Rugby: Good news on Kronfeld injury

PRETORIA - The news was good for Josh Kronfeld yesterday but Dylan Mika remained under an injury cloud for the Tri-Nations rugby test against South Africa on Sunday (NZ time).

The All Black team doctor, John Mayhew, examined both players last night (NZ time) and said joint injuries suffered by the test flankers in the last couple of days were settling as he expected.

He felt openside flanker Kronfeld, one of the key players in the team, would be able to train by today or tomorrow at the latest and should retain his place in the team.

Kronfeld suffered an ankle injury after rolling it in the team's first training session during their weekend camp at the Bakubong Game Reserve near Johannesburg.

The team's other test flanker, Mika, was taken off during their first run in Pretoria on Monday with a knee problem.

Mayhew said Mika was still in some discomfort but was able to jog in a straight line after overnight treatment.

Blindside flanker Mika would undergo a MRI scan overnight (NZ time) to determine the extent of damage in his left knee.

"It's just a precaution and I'm reasonably confident he should be able to play," Mayhew said.

"He was able to jog in a straight line this morning so there doesn't seem to be any ligament damage." The injuries forced team management to delay the announcement of the test side.

While no changes are expected to the side who beat Australia 34-15 two weeks ago, with Greg Feek replacing the injured Carl Hoeft at prop, a couple of players could be bracketed.

However, test plans for the Springboks were also disrupted as well as drama continued in South African rugby.

Lock Krynauw Otto and first five-eighths Jannie de Beer, unwanted earlier but called in to give the side some experience following South Africa's heavy losses to the All Blacks and the Wallabies, were yesterday ruled out of the test with injuries.

Otto hobbled off from training with a hamstring problem that is likely to keep him out for at least three weeks and de Beer suffered a knee injury.

Both players were immediately replaced by coach Nick Mallett, who recalled veteran lock Mark Andrews after dropping him following the trip to New Zealand and Australia, and brought in Franco Smith in de Beer's place.

Smith is expected to play at second five-eighths and provide cover for first-five Gaffie Du Toit, who looks likely to be reinstated after being criticised by Mallett for his performance in the 0-28 loss to the All Blacks.

"We are not looking at the injury factor. We all know how well Mark Andrews plays," Hart said.

* Australian captain John Eales will make his long awaited comeback from injury this weekend when he plays for Brothers against Sunnybank in the Brisbane club competition.

Eales has been out of action since mid-February when he injured his shoulder at a pre- season weight-training session and needed surgery to repair the damage.

The towering lock confirmed yesterday he would play this weekend.

Eales has spent some time with the Wallabies at their training camp at the seaside resort of Caloundra over the past month and has been assessed by the Australian medical officials, who gave the 29-year-old the green light to make his comeback.

But he stressed club rugby was his only concern at this early stage and said he was not aiming for the clash with the All Blacks in Sydney on August 28.