Jannie du Plessis says he is delighted to be included in the Springbok touring party of 28 players for the away fixtures of the Tri-Nations series against the All Blacks and Wallabies.
”I started training with the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs from last week. My foot injury is 100%,” said Du Plessis. ”If it was not for my inclusion in the Bok side, the plan was to pick me for the Cheetahs 22 for Friday’s Currie Cup clash against the Falcons.”
Due to his injury, Du Plessis had to withdraw from the Emerging Boks who participated in the Nations Cup in Romania earlier this month.
He said that after that disappointment, and being left out of the first Bok training squad of 46 players earlier this year, he is now delighted with his inclusion.
”It will be a bonus to play in a Test with my brother, Bismarck du Plessis ” said Du Plessis.
The Du Plessis brothers and Western Province flyhalf Peter Grant are the only uncapped players in the Bok touring group. Jannie du Plessis, Deon Carstens, Eddie Andrews and Cobus Visagie are the props in the Bok squad.
Coach Jake White has opted to rest his big guns for the tour to Australasia. He said on Sunday it would be ”a ludicrous risk” to take all his players on tour in this World Cup year.
There are nine black players in the squad, which sees a number of tourists to Ireland and England in November back in the mix.
With White resting his key men and regular skipper John Smit unavailable through injury, a new captain will have to be named in the coming days. Former Test captain Bob Skinstad is the favourite to lead the side, but the name of Gary Botha has also been mentioned.
The Boks will depart on Wednesday from Johannesburg and play Australia on July 7 in Sydney in their first away Test. They will play against the All Blacks in Christchurch. — Sapa