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Cape Town - An injury to Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth could see coach Heyneke Meyer bring Bakkies Botha back into the squad.
According to EWN Sport, the Springboks are sweating over the availability of Etzebeth, who is reportedly struggling with a hip injury.
Etzebeth will see a specialist in Johannesburg on Wednesday, with Meyer apparently interested in utilising either Franco van der Merwe or Botha as cover in the upcoming Rugby Championship.
The 29-year-old Van der Merwe represented the Lions in Super Rugby this year and has played for the Emerging Springboks in the past.
Botha, a 76-Test veteran, currently plays for French club Toulon.
Earlier on Monday, Meyer called up Western Province centre Juan de Jongh in place of the injured JP Pietersen.
Sharks winger Pietersen fractured his thumb in the Super Rugby final in Hamilton on Saturday. He underwent scans on Monday and will undergo an operation on Wednesday. The normal recovery time for such an injury is six to eight weeks.
The Boks start their Rugby Championship campaign against newcomers Argentina at Newlands on August 18.
The current Springbok squad:
Backs: JJ Engelbrecht, Francois Hougaard, Zane Kirchner, Morne Steyn and Jano Vermaak (Bulls), Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pietersen and Francois Steyn (Sharks), Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana and Jean de Villiers, captain (Stormers), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster/NIR)
Forwards: Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Keegan Daniel, Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), Dean Greyling, Juandre Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Jacques Potgieter, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Pierre Spies (Bulls), Andries Bekker, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi (Stormers), Pat Cilliers (Lions), Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)
According to EWN Sport, the Springboks are sweating over the availability of Etzebeth, who is reportedly struggling with a hip injury.
Etzebeth will see a specialist in Johannesburg on Wednesday, with Meyer apparently interested in utilising either Franco van der Merwe or Botha as cover in the upcoming Rugby Championship.
The 29-year-old Van der Merwe represented the Lions in Super Rugby this year and has played for the Emerging Springboks in the past.
Botha, a 76-Test veteran, currently plays for French club Toulon.
Earlier on Monday, Meyer called up Western Province centre Juan de Jongh in place of the injured JP Pietersen.
Sharks winger Pietersen fractured his thumb in the Super Rugby final in Hamilton on Saturday. He underwent scans on Monday and will undergo an operation on Wednesday. The normal recovery time for such an injury is six to eight weeks.
The Boks start their Rugby Championship campaign against newcomers Argentina at Newlands on August 18.
The current Springbok squad:
Backs: JJ Engelbrecht, Francois Hougaard, Zane Kirchner, Morne Steyn and Jano Vermaak (Bulls), Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pietersen and Francois Steyn (Sharks), Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana and Jean de Villiers, captain (Stormers), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster/NIR)
Forwards: Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Keegan Daniel, Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), Dean Greyling, Juandre Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Jacques Potgieter, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Pierre Spies (Bulls), Andries Bekker, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi (Stormers), Pat Cilliers (Lions), Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)
