Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 9 September 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with rugby: Jasper Wiese marched right back into the Springboks’ starting-15 after completing his four-match ban for a headbutt during July’s Test against Italy. Coach Rassie Erasmus picked him in the number eight jersey for Saturday’s Rugby Championship match against New Zealand in Wellington, moving captain Siya Kolisi back to flank. Erasmus says Wiese is itching to make his presence felt after only being able to train the past two months. He says Wiese will probably not play the full 80 minutes, but they definitely need him.

Meanwhile, the Bulls’ new coach, Johan Ackermann, named Bok lock Ruan Nortjé as team captain for the new United Rugby Championship season, starting later this month. He picked a group of 56 players – 32 forwards and 24 backs – in the squad that includes experienced players such as Bok flyhalf Handré Pollard and centre Jan Serfontein, and Junior Bok world champions Esethu Mnebelele, JJ Theron, Jean Erasmus, Jaco Grobbelaar en Cheswill Jooste. The Bulls play their first match home against Ospreys on the 27th.

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana will host Nigeria in Bloemfontein today, knowing that a victory will ensure direct qualification for next year’s World Cup – assuming there are no points deductions. FIFA is yet to rule on whether South Africa will be docked three points for fielding the suspended Teboho Mokoena in the 2-0 victory over Lesotho in March. Bafana lead Group C with 16 points, with Benin second and Nigeria third. Captain Ronwen Williams says they are focused on the game:

# Cricket: England will rest top-order batters Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith for the T20 series against South Africa. In their absence, Phil Salt, who has been on paternity leave, looks set to open the batting alongside either Tom Banton or Will Jacks. Head coach Brendon McCullum says they must learn how to cope better with their busy international schedule, which includes giving players rest. The first of the three T20s will be played in Cardiff tomorrow.

# And finally, tennis: Newly-crowned US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz says a career Grand Slam is his main objective after clinching his sixth Grand Slam title on Sunday. He replaced his main rival, Italian Jannik Sinner, in the number one world ranking, and would become the youngest man to win all four majors if he is victorious in the Australian Open in January. Twenty-two-year-old Alcaraz had never made it past the quarterfinals in Melbourne. His famous compatriot, Rafael Nadal, was 24 when he achieved the career Grand Slam in 2010.

Stay tuned for more news………….