British and Irish Lions: Six Sale players in Springbok contention

Six of Sale's South African contingent are in contention to face the British and Irish Lions this summer.

Prop Coenie Oosthuizen and twins Dan and Jean-Luc du Preez are in the Springboks' plans, along with World Cup winners Lood de Jager and Faf de Klerk.

And hooker Akker van der Merwe can make it too, says Sale boss Alex Sanderson.

"I want [Sale's players] to be the best they can be. If that's playing for South Africa or for the Lions then I support both of those things," he said.

"They are talking to Coenie, Lood, Faf, JL and Dan du Preez, potentially Akker as well moving forward - I think they should, but that's up to them."

Meanwhile Sanderson says the "brilliant" lock De Jager is on course to be fit for the series showdown in July and August after a serious knee injury to his meniscus.

"In that brief period before he got injured he was without doubt one of the best players I have ever coached," Sanderson told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"He is brilliant - on and off the field. I can't speak highly enough of the man. He is a brilliant player."

This article originally appeared on BBC Sport

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