Durban -
Pierre Spies may still play in the Rugby World Cup tournament. Two doctors have apparently found that the star No 8 will be fit to turn out for South Africa in France next month.
Springbok coach
Jake White said on Tuesday if medical tests proved that Spies would be fit, he would be part of the tournament.
Hendrik Cronje reports from Bloemfontein that two doctors, one from Pretoria, and one from Johannesburg, are said to have found after intensive tests that Spies would be able to play in France.
Neither of the two could be contacted for comment on Tuesday.
It appears that pneumonia may have been the reason that Spies coughed up blood during a recent training session.
Spies was sent home to Pretoria from the Springbok team's training camp last week after medical examinations had shown he had clots on his lungs.
The initial diagnosis was that Spies would not be able to take part in any contact sport for six to eight months.
It was also reported that his condition may be genetic because his father, Pierre snr, a former Blue Bulls wing and star hurdles athlete, had died of a heart attack while in his fifties.
In text messages doing the rounds on Tuesday it was claimed that Spies would be able to play in the World Cup.
Spies's uncle, Dawie Spies, thanked supporters for their prayers and told
Morris Gilbert, "We are positive that we will have very good news about Pierre before Friday."
White said on Tuesday evening it would be good news if Spies had recovered, "but we have heard nothing about it. All I know is that he was sent for further tests. I am waiting for the results.
"The position at this stage is that he was sent home for further tests. As soon as we have the results, we will make a decision," White said.
If Spies gets the all clear from the SA team's medical staff White will have to tell one of the 30 players in his present squad to stay at home.
The unfortunate one is likely to be hooker
Bismarck du Plessis, who was called up to replace Spies last week. "In such an event, everything will return to normal, with only the two hookers who were initially selected," White said.
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