Boks in UK
Malherbe to replace Beast
2012-11-12 13:34
Frans Malherbe (Gallo Images)
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Cape Town - Western Province prop
Frans Malherbe will join the Springbok squad in Edinburgh in the place of
Beast Mtawarira.
The decision to bring in Malherbe, who is a tighthead prop, was taken as Jannie du Plessis has a mild ankle sprain he sustained in the Test victory over Ireland last Saturday.
Gurthrö Steenkamp should be available for selection this weekend after missing the Ireland Test due to injury. CJ van der Linde and Heinke van der Merwe can also be used at loosehead, while Du Plessis, Malherbe, Van der Linde and Pat Cilliers are all options at tighthead.
The 21-year-old Malherbe will join the Springboks on Wednesday in Edinburgh, where they are preparing for Saturday’s Test against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Mtawarira will return to South Africa on Monday following a decision that it would be in the player’s best interests not to continue with the tour.
This follows Mtawarira’s withdrawal from last Saturday’s Test against Ireland as a precautionary measure, after he had a recurrence of mild heart palpitations that morning.