Nine players have returned to the Springbok squad ahead of Saturday’s Test against Samoa in Johannesburg, team manager Zola Yeye said on Monday.
Hooker Bismarck du Plessis, flanks Luke Watson, Wikus van Heerden and Pedrie Wannenburg, flyhalf Derick Hougaard, centres Wayne Julies and Waylon Murray, wing JP Pietersen and lock Johan Ackermann are back in the camp.
All except Wannenburg were part of the 46-man training squad initially announced before the two Tests against England, which South Africa won 58-10 and 55-22.
Yeye said there was no news yet on the severity of a knee injury that leading wing Bryan Habana picked up in Saturday’s win over England in Pretoria.
”His knee is being monitored and he has been having scans but we cannot speculate about any time frames for him playing,” Yeye told reporters.
”The coach [Jake White] will make the call on Wednesday as to which players stay in camp when he names his 22 for the match against Samoa. Most of the nine guys coming in will probably get some game time,” Yeye said.
Prop CJ van der Linde had suffered a bump to the nose but was not expected to be out of action for long, according to a statement issued by SA Rugby on Monday.
Yeye said veteran front rower Os du Randt would ”hopefully be able to play this weekend” after injury.
Flank Danie Rossouw, who withdrew from the second Test against England on the eve of the match due to influenza, centre Jaque Fourie and prop Gurthro Steenkamp, who hurt his neck in Pretoria, are all fit and should be available for selection against Samoa. — Reuters