Springboks suffer major injury scare ahead of World Cup

It hasn’t grabbed many headlines, but it can’t be overlooked that the Springboks suffered a serious injury scare in Argentina this past weekend ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

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After taking contact, first-choice outside centre Lukhanyo Am looked to have suffered a leg or knee injury, and quickly received treatment. He attempted to continue playing, but ultimately had to be prematurely replaced.

This may have been a precautionary measure, but there are also fears that the injury could have been a serious one, suffered at the worst possible time.

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This setback has also come at a time when Am has failed to reach his usual consistent world-class form so far in 2023, and on Tuesday afternoon when the Springboks unveil their World Cup squad, the full extent of the injury is expected to be revealed.

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In a worst case scenario where Am is unavailable for the start – or perhaps the majority – of the World Cup, the No 13 jersey would then fall into the hands of Jesse Kriel.

As a reminder, the Springboks will announce their 33-man World Cup squad on Tuesday before heading into two final warm-up games against Wales in Cardiff on 19 August and New Zealand at Twickenham on 25 August.

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WATCH | HIGHLIGHTS: Springboks v Argentina in Buenos Aires

WHAT THE SPRINGBOKS’ SQUAD COULD BE

Forwards (18)

Props: Frans Malherbe, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane

Hookers: Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Joseph Dweba

Locks: Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Jean Kleyn

Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Jasper Wiese, Kwagga Smith, Franco Mostert, Duane Vermeulen

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Backs (15)

Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk, Grant Williams, Cobus Reinach

Flyhalves: Handre Pollard, Damian Willemse, Manie Libbok

Centres: Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen

Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Makazole Mapimpi

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RWC FIXTURES:

Sunday, 10 September – Boks v Scotland (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)
Sunday, 17 September – Boks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Saturday, 23 September – Boks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday, 1 October – Boks v Tonga (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)

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Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals
Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals
Saturday, 28 October – Final