Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has confirmed that three key players are on track to be fit for next Saturday’s Rugby Championship match against the Springboks at Ellis Park.
Flank Rob Valetini, lock Will Skelton and prop Taniela Tupou had been under an injury cloud after the recent Test series against the British & Irish Lions.
Tupou, who starred in the Wallabies’ third-Test victory, has been managing a toe injury, while Valetini and Skelton both battled calf problems during the series.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald before the team’s departure for Johannesburg, Schmidt expressed confidence they would all be available.
“They’re definitely all in contention for Ellis Park. Will played 60 minutes in the third Test, Nela played 60-odd in Sydney, and Bobby did a really good run yesterday, so our ambition is that he’ll train fully with us this week.”
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The Wallabies are also monitoring the recovery of flyhalf Tom Lynagh (concussion) and prop Allan Alaalatoa (shoulder) for later in the tournament.
“We’re going to have to see how the next two weeks go for both of them,” Schmidt added. “Allan is recovering pretty well so far, and we’re hoping that a conservative approach allows him to come back and play.
“We’ll also be really conservative with Tom. He’s a young player, and you’ve seen the size of him versus the size of some of the guys firing into him – we’ve just got to make sure that we look after them as best we can.”
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Photo: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images
