Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 18 August 12:30 pm

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

# We begin with sad rugby news: For the first time in four years, New Zealand is back at the top of the world rankings, replacing South Africa. This was made possible through their 41-24 victory over Argentina in their Rugby Championship opener. The Springboks have dropped to third place following their shocking 38-22 defeat to Australia after squandering a 22-point lead. Ireland is second, and France and England fourth and fifth, respectively. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson says the rankings show how tough Test rugby is:

Meanwhile, Boland Kavaliers overturned a 12-7 half-time deficit to register a 28-20 bonus-point victory in their Currie Cup clash against the Bulls in Wellington. The hosts outscored the visitors four tries to three, while six yellow cards were handed out through the game. The victory sees Boland solidify their spot in the top four of the competition and stay on course for a semifinal berth. Next, Boland will face Pumas, while the Bulls return to Loftus Versfeld for a clash with Griquas.

# Cricket: The Proteas have added teenage fast bowler Kwena Maphaka to their squad for the upcoming three-match one-day series against Australia. The 19-year-old was impressive in the T20s against the Aussies, picking up nine wickets to finish as the leading wicket-taker in the series which the hosts won 2-1. Meanwhile, Australia welcomes back experienced batter Marnus Labuschagne after he was dropped for the recent Test series against the West Indies. The first ODI will be played in Cairns tomorrow.

# Golf: South Africa’s Herman Loubser captured his second Sunshine Tour title by winning the Origins of Golf in the Free State. He beat compatriot Yurav Premlall on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. The pair finished regulation play tied for the lead on eight-under-par after their respective final rounds of 69 and 72. South Africans Pieter Moolman and George Coetzee, and England’s Joe Long finished joint third on six-under-par. Loubser was very happy with his performance:

# And finally, tennis: World number three, Iga Swiatek of Poland, will face Italian Jasmine Paolini in the Cincinnati Open final. Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, swept past Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina while Paolini battled past Russian Veronika Kudermetova in her semifinal. Swiatek has won all five previous matches against Paolini, including last year’s French Open. Meanwhile, the top-two men in the world will face off in the final: defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.

Stay tuned for more news………….