Bok 'warrior' soldiers on
Veteran Springbok prop Jannie du Plessis may not be able to train at all this week, but he will be 'fit' to face Scotland on Saturday.
Du Plessis, who will turn 30 the day before the Murrayfield Test, remains an injury concern – after he sustained a mild ankle sprain during the 16-12 victory over Ireland in Dublin last Saturday.
However, Bok coach Heyneke Meyer said he is confident the 40-times capped prop will take to the field in the second match of South Africa's year-end tour.
"One thing about Jannie, he is really a warrior," Meyer told a media briefing in Edinburgh, after naming the team to face the Scots on Saturday.
The Bok team shows two changes from the one that beat Ireland last weekend, with Gurthrö Steenkamp and Juan de Jongh being included in the starting line-up.
Steenkamp replaces CJ van der Linde at loosehead prop, after the latter took over as late replacement from Tendai Mtawarira last weekend.
De Jongh replaces Jaco Taute at outside centre.
Both Van der Linde and Taute have been included on the bench.
Du Plessis's ankle injury was a point of discussion at the media briefing on Wednesday, but Meyer dismissed it as a major concern.
"He is one of the guys that really stood out for me this year," the Bok mentor said, adding: In the two previous Tests he had injuries, where most of the other players will leave the field.
"He simply said: 'Don't worry, I'll play through.'
":You obviously don't want players to aggravate an injury, but he is really a warrior. He can't train this week, but we definitely need him there.
"He is one of the last players standing that we started with [at the beginning of] this year].
"If it was any other player, I would have been worried. However, Jannie is an unbelievable player, who is determined to play for his country.
"Although he hasn't trained this week, he'll be fit on Saturday."
