The Springboks got a timely boost ahead of their departure to Australia for the start of the Rugby Championship after news that a number of key players are recovering well from injury.
Key Rugby World Cup-winning forwards Malcolm Marx and Pieter-Steph du Toit could be ready to face the Wallabies on August 10 after it was initially thought they could miss one of two of matches against the Australians Down Under.
Marx suffered a leg fracture in the second Test against Ireland after a shocking “croc-roll”. However, Erasmus said on Tuesday that the No 2 is 90% ready for the match and a call on his fitness will be made in the week leading up the the Test.
Du Toit suffered a bruised knee in the same match, but Erasmus says he should be fit for the first clash at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
More good new news was prop Steven Kitshoff is back after missing the second half of the United Rugby Championship, while scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, who is struggling with a groin injury, could also be in the mix when the All Blacks visit for two Test matches in Johannesburg and Cape Town on August 31 and September 7.
Kitshoff could do some much-needed game time with Western Province in the Currie Cup to get some time in the legs ahead of the rest of the Springboks Test program. The Boks are well-stocked at prop, but the red-headed loosehead is one of the best in the world and a player who gives them a gun option.
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Erasmus hinted that the Bulls’ Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who can play both loosehead and hooker, was picked as cover for a Marx in case he isn’t fit for the opening match.
“Kitsie needs to play some rugby. Malcolm is 90 percent to play next week. That’s why we take a Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who can cover loosehead prop and hooker,” said Erasmus.
“Pieter-Steph will be ready to play next week, and that makes your team selection interesting, because then you can play around with your bench selection, picking two locks or two loose forwards in a 6-2 split because he can cover No 5.
“But that must be a fit Pieter-Steph. He had a bit of a bruised knee and now he has the flu. So he couldn’t train fully for us over the last few days.”
One man who could feature from the start against the Wallabies is Bulls lock and captain Ruan Nortje.
Nortje was overlooked in the Test matches against Ireland and Portugal, but Franco Mostert’s injury had opened the door for the Bulls man.
RG Snyman started for the Boks at No 5 in the second Test against against Ireland and the one-off match against Portugal. However, his impact as part of the “bomb squad” may see Nortje start, with Snyman’s ability in the loose in the second half more of a factor.
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“He is very much a like for like replacement [for Mostert]. He was unlucky not to be selected to the Ireland Tests, he was was in our alignment camps,” said Erasmus of Nortje.
“Ruan was just unlucky because the other guys was in-form and playing really well. Because of the injuries, he gets his opportunity.
“With some of his other Bulls teammates in the team, there are also combinations there. They have connections and they won’t be totally new to playing together if selected.”
IOL Sport