TUESDAY, 10.30AM:
The only change to the Springbok squad to face Scotland in Saturday’s Test at Murrayfield is the return of injured flanker Rassie Erasmus to replace Andrew Aitken.
Aitken returns to the bench in place of Bobby Skinstad.
Erasmus missed last weekend’s 29-11 defeat of England after suffering a head injury during the second Test against France.
Said Bok coach Nick Mallett: “It’s not a case of Andrew playing poorly, because I thought he played very well against England — simply that it would be unfair not to bring Rassie straight back now that he is fit.”
Meanwhile, Springbok lock Mark Andrews has scotched reports of a million-pound offer to sign for English club Bath. On Monday the tabloid Daily Mirror reported Andrews is to be made the biggest offer yet to an overseas player. However, Andrews said: “I’ve not even received an offer from Bath. In fact, I’ve not received any offer from any other club in the UK.”
The squads:
SOUTH AFRICA: Percy Montgomery, James Small, Andre Snyman, Dick Muir, Pieter Rossouw, Henry Honiball, Werner Swanepoel, Gary Teichmann (capt), Andre Venter, Rassie Erasmus, Krynauw Oto, Mark Andrews, Adrian Garvey, James Dalton, Os du Randt.
SCOTLAND: (To be trimmed to 21 players): Backs: Gary Armstrong, Craig Chalmers, James Craig, Duncan Hodge, Craig Joiner, Kenny Logan, Andy Nichol, Rowen Shepherd, Tony Stanger, Derek Stark, Alan Tait, Gregor Townsend. Forwards: Gordon Bulloch, Stewart Campbell, George Graham, Stuart Grimes, David Hilton, Scott Murray, Grant McKelvey, Eric Peters, Stuart Reid, Ian Smith, Barry Stewart, Mattie Stewart, Rob Wainwright, Peter Walton.
SPORT BRIEFS
FIVE WINDIES TESTS UNITED Cricket Board MD Ali Bacher on Monday announced that the West Indies cricket team will play five Test matches against SA in their 1998/99 SA tour. Bacher said although the itinerary has yet to be finalised, the first match will be played at Wanderers in Johannesburg from November 26 to 30.
STOFFBERG TO BULLS MPUMALANGA rugby coach James Stoffberg was on Monday appointed assistant coach of the Northern Bulls for next year’s Super 12 competition.
BRITS SPLITS WITH COACH SOUTH African pole vaulter Okkert Brits said on Monday that he has parted ways with his coach Joep Loots. Brits said the parting of ways is not the result of dissension and thanked Loots for what they achieved together. Brits will manage his own affairs from now on.
U23s VS UGANDA THE SA under-23 soccer team will play a friendly match against their Ugandan counterparts at Chasworth Stadium in Durban on Wednesday.
RAIN FORCES DRAW THE Supersport Series cricket match between Natal and Eastern Province was declared a draw after three of the four days of play were washed out by rain.