TUESDAY, 10.05AM:
SPRINGBOK coach Carel du Plessis suprised everyone on Monday when he named Justin Swart as the possible replacement for the injured Russell Bennett. Bennett is one of the four players to have to undergo a fitness test prior to selection.
While Andre Joubert is everyone’s choice to replace Bennett, Du Plessis said both Joubert and Swart will be considered for selection if Bennett is ruled out. “Andre and Justin are the two main contenders. There is no way Andre or any other player is shut out of selection,” he said.
Meanwhile, Joubert said he is fit and expressed his desire to represent his country once again. “I would like nothing more than a return to the Springbok team. But it’s not up to me,” said Joubert.
Missing from Monday’s practice session were Dawie Theron and James Small; both were down with flu and are expected back at training on Tuesday if they feel better. Fritz van Heerden did not train with the squad because of a flu-related chest problem.
Another casualty in the camp is Krynauw Otto. He is suffering from a back injury but trained with the rest of the squad. A decision to drop him or not will be taken on Wednesday. Gauteng Lions’ Hannes Strydom is likely to replace him.
Du Plessis justified his selection and said: “I have to go with what I believe is the capability of the players.”
SPORT BRIEFS
AMANDA NOW FIFTH SOUTH AFRICA’S Amanda Coetzer has climbed to the fifth spot in the women’s professional tennis rankings. According to the latest WTA Tour rankings released on Monday, Martina Hingis of Switzerland is number one followed by American Monica Seles, Jana Novotna of Czechoslovakia is third and Iva Majoli Croatia is fourth.
ERNIE LOSES RANK SOUTH AFRICA’S Ernie Els dropped from number two to three in the world golf rankings after his 49th-place finish in the PGA Championships recently. Greg Norman, who finished 19th in the PGA, is second behind Tiger Woods.
ACADEMIES DRAW The four-day match between South African Cricket Academy and New Zealand ended in a draw on Monday. South Africa added 111 runs in 28 overs before declaring to set a 264 target in the remaining 62 overs for New Zealand.
YORKSHIRE YOUTH TOUR THE Yorkshire Youth Amateur Rugby Football League are on a two-week long tour of South Africa, which kicks off at Athlone Boys High at 11:30am on Wednesday, Edenglen High on August 23, Pretoria on August 26 and Pilditch on August 29. They will also play an historic match against an all-black league team .
BOLTON HOOKS FISH BAFANA BAFANA defender Mark Fish is set to leave his Italian Serie A club Lazio to join English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers after agreeing on personal terms with the club.
SQUASH UPSETS MARIE CLARE and John van der Bijl caused upsets when they beat top seeds Lee Klette and Steve Doeg in their respective finals of the Van der Bijl Masters closed squash championships at the Chamber Exiles Centre in Johannesburg. Johann du Bruyn also won in the finals.