Springboks issue major injury update
The Springboks could be without as many as two star players for their blockbuster pool game against Ireland next weekend.
A new-look Springboks team will tackle Romania this Sunday, and they should have little trouble in securing a comfortable victory.
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All attention will then turn to their blockbuster battle against Ireland next weekend, which is likely to determine which team finishes top of their group.
However, one big concern for the Springboks is the shoulder injury suffered by Eben Etzebeth, which saw the big lock having to be replaced after just 26 minutes of action in the opening game against Scotland.
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On Monday it was subsequently revealed by Bok boss Rassie Erasmus that Etzebeth could be unable to train for up to 10 days, but after the latest review of his scans, that timeline has now been upgraded to 10 to 14 days.
The lock will obviously miss this Sunday’s clash against Romania – as was always going to be the case – but it now seems certain that he won’t be able to train from the start of next week, putting him in serious doubt to face Ireland.
The Springboks have generally had a selection policy that means a player cannot be selected for the matchday squad if they are not ready to form part of training at the start of a Test week.
That’s worth keeping in mind considering the pool game against Ireland takes place next Saturday, 23 September.
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“Eben’s scans and assessments came back,” coach Jacques Nienaber comment on Wednesday, as quoted by Rugby365.com. “We believe it is [now] going to be a 10- to 14-day injury.
“He didn’t participate in training yesterday [Tuesday], but he was on the field today [Wednesday]. It is something the medical staff will manage and monitor.
“To repeat, he has to be 100 percent fit. Given the pool we are in, we don;’t have the luxury to play a guy that is iffy – 95 or 98 percent fit. He must be 100 percent fit if he wants to be selected.”
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Meanwhile, Malcolm Marx suffered an injury during training, and results of the scan should be known on Thursday.
“Malcolm wasn’t selected for this game, so that doesn’t change anything in terms of the selection of this particular game,” coach Jacques Nienaber commented.
“I’m not 100 percent sure, but I don’t think we’re allowed to give out medical information about a player. It’ll be better to talk to him, or he gives the doctor the green light, who is probably in a better space to talk and will know more than I do.”
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