Pumas bank on returning Bok
Koch, who failed to make the Springbok World Cup squad, returned to Nelspruit on Monday where he will undergo a fitness test.
Should he pass he will be considered for the trip to Durban on Saturday and an encounter with the Sharks.
Having suffered their second loss of the season – an 11-41 hiding at the hands of the Golden Lions in Nelspruit last Friday – the Pumas hope the return of their Bok prop will provide the stability they lacked in the set pieces against the tournament front-runners.
Koch, a powerhouse in the Stormers scrum during the Super Rugby season, made his Bok debut as a replacement against New Zealand at Ellis Park in July. He then started against Argentina in Durban a fortnight later – a nightmare match in which he was replaced at half-time.
Despite the massive dent in his reputation, he remains a valuable asset to the ambitious Pumas.
"We are happy to have Vincent back," Pumas coach MJ Mentz said.
"He is unlucky to have missed out on the World Cup squad, but we are happy that now he is available to us.
"He needs to undergo a medical to see if he will be cleared to play for us this weekend".
The Pumas struggled in the scrum against Lions last Friday and Mentz said he hopes Koch will bring some stability in that facet of the game.
"Naturally we will be happy to include him [Koch] if he is declared fit.
The Pumas picked up no injuries in the loss against the Lions.
The Pumas will be hoping to do the double on the Sharks, after they beat them 33-24 in Nelspruit in Week One.
However, the Pumas have not been in the best form in recent weeks, having twice lost to the Lions in their last three games.
Mentz hopes that they have what it takes to triumph against the Sharks again.
"It is important for us to focus on our small processes," he said, adding: "There were many mistakes in the tight facets of the game.
"We want to tie up the loose ends this weekend because the Sharks are in a better space and we are going to have to play the full 80 minutes against them."
