Brits in as cover for ‘dumped’ Smit
7th July 2008, 9:00 WST

South Africa has called in hooker Schalk Brits as cover for injured skipper John Smit, who suffered a groin injury in Saturday’s 19-8 Tri-Nations loss to the All Blacks.

Smit was scheduled to be examined today after the injury he received when he was lifted and dumped by All Black lock Brad Thorn in a tackle Smit said felt like being driven into the ground “like a tent peg”.

After a disciplinary hearing on Sunday, Thorn was suspended for a week for the tackle and he will miss the second Tri-Nations Test against the Springboks in Dunedin on Saturday.

Brits is due to arrive late today in Wellington, where South Africa will remain for their second Test preparation until Thursday, the South African management said in a statement.

South African coach Peter de Villiers described the calling in of the Western Province hooker as precautionary.

“The flight from Cape Town to Wellington can be as long as 20 hours and we have therefore decided to call on Schalk, so that the team can have sufficient cover in that area if needed,” de Villiers said.

WELLINGTON
AFP