By Brenden Nel
Wales received a timely boost on Monday with the news that their prop, Tomas Francis, has shaken off a back injury and will be fit for selection for the first test against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Francis has been struggling with the niggling injury for some time, prompting coach Wayne Pivac to include 21-year old prop Harri O’Connor as cover in his touring squad which touched down in South Africa last Friday to acclimatise to the altitude at which the team will face the world champions in the first two tests.
Wales assistant coach Stephen Jones confirmed that there were no injury worries and the Welsh side could pick from the full complement of players on tour when they select their test team on Thursday.
A number of British and Irish Lions, including Wales captain Dan Biggar and Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones, are likely to be in a very strong Welsh side to face the Springboks.
“He’s good, he’s back to full training, which is great,” Jones confirmed on Monday afternoon after the team’s first media interaction.
“We’re all fit and healthy, which is great for us at this time of the year. To have everyone available to us is fantastic.”
Considering a number of players who were ruled out through injury before the tour, the fitness worries will now be a thing of the past for Wales, who also have veteran centre George North back for the test series.
Ospreys flyhalf Gareth Anscombe has also joined up with the squad after staying behind in Wales for the birth of his second child and is expected to play a part in the preparations ahead of the test match.
“He’s been brilliant and he trained with us today,” Jones said of Anscombe. “We gave him the extra 48 hours to hopefully be there for the birth of his child. But in fairness to him he’s come out here, trained and he’s in a very good place.”
Wales will name their side for the test on Thursday and will be hoping to surprise the Springboks as they have never won a test match in South Africa.