De Villiers in frame to face All Blacks?
Springbok captain Jean de Villiers could make an earlier than expected return to the team and face New Zealand at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The surprise could come in the wake of South Africa's heartbreaking 20-24 loss to Australia in, which saw stand-in captain Victor Matfield suffer a hamstring injury – leaving the team rather thin in the captaincy resources.
Bok team doctor Craig Roberts confirmed that Matfield and Marcell Coetzee are the main injury concerns, following South Africa's return from Australia.
And, according to the doctor, the chances are "slim" that Matfield and Coetzee will front up to the haka in Johannesburg this coming Saturday.
However, the real bolter at the weekly medical update was that De Villiers may return to the selection frame a week earlier than expected.
It was never in the plans for De Villiers to face the All Blacks, as he was schedule to play a second warm-up match for Western Province – against the Eastern Province Kings.
The team doctor, Roberts, said that De Villiers came through his 60-minute performance for WP – in a Currie Cup pre-season friendly against the Pumas – "remarkably well" and may just be considered for selection in the Bok matchday 23.
"The feedback I got [from WP] was that it went really well," Roberts said, adding: "We will see him tomorrow [Tuesday] and unpack exactly how it went."
Roberts said De Villiers' possible return will be discussed in the coaches meeting.
"He was not supposed to play these two games [against the Wallabies and All Blacks], but the situation might change.
"That is obviously up to the coach and depending on Jean's progress as well."
De Villiers' earlier-than-expected return may be forced if Matfield is indeed ruled out, as the doctor expects.
Roberts said Matfield will undergo scans on Monday, after suffering a hamstring strain in the loss to the Wallabies.
"Once we get the result [of the scans] then we'll have a better picture in terms of his availability.
"At this stage he is doubtful, but we will only make that call at a later stage."
Coetzee took quite a big knock his knee and is also unlikely to feature at Ellis Park.
"It looks like his ligaments are all intact and he will also be reassessed today [Monday].
"We will do some tests to get a clear picture of where we are with him.
"It looks more like a bad contusion to the muscle in his quadricep," Roberts said, adding that a call on both Matfield and Coetzee will be made later in the week.
Flank Francois Louw, who got a nasty laceration to his cheek and was sutured before he returned to the field in Brisbane, is "fine" and looks good to play.
Prop Jannie du Plessis, who was taken off the field after concerns that he had suffered concussion, was tested and initially cleared.
"However, early in the second half he had symptoms that we weren't happy with and we brought him off," the doctor said.
"He is looking good at the moment and in all likelihood good for the weekend.
"There is protocol we have to follow, but I am optimistic that he will be alright for the weekend."
By Jan de Koning, in Johannesburg
@King365ed
@rugby365com
