Kriel back in Boks selection frame

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The Springboks hope to have a fully-fit squad available for Friday’s World Cup match against Italy after a positive update around Jesse Kriel’s fitness.

Kriel suffered a hamstring strain in the Boks’ opening loss to the All Blacks in Yokohama, which kept him out of action in the victory over Namibia last weekend.

Bok assistant coach Matt Proudfoot says Kriel has responded positively to treatment and that there is a chance that he will be available this weekend.

‘He is progressing really, really well,’ Proudfoot said. ‘We hope to have him up for selection this week. They will test him through the week. So it was obviously a conservative treatment last week, but this week they will progress it to field work. So, we will know he responds through the week, but we hope to have him up for selection on Saturday.

‘There are no other injury scares or niggles,’ Proudfoot addeed. ‘We should have, bar Jesse, everyone at full training. We will see what the tests do, but we should have everybody training today.’

The match in Shizuoka could be a decisive one as Italy have taken bonus-point wins from both of their World Cup matches against Canada and Namibia and currently lead Pool B on 10 points. The Springboks currently sit second in the pool on five points and a loss could have Rassie Erasmus’ side struggling to make it through to the playoffs.

Picture: @Springboks Twitter

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SA Rugby magazine