Coetzee not worried about Schalk’s injury

Burger cried off in the 14h minute of the past Saturday’s clash with a Boland XV at the new Cape Town Stadium and couldn’t complete the game. The Springbok flanker also missed the first warm-up game against the Western Force because of a hematoma and only played 40 minutes of the second.

Coetzee felt the need for his captain to get game time under his belt. After Satirdau’s game the coach said the injury was not serious.

“He looked good on Tuesday morning and the news is his shoulder is only bruised. There’s no torn ligaments and no long term damage. I just want to give my captain as long as possible to recover ahead of this weekend,’ He will be involved in tomorrow’s session again,” Coetzee told reporters.

Centre Paul Bosch has however been ruled out for six to eight weeks due to a dislocated elbow he sustained against Boland on Saturday.

There is also a bit of concern about the fitness of flank FrancoisLouw. According to Coetzee the player suffered a slight hairline tear a while back, but he is well on his way to fitness after some rehab and work with the physiotherapist. Coetzee said Louw should be ready to play.

The starting XV will be named on Thursday but the management has already settled on a match 22. Those who don’t form part of this group, namely Willem de Waal, Frikkie Welsh, Fabian Juries, Pieter Myburgh and Ryno Elstadt, have all been released to play in a Vodacom Cup friendly match against the Eagles this weekend.