South African coach Rudolf Straueli is expected to name bad boy Bakkies Botha in his starting line-up for the Springboks’ opening Rugby World Cup match against Uruguay.
Botha has not played for South Africa since being banned for eight weeks after the Tri-Nations clash with Australia in Brisbane, but has been training in what appears to be Straueli’s first-choice side.
The uncompromising lock forward was disciplined in August amid furious allegations from the Wallaby camp of foul play during the Springboks’ 29-9 defeat.
A hearing found Botha guilty of ”attacking the face” of Australian hooker Brendan Cannon, but said there was not enough evidence to charge him with eye-gouging and biting.
South Africa name their side for Saturday’s game against the Uruguayans on Thursday, but Straueli has hinted that the XV he has fielded in training will start.
”We are practising more or less the way we would like to play,” Straueli said on Wednesday, adding that the same side would be likely to start in the crunch meeting with England on October 18.
”It will most likely be a similar team barring one or two changes,” Straueli said.
South Africa have reported a clean bill of health with the only injury concern surrounding prop Dale Santon, who has a slight groin strain.
”We will make an assessment within the next two or three days but he won’t be training for the next two days,” Straueli said. — Sapa-AFP