Coach Rassie Erasmus says they want to expose Kolisi to what goes on in the box:

Meanwhile, Eben Etzebeth will equal Victor Matfield’s record of 127 Test appearances if he takes the field on Saturday. He will start on the bench with captain Salman Moerat and Ruan Nortjé picked as the locks to start. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to his starting team. Ox Nché, Nortjé, Jasper Wiese, Handré Pollard and Jesse Kriel are the only players who retain their starting positions.

# And finally, golf: Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth says he is expecting to make his return to the PGA Tour early next year after undergoing wrist surgery. The 31-year-old dealt with wrist issues since May last year, when he injured it while playing with his son. He resisted surgery at the time, opting for a rest-and-recovery strategy. The American finally had surgery last month. Spieth says his recovery is progressing well:

Stay tuned for more news………….