De Villiers’ rib injury puts him in doubt for test
SPRINGBOK skipper Jean de Villiers is in doubt for Saturday’s test against Samoa at Loftus Versfeld after “popping” a rib against Scotland at the weekend.
De Villiers sustained the injury early in the match, which the Boks won 30-17, but soldiered on for 65 minutes in great pain. After the game he was ashen-faced and said he was in severe discomfort.
Team doctor Craig Roberts confirmed that the skipper would be reassessed later in the week to give him every chance to take the field.
But playing De Villiers with suspect ribs against the hard-hitting Samoans would be akin to painting a target on his midriff and asking the islanders to take turns in trying to inflict as much pain as possible on the Bok skipper.
If De Villiers is ruled out, Juan de Jongh would step in to the lineup.
De Jongh yesterday confirmed he was fit after struggling with a niggling hand injury.
“We’ll give Jean some time, but I will follow medical advice,” coach Heyneke Meyer said. “If somebody is not 100% right we’ll never play anyone.
“I’m really worried about him and he showed what a warrior he is by fighting through most of the Scotland match with that rib problem.
“We won’t be calling in any replacements at this stage. Robert Ebersohn has been with the squad and although he was supposed to be released this week, we’ll keep him with the squad,” Meyer said.
De Villiers has been an ever-present under Meyer and if he fails to pass a fitness test, it will be the first time in 14 tests that he won’t start. “Eben Etzebeth also has an AC joint sprain while Jannie du Plessis and Pierre Spies picked up nasty lacerations against Scotland,” Roberts said.
“We kept the latter two out of contact today just to let the wounds heal, but they should both be ready. “On a positive note we are happy with how Bismarck du Plessis came through after months on the sidelines.”