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Cape Town - Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has expressed his concern over the amount of rugby his top players are playing.
The Boks survived a huge scare to beat Wales 31-30 in Nelspruit at the weekend, and while Meyer was pleased with the fighting spirit they showed, he remains worried about the condition of his top players.
"I almost don't want to say it, but I'm worried about the state of the players. I've never seen the players so fatigued or overplayed at this stage of the year. And I'm not saying this to make excuses," Meyer told the Beeld website.
The Springboks tackle Scotland in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, with Meyer set to make several changes.
Seven overseas-based players - Gurthrö Steenkamp (prop), Schalk Brits (hooker), Bakkies Botha (lock), Francois Louw (flank), Morné Steyn (flyhalf), Wynand Olivier (centre) and Bryan Habana (wing) - have been released from the squad to return to their clubs in France and England.
Baby Bok skipper Handré Pollard and Cheetahs hooker Adriaan Strauss, who returns from suspension, have been added to the squad for the Scotland game.
Meyer could also opt to rest players like Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen, Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis.
Saturday's Test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium kicks off at 17:00.
The Boks survived a huge scare to beat Wales 31-30 in Nelspruit at the weekend, and while Meyer was pleased with the fighting spirit they showed, he remains worried about the condition of his top players.
"I almost don't want to say it, but I'm worried about the state of the players. I've never seen the players so fatigued or overplayed at this stage of the year. And I'm not saying this to make excuses," Meyer told the Beeld website.
The Springboks tackle Scotland in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, with Meyer set to make several changes.
Seven overseas-based players - Gurthrö Steenkamp (prop), Schalk Brits (hooker), Bakkies Botha (lock), Francois Louw (flank), Morné Steyn (flyhalf), Wynand Olivier (centre) and Bryan Habana (wing) - have been released from the squad to return to their clubs in France and England.
Baby Bok skipper Handré Pollard and Cheetahs hooker Adriaan Strauss, who returns from suspension, have been added to the squad for the Scotland game.
Meyer could also opt to rest players like Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen, Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis.
Saturday's Test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium kicks off at 17:00.
