NSW and Wallabies star Drew Mitchell is a 50-50 chance to make a miraculous recovery from injury and be on the plane for the Waratahs’ two-match South African Super Rugby tour.
The team departs for matches against the Stormers and Cheetahs on Saturday and Mitchell only needs to pass one more fitness test on Friday to convince coach Michael Foley he’s ready for an earlier-than-expected return from an ankle injury.
Mitchell was expected to miss the entire Super Rugby season and the June Test matches against Scotland and Wales with the ongoing problem, but is now on the verge of a comeback after recovering well from the first of two fitness tests.
On Friday, the Waratahs medical team will try out his conditioning and ability to change direction at high speed before giving him the green light to tour and be available for the second match against the Cheetahs on May 26 in Bloemfontein.
“There’s a good chance, I would say 50-50,” said coach Foley.
“He ran yesterday and he’s pulled up out of that pretty well. We’ve decided we want to give him one more test which is one step further up and that will be tomorrow.
“He healed a lot better than what was first thought. We had great advice from some of the leading people in Australia and he took a bit of time.
“He did all the right exercises he was given and it’s just turned for the better which is great – because there was a chance at one point that he might not play again.”
The Waratahs play the Bulls at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.