Smit back for opener
July 13, 2001

Springbok coach Harry Viljoen on Friday gave the assurance that hooker John Smit will be ready for next Saturday's Tri-Nations opener against the All Blacks at Newlands in Cape Town.

There was big uncertainty about the young Natal player's availability for the Test and at one stage James Dalton's name was mentioned as possible replacement, but at a media conference on Friday Viljoen said Smit will resume training on Monday.

The fiery former SA under-21 captain sustained an abdominal muscle strain in the Port Elizabeth Test against Italy. He didn't take part in any of the Springboks training sessions since they assembled in Cape Town on Monday and that led to speculation that his injury could keep him out of the game against New Zealand.

"John will be ready. We are still nursing him and keep him away from contact, but he will be ready from next week for contact," said Viljoen.

The injury-ridden Boks had more good news for their fans on Friday as lock Johan Ackermann (bruised thigh) took a full part in the morning training session at the Diocesan College (Bishops).

Rookie loose-forward Johann van Niekerk (abdominal muscle strain) trained for the first time this week, but didn't take contact. According to Viljoen the young Lions' star should also be ready to take a full part in training from Monday onwards.

Young Boland Kavaliers centre Marius Joubert completed his first training session with the Springboks on Thursday after recovering from a sprained ankle.

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