Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 25 August 12:30 pm

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

# First up is rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says they are determined to bounce back from their bruising 33-16 defeat to the All Blacks in the first Test in Johannesburg. Handrè Pollard returns at flyhalf for Saturday’s second Test in Cape Town, while Cobus Reinach and Ethan Hooker are also included. Siya Kolisi will play if fit. Erasmus says they need to convert the chances they create into points to earn the desired result:

Meanwhile, few will back the Lions to end the All Blacks’ undefeated status of their South African tour in Johannesburg this evening. New Zealand looks ominous after victories over the Stormers, the Bulls, the Sharks and the Springboks in their first four tour matches. Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has named his strongest possible team, boosted by the inclusion of Quan Horn and Boan Venter, who were released from the national squad for the encounter. Kick-off at Ellis Park is at seven tonight.

# Soccer: Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has criticised local governing body SAFA over the delay in appointing Pitso Mosimane as new Bafana Bafana head coach. SAFA’s National Executive Committee approved the appointment earlier this month, but no official announcement had been made due to a breakdown in contract negotiations. Bafana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign kicks off next month. McKenzie is waiting on SAFA’s report:

# Cricket: South Africa will be without all-rounder Jason Smith for the T20 tri series against Namibia and Zimbabwe in Windhoek due to injury. The 31-year-old has suffered an adductor muscle strain. Björn Fortuin will captain the squad for the series, which will run from Friday to next Sunday. Smith will undergo further assessments to determine his availability for the one-day series against Namibia, scheduled to start on September ninth. South Africa has opted not to name a replacement for Smith.

And more cricket news, England fast bowler Brydon Carse has been withdrawn from the squad for the second Test against Pakistan, which starts at Lord’s on Thursday, following an incident outside a Derby nightclub. A video emerged of him in handcuffs being led away by police on Saturday night. The England and Wales Cricket Board has referred the incident to the Cricket Regulator to investigate. Carse, who has been replaced by Sonny Barker, is the third English player to miss a Test because of a disciplinary issue over the past 12 months.

Stay tuned for more news………….