Marx raring to go against Wales

Hooker Malcolm Marx has been restored to fitness and is likely to play a leading role in the Springboks’ ambition of finishing the year on a high against Wales on Saturday.

Marx‚ who missed last weekend’s clash against Italy due to the shoulder injury he suffered against France‚ is raring to go according to the team’s doctor Konrad von Hagen.

Although Bongi Mbonambi deputised with some distinction in his absence against Italy in Padua‚ coach Allister Coetzee stressed that he would assemble his best available troops for the occasion.

Although the match is outside the official Test window‚ which means neither side is able to realistically push their best troops into battle‚ Coetzee is taking this seriously.

With that in mind he will hope that loose head Tendai Mtawarira recovers from the injury he sustained in the first half against Italy.

But they have to play a waiting game‚ even with Thomas du Toit being called up as cover.

“He has a groin strain and we will give him as much time as possible to see if he’ll be available for the weekend. We will make that call as we go along‚” Dr Von Hagen said about Mtawarira.

Coetzee will also have Elton Jantjies available after his Japanese club the Shining Arcs granted permission for him to stay.

“It is good to have him‚” said Coetzee‚ which is probably code for Jantjies being on the bench.

Coetzee’s detractors‚ and there are many‚ will argue that the game against Wales should be an opportunity to blood young players.

The coach is with his back to the wall and is likely to go with as many battle-hardened players as he can.

The same folks who are calling for him to go with the young guns are ready to pounce should they misfire.

It is for that reason when Coetzee was pressed on outside back Warrick Gelant’s prospects of a earning a start‚ the coach was coy.

“He’s an exciting player‚" he said.

"To my knowledge the roof will be closed this weekend.

"It would be a nice pitch to play on.

"Warrick is best in dry conditions.

"Who knows he might find himself in the mix this weekend.”

Still‚ whoever he assembles from his available resources it will be difficult to plug the significant holes left by Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw.

Coetzee didn’t want to dwell on something he has little control over.

“Francois Louw with 56 or so caps‚ Duane Vermeulen with late 30s that is valuable experience. And both of them play in Europe.

"That is part of the leadership. We will miss them.

"They made their mark. It was great to have them.

"I’m sure a player like Dan du Preez has learnt a lot.

"Also Uzair Cassiem and Oupa Mohoje. Hopefully if they get an opportunity that they take it.”

The coach would not be drawn on speculation that Wales No8 Toby Falotau’s availability for the Test. Like Louw‚ Falotau plays for Bath.

“I just follow Regulation 9 and how we understand it.

"Francois is definitely not available for us.

"I can’t comment on the internal arrangement up in the north.

"If there is an internal agreement I don’t know about that.”

The Bok management again rested players for Monday's practice.

End of year tours take bodies to the brink and the careful management of workloads become imperative.

“We have adapted a few things this year‚” said Dr Von Hagen.

“The way we trained and the way we recover.

"We try and train in the way we play.

"We actually got to a situation where we try and get them to train less.

"It’s funny because it sounds like we are going soft on them.

"There is a difference. I don’t think there is a concern that we are less fit than we were at the start of the season‚” Von Hagen assured.

He added that the Boks are actually one of the teams most often in the gym‚ selfies notwithstanding.