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Cape Town - Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is confident that wing JP Pietersen will soon return to top form.
Pietersen had an indifferent season with the Sharks in Super Rugby and was also not at his best in the Boks’ 46-10 win over the World XV at Newlands on Saturday.
Pietersen, 29, plays club rugby for the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan but is allowed to return to South Africa in time for the Super Rugby season.
“JP has not been at his best for a while now and the reason for this is because he moves between Japan and the Sharks without having an off-season,” Meyer told Netwerk24.
“We’re working hard at his fitness. He is as good as any wing out of Australia and New Zealand, and he’ll return to that level.”
The Boks start their Rugby Championship campaign Wallabies in Brisbane this Saturday (kick-off 12:05 SA time).
Springbok squad in Brisbane:
Forwards
Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Lood de Jager, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Victor Matfield, Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Adriaan Strauss, Heinke van der Merwe, Warren Whiteley
Backs
Damian De Allende, Bryan Habana, Jesse Kriel, Patrick Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lionel Mapoe, Lwazi Mvovo, Rudy Paige, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Handré Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Jan Serfontein, Morne Steyn
