The new Bok coach will unveil his match 23 two days before Saturday’s first test against Ireland at Newlands, but, as always, the first training session of the week building up to the game, which was open, gave the media the opportunity to have a look at what the starting line-up will look like.
With Elton Jantjies not able to take contact, and according to team doctor Conrad van Hagen, that won’t happen until Thursday, Cell C Sharks flyhalf Patrick Lambie now appears a shoo-in for the No 10 jersey.
There is still an outside chance that Coetzee may opt for Jantjies as he did do some running at pivot during the session, but it is more likely that he will play off the bench.
Garth April also ran at flyhalf during Monday’s practice, but it was senior teammate at the Sharks, Lambie who spent the bulk of the time filling the pivot position in the shadow starting team. With Faf de Klerk running most of the session alongside him, it looks likely that they will be the halfback pairing.
Lionel Mapoe is over the back injury sustained in gym last week that kept him out of training for much of last week. He spent enough time alongside Damian de Allende to suggest that will be the centre pairing for Newlands, with Jesse Kriel probably covering fullback and centre from the bench.
Kriel could have an important role to play as cover for Willie le Roux if for some reason Jantjies doesn’t recover fully enough from his injury to be among the reserves, as the Sharks No 15 might then find himself covering first receiver too.
As anticipated, Coetzee looks likely to go the conservative route in the back three, preferring veteran JP Pietersen to the in-form Emirates Lions wing Ruan Combrinck on the right wing. Le Roux and Pietersen will be joined at the back by Lwazi Mvovo.
