Tuesday is D-Day for Pienaar
Experienced scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar will know on Tuesday if he will continue to be part of South Africa's year-end tour.
The 30-year-old, capped 80 times for the Springboks, on Monday underwent a battery of fitness tests at the Springboks'' first field session in Dublin.
Although Pienaar came through the tests without any problems, a final decision on his participation in the November internationals will be made on Tuesday.
"We would just like to see how he responds overnight, but at the moment it's looking positive," said Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts.
Earlier on Monday Roberts suggested the veteran scrumhalf, Pienaar, was unlikely to be fit in time for South Africa's opening match of their year-end tour, against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Roberts gave the rest of the team, including No.8 Duane Vermeulen, a clean bill of health.
"The biggest decision we have to make this week is Ruan Pienaar, who hasn't played for a while," he said of the No.9 – who injured his medial knee ligaments while playing for his country against New Zealand in Wellington back in September.
"We have assessed him and we are relatively happy with where he is," Roberts said, adding: "However, we will see when he runs on the field and see where he is in terms of his recovery."
The doctor admitted they will have to make a decision on not only his availability for this game, but also the rest of the tour – the only injury concern at the moment.
The Bok medical staff had feedback from his Irish province Ulster's medical team, but want to judge for themselves where he is.
"At this stage it doesn't look like he is available for the game this weekend," Roberts said of Saturday's encounter with Ireland.
"We are hoping to have him available for England, but if he is not available for that we might need to look at a replacement."
He added that the veteran No.8, Vermeulen, has overcome the rib injuries that troubled him during the home leg of the Rugby Championships.
"Duane picked up a rib injury before the All Black Test [at Ellis Park in October] and then got through that game.
"However, he then injured a rib muscle on the other side.
"We kept him out of training last week and he has responded well and will train this week."
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