Knee burdens Beast

Mtawarira a doubt for Twickenham after suffering knee ligament strain

Last updated: 22nd November 2010  

Knee burdens Beast

Mtawarira: knee ligament strain

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Tendai Mtawarira could miss South Africa's match against England at Twickenham this Saturday after a medial knee ligament strain forced him to miss training.

The 25-year-old loosehead prop, nicknamed 'The Beast', has started all three Tests on the Springboks' tour to date but picked up the injury in the 21-17 defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield.

Mtawarira's fitness is to be monitored during the week before a decision is made on his availability. Should he fail to prove his fitness then CJ van der Linde is likely to deputise.

Scrum coach Os du Randt believes the Springboks have the strength to cope with any front-row injury problems.

"CJ van der Linde covers both prop positions and we have Coenie Oosthuizen who has been making his way as a loosehead," said Du Randt.

"He was a tighthead at school and has the ability to play there in the future but for now it's better to phase him in as a loosehead, where he made his senior debut as a 19-year-old. He has the talent and the ability to play for the Springboks for a long time."

Positive

Du Randt, a World Cup winner in 1995 and 2007, also hopes to see a positive reaction from the tourists after their hopes of a Grand Slam were dashed in Edinburgh.

"Scotland used their defeat by the All Blacks to motivate them against us. We can use the disappointments of Saturday in the same way," he added.

"Our aim is finish the season's Test match programme on a high and we have that opportunity on Saturday."

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