Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer will know by the end of Monday morning whether he will be in position to start bleeding a clutch of experienced players back into the team, as he heads into the final 160 minutes of on-field preparation for the Rugby World Cup.
The Boks play their final Castle Lager Rugby Championship test against Argentina at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban on Saturday. While the match means nothing to the tournament – in fact the loser will take the wooden spoon – it is of critical importance to both teams as they fine tune for the global showpiece event that kicks off in the middle of next month in England.
Meyer announced last week that regular skipper Jean de Villiers, experienced scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and ball-hugging blindside flank Willem Alberts could all be back in the selection mix this week, but it will depend on how they get through the medical assessments scheduled for Monday morning. Team doctor Craig Roberts will host a media conference at lunch time to clarify where those players stand, and update the injury situation regarding the rest of the squad.
There was good news for the Boks when Pieter-Steph du Toit came through his comeback match for the Sharks against the Lions in Pietermaritzburg without showing any ill effects from the injury that has sidelined him since March.
Another Sharks player, Frans Steyn, is also expected back in the mix shortly, and although it is unlikely he will play this week, there is a good chance he will be able to feature in the Boks’ final World Cup preparation game against the Pumas in Buenos Aires the week after the Durban game. The Boks will remain in Durban until they fly out to Argentina next Thursday.
The players not selected to play in Buenos Aires will remain in Durban and continue with their training camp. It was understood at the start of the international season that Meyer would send an under-strength squad to Argentina, but the disruptions caused by injuries, which have prevented his first-choice team from playing together, may have changed those plans.
It will be interesting to see how many of the so-called old guard Meyer selects for this week’s game as, while time is running out for him to see all his options, several of the newcomers impressed in the matches against Australia and New Zealand.
Players involved in the All Black test in Johannesburg just over a week ago who will definitely not be playing against the Pumas this week include Jannie du Plessis (knee) and Francois Louw (shoulder). The former’s injury is not serious enough to threaten his participation at the World Cup, so his absence from this week’s team should offer an opportunity to either Frans Malherbe or Vincent Koch, who are both expected to be over minor injury concerns and given a full bill of health on Monday.
Louw’s absence, coupled possibly with that of Marcell Coetzee (the flank is to be assessed on Monday), will give Heinrich Brussow a chance to further build on his solid performance in his comeback match against the Kiwis.
So much disruption due to injury. Go Bokke you should have won both matc hes barring bent reffing favouring those down under rogues. They will get thei r come uppance come the RWC
