Heavy hitters Etzebeth and Marx likely to be fit, and there’s good news on Du Toit as well

SPRINGBOK captain Eben Etzebeth and hooker Malcolm Marx are likely to be available for their match against Italy on Saturday, and their availability will come in especially handy as Allister Coetzee wants to field “the strongest possible team” for the clash.

Given what happened the last time these two sides met – when the Azzurri beat the Boks 20-18 and secured a historic victory over South Africa – the coaching staff will want to do everything they can to prevent more humiliation at the hands of the Italians.

And the presence of the two forwards will certainly help that cause.

Team doctor Konrad von Hagen yesterday confirmed that Etzebeth has a “good chance” of playing against Italy, after he left the field late in their fixture against France in Paris at the weekend.

“The X-rays we did on Sunday all came out normal. We expect it just to be a soft tissue injury and will manage it accordingly,” Von Hagen said.

Marx – who picked up a shoulder injury in the Boks’ 18-17 win at the weekend, a match in which he produced another massive performance – went for an MRI scan yesterday. The scan revealed no major injury, however, the form hooker will also have to recover from some soft tissue bruising and will be “given as much time as possible to recover”.

Von Hagen also confirmed that lock Pieter-Steph du Toit is recovering well from the concussion he sustained in their 38-3 defeat to Ireland.

“Pieter-Steph is busy with the last steps of his return-toplay protocols but I expect him to be available for selection,” the team doctor added.

Coetzee was pleased to have Du Toit back in training: “It’s great to have Pieter-Steph back because he was excellent for us prior to the concussion.”

And while Coetzee wants to field his sharpest tools for their date in Padova, the Bok coach said that there will be opportunities for the players in the wider training group when they go up against Wales on December 2.

“The whole idea is to play with our strongest possible team so we can build more momentum and continuity.”

“There will be opportunities for the wider group in the last match because that one falls outside the international window, which means that for the Wales Test players based overseas, such as Duane Vermeulen ( France), Francois Louw (England), Elton Jantjies and Franco Mostert (both Japan), will not be available for selection. That would obviously give opportunities for other players,” said Coetzee.