Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 6 February 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with lots of rugby news: Ireland’s head coach, Andy Farrell, has questioned his side’s fight against defending champions France in their Six Nations opener in Paris. Ireland began their campaign with a resounding 36-14 defeat. Farrell points out the lack of intensity in the first half, missed tackles, and not winning the scraps on the floor or the contests in the air, saying no team can win a Test with that approach:

One of Scotland’s top try-scorers of all time, South African-born Duhan van der Merwe, had meanwhile been left out of the squad for tomorrow’s Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome. British and Irish Lions fullback Blair Kinghorn was also not considered, while another prolific points machine, Darcy Graham, was picked on the bench. Coach Gregor Townsend replaced the back three with Tom Jordan, Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie, who gets his first start in the competition. Kick-off at Stadio Olimpico is at ten-past-four Saturday afternoon.

And the Stormers Rugby Institute is back up and running for the first time in seven years, with a fresh group of 12 starting at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport this week. The institute, last operational in 2018, has been revived as part of the framework of Project 2029, to make the most of the talent that comes through the Stormers Rugby pathway. Its coach, Jacques Hanekom, will give the players specialised coaching and holistic support in their first year out of school as they begin the transition to senior rugby.

# Moving on to soccer: Bafana Bafana will face Panama in two international friendlies in South Africa next month as part of their preparations for the World Cup. Governing body SAFA says Panama offers a competitive, physical, and tactically disciplined test that aligns closely with the level Bafana Bafana will face at the World Cup. Hugo Broos’s charges have been drawn in Group A alongside Mexico, South Korea, and the winner of UEFA Playoff D, either the Czech Republic, Ireland, Denmark, or North Macedonia.

# And cricket: Pakistan’s captain, Salman Agha, says they will seek government advice if they should have to meet co-host India in the knockout phase of the T20 World Cup. Their government already refused them permission to play the arch enemy in next Sunday’s group match, but refusal in a knockout match will mean elimination. Agha realises they will have to win their matches against Namibia, the Netherlands and America and hope for good weather to survive the group stage. Pakistan will play all their matches in co-host nation Sri Lanka.

Stay tuned for more news………….