Monday 1 October 2007

Du Plessis to join Boks in France

Monday 01st October 2007

Cheetahs tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis has officially been called up to the Springbok team as replacement for the injured BJ Botha.

Du Plessis will join up with the Springboks in France on Wednesday and Thursday, as they look towards the play-offs - starting with their quarter-final encounter with Fiji in Marseille on Sunday.

Botha left the field midway through the first half of South Africa's 64-15 win over the United States in Montpellier on Sunday and it was confirmed that he will probably require surgery after damaging his knee ligaments.

Du Plessis, who made his Bok debut alongside brother Bismarck during the away leg of South Africa's Tri-Nations campaign, is a specialist tighthead prop - much like Botha.

It is expected that CJ van der Linde, who replaced Botha in the win over the US Eagles on Sunday, will start at tighthead against the Fijians.

That will allow Du Plessis time to settle back into the Springbok squad.

He has been playing mostly off the bench for the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup, with Cobus Calldo starting at tighthead in recent Currie Cup matches for the table-topping Cheetahs.

www.planetrugby.com

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