Brits called up as Smit smarts

Stormers hooker Schalk Brits has been flown to New Zealand as precautionary cover for injured South African captain John Smit.

Stormers hooker Schalk Brits has been flown to New Zealand as precautionary cover for injured South African captain John Smit.

Smit left the field of his side's 19-8 defeat to New Zealand shortly before half-time with a groin injury which he attributed to the incident involving Brad Thorn and an off-the-ball tackle, for which Thorn was suspended for a week.

Brits is expected to arrive at about midnight on Monday – local time – after a long journey, ahead of the second Tri-Nations match against the All Blacks in Dunedin next Saturday.

The Boks are staying in Wellington until Thursday when they fly south to Dunedin.