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Coetzee includes Malherbe in Bok camp

Western province prop Malherbe has been out of action since June with a neck injury and can only resume training early next year.

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However, it seems that the tighthead prop has been making good progress, especially after head coach Allister Coetzee has opted to include him in the training camp under medical assessment.

The four-day assessment and conditioning camp starts on October 23 to 26 in Cape Town.

Aside from the Malherbe, other players invited are; injury prone Blue Bulls flyhalf Handré Pollard, fellow Blue Bulls teammates Jessie Kriel (centre), Lood De Jager (lock),  Trevor Nyakane (prop), while  captain Eben Etzebeth (lock), Tendai Mtwararira (prop), Steven Kitshoff (prop), Pieter-Steph du Toit (lock), Coenraad Oosthuizen (prop), and Damian de Allende (centre) concluded the group of 12.

Current Springbok squad members who are playing for their provinces in the Currie Cup playoffs, as well as those who are playing for clubs in England and Japan, were not considered for the camp.

The purpose of the camp is to give Springbok management first-hand opportunity to assess the medical, conditioning and fitness status of the selected group as the Springboks step up their preparations for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour.

South Africa’s opponents during their month-long European tour are Ireland (November 11, Dublin), France (November 18, Paris), Italy (November 25, Padova) and Wales (December 2, Cardiff).

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The small group will work under the supervision of the Springbok medical and conditioning team, while the coaches will also put them through their paces with skills training and tactical planning sessions.

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee said the camp forms an important part of their preparation for the end of year tour.

"The European tour will provide us with different challenges and we will, therefore, use the four days to spend some time on our fundamentals, continued rehabilitation and conditioning of this group of players," said Coetzee. Coetzee includes Malherbe in Bok camp

"Our management will be working hard during this period to finalise our detailed planning for the upcoming tour, and overall it will give us a good indication of the progress of those players who have recovered from injury, or those currently battling with niggles.

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"They now had proper rest and recovery for almost two weeks and we must make sure they are rugby ready to ensure optimal performance for the challenges awaiting us at the end of the year tour,"

The Springbok squad for the end of year tour will be announced on Sunday, October 29 – the day after the Currie Cup final – and the squad will assemble in Johannesburg on Monday, October 30.

Players attending the camp in Cape Town:

Frans Malherbe, Tendai Mtawarira, Coenie Oosthuizen, Trevor Nyakane, Steven Kitshoff, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Lood de Jager, Siya Kolisi, Handré Pollard, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel

 

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