The vice-captain has recovered well from the problem suffered against Australia on May 24 but is not yet 100 per cent fit, with officials having until 24 hours before Tuesday’s opener against Slovakia to decide whether to drop him and call a replacement.
Brown admits it’s a relief just to have made the trip.
“I wouldn’t want to say it’s a medical miracle but it’s healing pretty quickly,” he says.
“They thought it would be a six-week turnaround and we are two-and-a-half weeks into it. But by all accounts it’s going really well.”
Brown says he is not just in South Africa to cheer on his team mates.
“I have come over here to play,” he says.
“Obviously it’s one achievement to make it to this point. I think I have done well to get here but there are a whole lot of other challenges because I want to play and really contribute on the field.
“There’s a wee way to go but hopefully that will be pretty rapid and I will be training and playing at full speed pretty soon. I’m feeling pretty good and I’m confident I will be training fully shortly.
“As for this game on Tuesday, we will have to see.”
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