South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth could recover from injury in time to face France this weekend‚ head coach Rassie Erasmus said on Monday.
Etzebeth left the field in the Springboks’ 12-11 defeat to England on Saturday with an ankle injury.
Erasmus originally said the gifted 27-year-old would miss the French game and could be out for the rest of the tour.
“The injury is not as bad as we initially thought and we will give Eben time until Tuesday to prove his fitness‚” said Erasmus who will announce the line-up for the match against France on Thursday.
Following the French game‚ the Springboks play Scotland on November 17 and Wales on November 24.
Meanwhile Faf de Klerk‚ Willie le Roux‚ Cheslin Kolbe‚ Franco Mostert‚ Francois Louw and Vincent Koch have joined the Springbok squad in the French capital and are available for selection for Saturday.
The European-based players missed last Saturday’s loss to England as the fixture was played outside World Rugby’s official international window.