Six players missed today’s Springbok training session with colds but are likely to recover to front England at Loftus on Saturday.
Deon Carstens, Waylon Murray, Wynand Olivier, BJ Botha, Danie Rossouw and Ashwin Willemse stayed at the team hotel to reduce the risk of it spreading the their teammates. Team manager Zola Yeye sort to allay fears that it would keep the players out of selection contention by playing down the seriousness of the illness.
“They are being monitored and treated and once they’ve been given a clean bill of health they’ll rejoin the squad,†he said.
The other notable absentee as AJ Venter, who Yeye said had travelled back to Durban for contract talks with the Sharks and to be with his wife whom he recently returned from honeymoon with.
This is an interesting development considering that the veteran forward announced at the end of last year that he would retire at the end of this season. Yeye said he was never going to be considered for selection for this Test, and that he would rejoin the squad on Sunday.
Judging from the way the Boks lined up in training, Butch James looks to have held onto the flyhalf berth despite rumours that Derick Hougaard would start at Loftus. Jaque Fourie ran at outside centre and looks set to regain the No 13 shirt after an injury enforced lay-off, while Akona Ndungane took over from Willemse on the wing.
Up front Gurthro Steenkamp and CJ van der Linde packed down at loosehead and tighthead respectively, while Pierre Spies trained at No 8.
Luke Watson got about his tackle bag business relatively quietly, but there’s absolutely no question that the Stormers man is in an uncomfortable environment. There was no interaction between him and Jake White, although the coach was busy with what looked to be the run-on side. Watson looked resigned to the fact that he’ll be back in Cape Town tomorrow afternoon when the side is cut, probably to return on Sunday.
The session started out relatively low key with a series of speed and skill drills before White directed an hour long period where the Boks concentrated on their structures.
Judging from that, they are unlikely to stray too far from the game plan they employed in Bloemfontein a week ago. They are still employing Schalk Burger and Juan Smith as second and third phase strike runners, while Bryan Habana and Percy Montgomery were encouraged to hit up into the backline often.
Generally they looked sharp and focussed and England can brace for another almighty contest come Saturday.
The Boks announce their side tomorrow.