The Springboks provided good news on the injury front following concerns about several players carrying minor injuries ahead of the series against Ireland.
Rassie Erasmus named a strong squad of 39 players and an additional 14 players on a standby list for the two-Test series against Ireland, which gets underway next Saturday in Pretoria.
Cheslin Kolbe (knee) and Lukhanyo Am (rib) – who joined the Springbok squad at different stages during the training camp in Pretoria to do their rehabilitation under the supervision of the Bok medical team – are back from injury and will be ready to face Ireland.
Erasmus, however, confirmed that three players Faf de Klerk (quadriceps), Edwill van der Merwe (shoulder) and Makazole Mapimpi (hamstring) had picked up niggles in the opening Test of the year against Wales at Twickenham, but he was satisfied that there was enough cover in the squad with Arendse, Kolbe and Am available for selection.
“Where we are currently standing with injuries is that Cheslin (Kolbe) has been cleared to play, and we’ll manage Edwill (van der Merwe), Faf (de Klerk), and (Makazole) Mapimpi this week, although they should be available for selection for the first Ireland Test,” said Erasmus.
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The coach added that wing Canan Moodie, who had surgery to repair a fractured finger earlier this month, could also make a welcome return to the national team in the next few weeks.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
