THURSDAY, 11.00AM:
SPRINGBOK coach Nick Mallett’s hopes of upsetting France on Saturday suffered a severe a blow when fullback Justin Swart was ruled out on Wednesday night after pulling a hamstring at training.
A replacement is likely to be named on Thursday. First choice fullback Andre Joubert is unavailable to tour because of corrective surgery. Percy Montgomery, who looked suspect in the game against the French Barbarians on Tuesday, or Thinus Delprot, are likely to contest the position.
“This is a terrible blow and bad luck for Justin. He may have to be out of the tour, but we won’t know before Thursday,” said Mallett.
Meanwhile, there is also good news for the South African camp after Henry Honiball was declared fit on Wednesday. “Henry said to me on Monday he wouldn’t make himself available if he couldn’t play. When he came back from practice today he said he felt fine,” added Mallett.
THE SQUADS:
SOUTH AFRICA (vs France, first Test, Lyon): Justin Swart; James Small, Andre Snyman, Dick Muir, Pieter Rossouw; Henry Honiball, Joost van der Westhuizen (vice-capt); Gary Teichmann (capt), Andre Venter, Johan Erasmus, Mark Andrews, Krynau Otto, Adrian Garvey, James Dalton, Os du Randt. RESERVES: Werner Swanepoel, Percy Montgomery, Andrew Aitken, Braam Els, Dawie Theron, Naka Drotske.
SOUTH AFRICA (vs France A, Toulon): Thinus Delport; McNeil Hendricks, Percy Montgomery, Franco Smith, Breyton Paulse; Boeta Wessels, Dan van Zyl; Andrew Aitken (capt), Bobby Skinstad, Warren Brosnihan, Braam Els, Wium Basson, Willie Meyer, Dale Santon, Dawie Theron. RESERVES: Ollie le Roux, Andre Venter, Naka Drotske, Werner Swanepoel, Joe Gillingham, Jannie de Beer.
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