Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will be given time to recover from illness as the team prepares to face the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday.
Sport24
Etzebeth was on Wednesday included in the Springbok starting team for the clash at Suncorp Stadium, but it is at this stage uncertain of his availability for Saturday’s Test.
Coach Heyneke Meyer confirmed that Etzebeth is still battling flu and that he will be given until Friday to recover.
Should Etzebeth be ruled out, Flip van der Merwe will move to No 4 and Juandré Kruger will come back into the starting side. In that scenario, Willem Alberts will cover lock, and Marcell Coetzee will be promoted to the match-day 23.
The Springboks have never beaten Australia at Suncorp Stadium. The only two previous wins against Australia in Brisbane were at the Exhibition Ground (in 1956 and 1971). Their only win at the Suncorp Stadium was when they beat Samoa 60-10 on 1 November, 2003 during the Rugby World Cup.