Exiles hopeful for Bok prop
London Irish remain hopeful that their World Cup-winning Springbok tighthead prop CJ van der Linde will recover from a calf injury in time to make his debut at home to Gloucester on Sunday.
The South Africa front row forward was a late withdrawal from Exiles' starting line-up for last Friday's 3-15 defeat at Sale Sharks.
Being able to call on Van der Linde's physical presence and huge experience against Gloucester would be a massive boost for a pack that has been conceding scrum penalties at an alarming rate recently.
Exiles Director of Rugby Brian Smith said: "CJ was going to travel with us [to face Sale], but he was still struggling last Thursday so we decided that if he had specialist treatment on the Friday [instead of playing] that would give him the very best shot of playing this weekend.
"His record shows that he is a player who needs to be handled carefully."
Van der Linde picked up a 2007 World Cup winners' medal with South Africa before joining Leinster, where his career was blighted by a foot problem.
He spent last season at Johannesburg-based Super Rugby team Lions.
Smith is keen for Van der Linde to bolster a pack that has struggled to cope with the loss of Halani Aulika to an Achilles injury.
But Exiles boss insists he still has faith in tight-head prop Leo Halavatau.
Smith said: "CJ's been capped 75 times by the Springboks and will have a galvanising effect."
"Saying that, Leo had one of his better games on Friday.
"He was involved in some very big collisions in attack and defence.
"He handled the scrum pretty well.
"It would be a huge bonus if CJ is good to go, but I have confidence in the other guys as well."
None of the players on Irish's long-term injury list – Aulika, Marland Yarde, Jon Fisher, Setaimata Sa, Pat Phibbs, Tom Homer and David Paice – will be returning against Gloucester or their crunch clash with bottom-of-the-table Worcester Warriors on January 4.
Source: getreading.co.uk
