Springbok coach Jake White is a relieved man after hearing the news that his first-choice scrumhalf Fourie du Preez will be fit for the upcoming Grand Slam tour.
Speaking at the Boks’ training session at St John’s College on Tuesday, White said that Du Preez had been for X-rays on his injured foot on Monday.
”They found some inflammation of the foot, so he won’t be able to train this week,” said White. ”But he will definitely be ready for our first game against Wales.”
Other injury worries ahead of the four-week tour, which includes a Test against Argentina, were lock Bakkies Botha and flanker AJ Venter.
”Someone stood on Bakkies’s foot in the Currie Cup final, so we sent him for precautionary X-rays,” said White. ”But he is okay.”
Unlike Botha, who participated fully in training, Venter’s hamstring injury prevented him from working up a sweat.
”AJ was injured in the Currie Cup and will definitely not be considered for the first Test,” said White.
New cap Bryn Habana was giving his sweat glands a full workout.
Habana, a former scrumhalf until he switched to centre, was back in his old position for the Boks’ practice moves.
Asked if he would consider playing Habana at the base of the scrum, White said: ”No, definitely not. He is not as sharp as he used to be in that position.”
Otherwise, White was very happy with the Boks’ progress.
”This is the best session we have had. The guys are running all the Currie Cup cobwebs out.” — Sapa