×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Boks fit for 2nd Test says doc

THE Springboks received a virtually clean bill of health ahead of this Saturday's second Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks in Durban.

THE Springboks received a virtually clean bill of health ahead of this Saturday's second Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks in Durban.

Two players, lock Andries Bekker and centre Adi Jacobs, have both recovered from injury and will be available for selection, adding to the Boks' already burgeoning player reserves.

Meanwhile, after this past weekend's bruising encounter, only Ruan Pienaar is in some doubt after sustaining an ankle injury, but Bok doctor Craig Roberts said he was optimistic the flyhalf would recover in time.

"We came through relatively well in the game. Pienaar rolled his ankle in a tackle just before half time.

"We had the opportunity to assess him properly at half time and decided it was better to pull him off rather than risk further injury.

"He has a grade-one ankle strain. He looks quite good today - he did some straight line running and we are optimistic he will be ready for this weekend's game.

"The other one (injury) is Jean de Villiers', which the commentators made out to be worse than it really was," Roberts said. "He just had cramp. He has not played a lot of games of late and cramped up but it looked worse than it actually was. He is fit and ready to play."

Roberts said Bismarck du Plessis had suffered a light ankle strain but he was confident that the hooker would be fit to play.

Bok coach Peter de Villiers will now need to weigh up whether Morne Steyn should start ahead of Pienaar this weekend, as well as whether Jaque Fourie did enough to keep Jacobs from retaining his No 13 jersey. - Sapa

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.