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London - Springbok coach Pieter de Villiers finds himself with a number of injury concerns halfway through the end of year tour to Europe.
It has been announced that the Boks have called up Ulster prop BJ Botha to the squad to cover the tighthead position.
CJ van der Linde was called into the squad once first choice props Jannie du Plessis and Gurthro Steenkamp returned home with injuries. On Tuesday the Leinster player limped off with a sore hamstring whilst lock Andries Bekker suffered a rib injury.
The loss of his first choice props presents De Villiers with a interesting challenge especially if one considers how the Boks have struggled in the scrums thus far.
Add to that the mauling the Italian scrum gave the All Blacks on Saturday and one would forgive the Bok management for losing a bit of sleep this week.
Botha, who has 17 caps for his country is still considered one of the country's better scrum exponents. Perhaps his inclusion will come as a blessing in disguise for the Bok team.
"We expected to dominate against Saracens in the scrums, but then we lost CJ early in the match," midweek coach Dick Muir told reporters.
"We also lost a lot of momentum when Bekker went off in the second half. To lose a player of CJ's experience is a big blow, but it may provide the next guy in line with an opportunity."
Source: Planet Rugby
It has been announced that the Boks have called up Ulster prop BJ Botha to the squad to cover the tighthead position.
CJ van der Linde was called into the squad once first choice props Jannie du Plessis and Gurthro Steenkamp returned home with injuries. On Tuesday the Leinster player limped off with a sore hamstring whilst lock Andries Bekker suffered a rib injury.
The loss of his first choice props presents De Villiers with a interesting challenge especially if one considers how the Boks have struggled in the scrums thus far.
Add to that the mauling the Italian scrum gave the All Blacks on Saturday and one would forgive the Bok management for losing a bit of sleep this week.
Botha, who has 17 caps for his country is still considered one of the country's better scrum exponents. Perhaps his inclusion will come as a blessing in disguise for the Bok team.
"We expected to dominate against Saracens in the scrums, but then we lost CJ early in the match," midweek coach Dick Muir told reporters.
"We also lost a lot of momentum when Bekker went off in the second half. To lose a player of CJ's experience is a big blow, but it may provide the next guy in line with an opportunity."
Source: Planet Rugby
