Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has indirectly signalled that Elton Jantjies will be fit to face Ireland at Newlands on Saturday after cutting Garth April from the squad.
April‚ along with scrumhalf Nic Groom‚ hooker Scarra Ntubeni and flank Sikhumbuzo Notshe have been released to join the SA ‘A’ side as they prepare to take on the England Saxons in Bloemfontein.
But Jantjies is unlikely to start.
On Monday team doctor Conrad von Hagan said that a call on whether Jantjies had recovered sufficiently from a broken finger would only be taken after Thursday’s training session. That’s the day when Jantjies will take full contact for the first time since surgery to place a screw to stabilise the finger was done two weeks ago.
The plan‚ though‚ appears to have been accelerated with April being cut loose. He and the three others will join up with coach Johan Ackermann in Bloemfontein on Tuesday evening.
Interestingly‚ locks Pieter-Steph du Toit and Franco Mostert both remain with the Boks‚ suggesting that Coetzee will give Du Toit the maximum time to prove he is over a hamstring injury.
The Stormers lock‚ who has been in superb form during Super Rugby‚ ran freely at training on Monday in public view and it’s understood he also took part in the Boks’ forward session behind closed doors on Tuesday.
It appears that Pat Lambie will start at flyhalf against Ireland in the first Test at Newlands with Jantjies on the bench while Lions scrumhalf Faf de Klerk looks set for a Test debut with Rudy Paige benched.
Damian de Allende will partner Lionel Mapoe at centre with Willie le Roux‚ JP Pietersen and Lwazi Mvovo making up the back three.
Duane Vermeulen will start at No 8‚ with Francois Louw and Siya Kolisi to start on the flanks. Kolisi will make his first Test start after 13 caps from the bench.
Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager will partner in the second row with Tendai Mtawarira‚ Adriaan Strauss and Frans Malherbe making up the front row.
Probable Bok team:
15-Willie le Roux‚ 14-JP Pietersen‚ 13-Lionel Mapoe‚ 12-Damian de Allende‚ 11-Lwazi Mvovo‚ 10-Pat Lambie‚ 9-Faf de Klerk‚ 8-Duane Vermeulen‚ 7-Siya Kolisi‚ 6-Francois Louw‚ 5-Lood de Jager‚ 4-Eben Etzebeth‚ 3-Frans Malherbe‚ 2-Adriaan Strauss (capt)‚ 1-Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: 16-Bongi Mbonambi‚ 17-Trevor Nyakane‚ 18-Julian Redelinghuys‚ 19-Pieter-Steph du Toit/Franco Mostert‚ 20-Warren Whiteley‚ 21-Rudy Paige‚ 22-Elton Jantjies‚ 23-Jesse Kriel.
Clear signal that Elton is fit after April cut
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has indirectly signalled that Elton Jantjies will be fit to face Ireland at Newlands on Saturday after cutting Garth April from the squad.
April‚ along with scrumhalf Nic Groom‚ hooker Scarra Ntubeni and flank Sikhumbuzo Notshe have been released to join the SA ‘A’ side as they prepare to take on the England Saxons in Bloemfontein.
But Jantjies is unlikely to start.
On Monday team doctor Conrad von Hagan said that a call on whether Jantjies had recovered sufficiently from a broken finger would only be taken after Thursday’s training session. That’s the day when Jantjies will take full contact for the first time since surgery to place a screw to stabilise the finger was done two weeks ago.
The plan‚ though‚ appears to have been accelerated with April being cut loose. He and the three others will join up with coach Johan Ackermann in Bloemfontein on Tuesday evening.
Interestingly‚ locks Pieter-Steph du Toit and Franco Mostert both remain with the Boks‚ suggesting that Coetzee will give Du Toit the maximum time to prove he is over a hamstring injury.
The Stormers lock‚ who has been in superb form during Super Rugby‚ ran freely at training on Monday in public view and it’s understood he also took part in the Boks’ forward session behind closed doors on Tuesday.
It appears that Pat Lambie will start at flyhalf against Ireland in the first Test at Newlands with Jantjies on the bench while Lions scrumhalf Faf de Klerk looks set for a Test debut with Rudy Paige benched.
Damian de Allende will partner Lionel Mapoe at centre with Willie le Roux‚ JP Pietersen and Lwazi Mvovo making up the back three.
Duane Vermeulen will start at No 8‚ with Francois Louw and Siya Kolisi to start on the flanks. Kolisi will make his first Test start after 13 caps from the bench.
Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager will partner in the second row with Tendai Mtawarira‚ Adriaan Strauss and Frans Malherbe making up the front row.
Probable Bok team:
15-Willie le Roux‚ 14-JP Pietersen‚ 13-Lionel Mapoe‚ 12-Damian de Allende‚ 11-Lwazi Mvovo‚ 10-Pat Lambie‚ 9-Faf de Klerk‚ 8-Duane Vermeulen‚ 7-Siya Kolisi‚ 6-Francois Louw‚ 5-Lood de Jager‚ 4-Eben Etzebeth‚ 3-Frans Malherbe‚ 2-Adriaan Strauss (capt)‚ 1-Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: 16-Bongi Mbonambi‚ 17-Trevor Nyakane‚ 18-Julian Redelinghuys‚ 19-Pieter-Steph du Toit/Franco Mostert‚ 20-Warren Whiteley‚ 21-Rudy Paige‚ 22-Elton Jantjies‚ 23-Jesse Kriel.