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Conradie answers De Villiers` SOS

Tuesday 20th May 2008

Lucky break: Bolla Conradie

Stormers scrum-half Bolla Conradie has been called up to join the Springbok training squad with injuries to Fourie du Preez and Heini Adams necessitating the move.

Conradie, along with the other 42 members of the squad, will assemble at their Somerset West base in Cape Town on Wednesday.

"I am delighted to be able to call on a player of Bolla's quality and experience," said Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.

"He was unlucky to miss out on the initial squad selection and I am very pleased for him that he will get his opportunity now."

World Cup-winning number nine Du Preez will be out of action for six weeks, after having fractured his right hand in the Bulls' 60-20 Super 14 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein at the weekend.

The latest setback occurred only a few weeks after Du Preez had recovered from an injury to his left hand - which kept him out of action for two weeks.

Adams, Du Preez's understudy at the Bulls, is still in rehabilitation after having suffered a knock to his left shin. The soft tissue around the area where he fractured his left leg last year was severely damaged in the latest incident and he faces at least another three weeks on the sidelines.

Conradie has played second string to Ricky Januarie at the Stormers this season, but has played fifteen Tests for the Springboks and is an ideal replacement.