Am gives South Africa coach Nienaber potential selection headache / Photo: JUAN MABROMATA - AFP/File
-
Garcia bids for Ryder Cup return as he confirms LIV exit
-
Google drags down Wall Street stocks
-
England outlast Sri Lanka despite Rathnayake's hundred in dead rubber
-
Nations accused of undermining science at UN nature talks
-
Starc strikes twice as Australia push for victory
-
ECB says has tools to calm markets as French debt worries rise
-
Does White House ask AI to shape policy? Democrats want the receipts
-
ASEAN envoy ends Myanmar trip with no public Suu Kyi meeting
-
Trump tees up Alaska election challenge over same-name candidate 'fraud'
-
Three dead in rock spire collapse at Turkey's touristic Cappadocia
-
IMF says engaging with Iraq on preparing new bailout program
-
CAR tightens border checks as DR Congo Ebola cases rise
-
Two dead in rock spire collapse at Turkey's touristic Cappadocia
-
Does White House ask AI to decide policy? Democrats want the receipts
-
No surprise to Carrick he's still Man Utd manager
-
French businessman Roux de Bezieux takes over 2030 Winter Olympics after leadership turmoil
-
Two dead in rock spire collapse at tourist site in Turkey's Cappadocia
-
Tech jitters pull down Wall Street stocks
-
ECB holds rates steady after Lagarde says to quit early
-
Alaska governor orders probe into election same-name 'spoiler'
-
US economy posts strong growth, inflation stubbornly high in challenge to Trump
-
Gang-plagued Haiti sets election dates for 2027
-
What we know about Spain's deadly train crash
-
Neville warns managers can need sacking 'for their own good' as Carrick fights on
-
ECB chief Lagarde to step down early, triggering succession race
-
French businessman takes over 2030 Winter Olympics amid leadership turmoil
-
'Horrific' Russian drone strike kills 14 at Ukraine train station: Kyiv
-
Russell Brand found monogamy 'difficult', wife tells UK rape trial
-
VW says 'no time to lose' to slash costs after 5.8 billion euro loss
-
Dubai building that saw city's rise from desert due for demolition
-
Australia lead by 100 after Inglis century
-
Duckett's best lifts England to 386-5 in Sri Lanka dead rubber
-
Martin to ride with broken wrist in Malaysian MotoGP practice
-
Stock markets diverge on corporate earnings, tech jitters
-
England forward Toney to stand trial for alleged assault in June 2028
-
'Horrific' Russian drone strike kills 13 at Ukraine train station: Kyiv
-
Warrican's five-wicket haul leads West Indies fightback in Bangladesh Test
-
Maresca braced for another tough test in Brighton repeat
-
Oil majors reap bumper profits as Mideast war drives prices
-
Ukraine says at least 13 killed in Russian attack on train station
-
Christine Lagarde: unifying ECB chief in turbulent times
-
ECB President Christine Lagarde to step down in February 2027
-
Rybakina secures year-end top rank with Tokyo win
-
A year on, Tanzanians mourn election massacres in 'state of terror'
-
Rains bring relief to Indonesian city weary of fire haze
-
Israel piles pressure on Arab parties as Netanyahu seeks government
-
Osaka vows to return stronger after Tokyo exit
-
'Call of Duty' slammed for using real Seoul crowd crush footage
-
Hello Kitty firm apologises, scraps Japan TV tie-up after China anger
-
TotalEnergies profit hits record on high oil prices
Am gives South Africa coach Nienaber potential selection headache
South Africa assistant coach Felix Jones said on Wednesday centre Lukhanyo Am is in contention to play in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals should they qualify.
Am, 29, was called up to the defending champions' squad on Monday, replacing injured winger Makazole Mapimpi, in time for the last-eight fixtures scheduled for October 14-15.
The Springboks do not play this weekend, with Ireland and Scotland meeting in Paris on Saturday which could end with the Springboks being eliminated.
For the champions to fail to reach the last eight, Scotland have to beat world number one side Ireland by a margin of 21 or more with both sides needing to claim a bonus point.
"He'll (Am) be considered just as much as anyone else and we'll base a lot of it on what happens in training and also consider what's gone on in the games prior to this," Jones told reporters.
"We'll see how he rocks up and how he performs in training over the next two weeks," he added.
Am made the last of his 35 Test appearances in August, when he suffered a knee injury and was left out of their squad for the World Cup.
The Sharks midfielder played all but one of their games on the way to lifting the Webb Ellis trophy four years ago.
"Luckily for us Lukhanyo is quite an experienced player and has been a part of the group for many years now," Jones said.
"I think probably everyone will agree that when Lukhanyo is at his best he can slot into almost any team.
"Lukhanyo was actually involved in all of our alignment camps, all of our training sessions, up to the point of us pretty much leaving for the World Cup, or the week or two before.
"He'll be fully up to speed with how things are going here," he added.
For the champions to fail to reach the last eight, Scotland will have to beat world number one side Ireland by a margin of 21 or more with both sides in Paris needing to claim a bonus point.
Gregor Townsend's side have failed to beat the Irish by more than 21 points since 2001 and have lost their last eight Tests against Saturday's opponents.
However, the Scots have bounced back after an opening defeat to the Springboks, hammering Tonga and Romania.
"We just want to get through ourselves," ex-Ireland full-back Jones said.
"You would probably say that it looks like Ireland would be the favourites.
"Scotland are in fantastic form. I think it's going to be a really tight game."
L.Davis--AMWN
