South Africa captain Siya Kolisi remains a doubt for the first Test against New Zealand, though Rassie Erasmus is hopeful the Springboks skipper will be able to feature.
having already missed his side’s Nations Championship fixtures in July, but has been able to return to training in recent days.
The flanker could come under consideration for selection with head coach Erasmus delaying the naming of his team, traditionally done earlier in the week, until Thursday to deny the All Blacks the chance to prepare.
The two Southern Hemisphere heavyweights collide in Johannesburg this weekend in the first of four Tests that form the centrepiece of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, and Erasmus believes that both Kolisi and prop Ox Nche may be able to play a role at Ellis Park.
“I wouldn’t say Siya and Ox are still injured, it’s just niggles,” Erasmus explained. “And if they get through training today, they might be good for us.
“Apart from that, there are no others [injured]. We know this one will be tough and the less time they have to prepare for our team, the better. It is not a thing of arrogance, but a respect thing.”
The All Blacks have won all three of their tour games since arriving in South Africa ,with scrum half Noah Hotham called up as cover for Cam Roigard and Cortez Ratima.
New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie has suggested he has been frustrated by the slow pace of play in his side’s fixtures so far, though Erasmus suggested that his counterpart may have been attempting to send a message to this weekend’s officials.
English referee Matthew Carley will take charge of the first Test but the two teams have limited access to the officials, which Erasmus believes prompted Rennie’s message.
“New Zealand have played three matches and there is a narrative out there which is very technical around the speed of the game and slowing it down,” he said. “Our last two games against New Zealand [last year]- go and look at those games, were they slow games?
“They are advocating this high intensity rugby and ‘no one can keep up with us’. They are not hiding it, everyone is talking about it. When you analyse them it shows that in the stats and on the scoreboard.
“There is definitely frustration from coaches around the world that you can’t have pre-match meetings with the referee [any more] if both teams don’t agree. I myself said this week that we don’t need one.
“So if you want to get something out there, you have to get it out [in the media] because you cannot talk to the referee.”