Springboks: Pieter-Steph du Toit ruled out of first Test against Wales

Adam Kyriacou

South Africa have suffered a blow ahead of their series opener with Wales after former World Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit was ruled out.

While Du Toit will miss the first Test this weekend in Pretoria, he’s still in contention for the second game which takes place in Bloemfontein on July 9.

The back-row is struggling with a shoulder problem as South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber prepares to name his team for the clash on Tuesday.

“We (the coaches) had an insightful discussion around the team and our selection will be based on what we would like to achieve in the first Test, so we will look at combinations that will give us that result,” assistant coach Deon Davids told SA Rugby’s website.

Pieter-Steph du Toit is completing his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury, and we expect him to be cleared for selection later in the week.”

Heavy favourites

South Africa go into the series as heavy favourites but Davids is refusing to be drawn into such talk as he praised the quality Wales have in their team.

“If you look at the Welsh side closely, they have players with a lot of Test caps, while some of them also played for the British & Irish Lions,” he added.

“They have also had a few weeks to prepare together as a group, and if you look back, the games we have played against them have been close, so we are expecting them to be prepared and to show up.

“Altitude is a factor for teams coming here, but they follow scientific approaches to games, so it will be tough.

“We believe they will be competitive enough to hang in there.”

READ MORE: South Africa v Wales: Five storylines to follow

 

video thumbnail

South Africa v Wales series preview

Planet Rugby previews the upcoming series between the Springboks and Wales in South Africa.