A round-up of what some of South Africa’s leading Sunday papers are saying, including a look at who could line up for the Springboks on Saturday.
The backpage in Rapport focuses on the Springboks’ Rugby Championship title victory, following their 46-13 win against Argentina in Salta on Saturday. Writer Hendrik Cronje also provides an update on Warren Whiteley’s fitness. According to the report, the Lions No 8 is likely to be out of the picture for the World Cup, after he missed the chance to prove his fitness in his franchise’s Currie Cup match against the Blue Bulls on Saturday.
Wing Aphiwe Dyantyi and fullback Damian Willemse are also in a race against time to make it into the Bok World Cup squad. The duo are at various stages of their recovery and there is hope Willemse could pick up minutes against Griquas this weekend.
Staying with Rapport, the newspaper reports that Pieter-Steph du Toit is among the seniors who are likely to stay at Western Province. Du Toit was linked with a switch to the Bulls, but writer Leighton Koopman reports that the Bok flank will join Siya Kolisi and Bongi Mbonambi in committing to the union.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Times has provided an update on who could potentially play for the Springboks in their World Cup warm-up match against Argentina in Pretoria on Saturday. The match will likely provide a final chance for players to prove their worth before Rassie Erasmus names his final squad for the showpiece event in Japan. Writer Liam del Carme reports that captain Siya Kolisi, who made his comeback from injury in Western Province’s win over the Pumas on Saturday, could form a loose-trio with Marcell Coetzee and Rynhardt Elstadt.
