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Cape Town - Experienced Springbok flyhalf Morne Steyn has been called up as replacement for the injured Pat Lambie who suffered concussion against Ireland on Saturday at Newlands.
Lambie will take a mandatory break of one week following his injury in Cape Town and will therefore miss the second Test match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Lambie underwent precautionary scans on Sunday, which proved normal, and he was examined for a third time on Monday morning by Springbok team doctor, Dr Konrad von Hagen. The player has already returned to his home in Durban.
According to Springbok coach Allister Coetzee, Steyn, who has 60 Test caps to his name, was always in his plans as a flyhalf replacement option in the event of injury to one of the three flyhalves in the squad. Handré Pollard, another Bok regular at No 10, is also injured at the moment.
“I made it clear we would definitely consider Morne as a replacement option because of his vast experience, and I would therefore not hesitate to draft him into the match-day squad,” explained Coetzee.
“Garth April is still a talented young man and was selected to learn and to develop. It is his first year in Vodacom Super Rugby and his involvement with the squad will benefit him in the long run. Pat will return home for this week and we want to wish him well with his recovery.”
Prolific points’ scorer Steyn plays for French club Stade Francais, but as their season has already concluded, he is already back in South Africa. He is also the most experienced flyhalf in Bok history and has scored 694 Test points since making his debut for South Africa on 20 June 2009 against the British & Irish Lions in Durban, aged 24.
Meanwhile, the Coetzee confirmed the full squad will remain in camp for the entire week. Last week, the Springboks released four squad members to the SA ‘A’ team for their clash against the England Saxons in Bloemfontein.
Coetzee explains the decision: “All our players will stay with us for this week as SA ‘A’ coach Johan Ackermann has requested to give playing opportunities to more members of his squad. Our players will be on standby should they be needed on short notice.”
The Springboks will on Monday afternoon start their preparations for the second Test against Ireland with a field training session at St Stithians College in Sandton, followed by an autograph session with fans.
