After two narrow Rugby Championship losses the Springboks are not only mentally battered but also have a mounting injury crisis only seven weeks from their Rugby World Cup-opener.
Saturday’s 27-20 loss to the All Blacks claimed a few more victims with props Jannie du Plessis (knee) and Vincent Koch (ribs)‚ No8 Warren Whiteley (ribs) and flank Francois Louw (shoulder) all crying off.
Du Plessis should mend in time for the Springboks’ next outing against Argentina at King’s Park on August 8‚ but there are deep concerns over Louw‚ Koch and Whiteley.
Losing Louw would be a devastating blow for the Springboks. He has been brilliant for three seasons and is vital to the breakdown battle.
Considering that No8 Duane Vermeulen (neck)‚ flank Marcell Coetzee (knee) and flank Willem Alberts (back) are all in a race against time to be fit for the World Cup‚ the Boks are in something of a loose-forward crisis.
“It was a big turning point when Francois Louw went off‚” coach Heyneke Meyer said after the All Blacks clash. “He popped his shoulder and the doctor is pretty worried about him.
“Jannie also has as medial cruciate ligament injury but we don’t immediately know how serious it is.
“Warren and Vincent both have rib injuries and the full extent to those will only be known after scans. But initially we think both have broken ribs.
“I just hope that they are all not too bad because we really can’t afford more injuries at this stage.”
Lock Lood de Jager‚ who has just returned from a lengthy injury lay-off due to a broken elbow‚ also limped off the field with 20 minutes to go. But it was only cramp as the exertions of the battle took their toll on the giant second-rower‚ who hadn’t played a match for five months prior to last week’s contest against Australia.
De Jager was seen icing his calves after the game‚ but should suffer no long-term effects.
With Louw and Coetzee in doubt for the Argentina clash‚ the return of Heinrich Brüssow to Test rugby for the first time in nearly four years on Saturday was one positive development.
Brüssow‚ playing his first game in 12 weeks and his first Test since 2011‚ lasted the full 80 minutes. He was very effective in the battle for the ball on the ground‚ made some steals and slowed New Zealand ball effectively‚ although his influence on the game decreased as he tired in the final quarter.
The plan had been to give Brüssow about 60 minutes but Louw’s injury just before halftime meant that he had to play on for the entire 80 minutes.
Meyer though was full of praise for Brüssow’s efforts after such a long time away from the Test arena.
“Heinrich was brilliant. While we had two opensides on the field we were superb at the breakdown‚” Meyer said. “We didn’t allow them quick ball and we could set our defensive lines.
“But when we Francois went off they started to get quick ball and it didn’t help that Warren was injured soon after he came on‚ and he had to play through the pain.”
Meyer also revealed that lock Pieter-Steph du Toit could have played against the All Blacks‚ which suggests he will play a role against the Pumas in a fortnight.
Boks are in a loose-forward crisis
Image: Duif du Toit / Gallo Images
After two narrow Rugby Championship losses the Springboks are not only mentally battered but also have a mounting injury crisis only seven weeks from their Rugby World Cup-opener.
Saturday’s 27-20 loss to the All Blacks claimed a few more victims with props Jannie du Plessis (knee) and Vincent Koch (ribs)‚ No8 Warren Whiteley (ribs) and flank Francois Louw (shoulder) all crying off.
Du Plessis should mend in time for the Springboks’ next outing against Argentina at King’s Park on August 8‚ but there are deep concerns over Louw‚ Koch and Whiteley.
Losing Louw would be a devastating blow for the Springboks. He has been brilliant for three seasons and is vital to the breakdown battle.
Considering that No8 Duane Vermeulen (neck)‚ flank Marcell Coetzee (knee) and flank Willem Alberts (back) are all in a race against time to be fit for the World Cup‚ the Boks are in something of a loose-forward crisis.
“It was a big turning point when Francois Louw went off‚” coach Heyneke Meyer said after the All Blacks clash. “He popped his shoulder and the doctor is pretty worried about him.
“Jannie also has as medial cruciate ligament injury but we don’t immediately know how serious it is.
“Warren and Vincent both have rib injuries and the full extent to those will only be known after scans. But initially we think both have broken ribs.
“I just hope that they are all not too bad because we really can’t afford more injuries at this stage.”
Lock Lood de Jager‚ who has just returned from a lengthy injury lay-off due to a broken elbow‚ also limped off the field with 20 minutes to go. But it was only cramp as the exertions of the battle took their toll on the giant second-rower‚ who hadn’t played a match for five months prior to last week’s contest against Australia.
De Jager was seen icing his calves after the game‚ but should suffer no long-term effects.
With Louw and Coetzee in doubt for the Argentina clash‚ the return of Heinrich Brüssow to Test rugby for the first time in nearly four years on Saturday was one positive development.
Brüssow‚ playing his first game in 12 weeks and his first Test since 2011‚ lasted the full 80 minutes. He was very effective in the battle for the ball on the ground‚ made some steals and slowed New Zealand ball effectively‚ although his influence on the game decreased as he tired in the final quarter.
The plan had been to give Brüssow about 60 minutes but Louw’s injury just before halftime meant that he had to play on for the entire 80 minutes.
Meyer though was full of praise for Brüssow’s efforts after such a long time away from the Test arena.
“Heinrich was brilliant. While we had two opensides on the field we were superb at the breakdown‚” Meyer said. “We didn’t allow them quick ball and we could set our defensive lines.
“But when we Francois went off they started to get quick ball and it didn’t help that Warren was injured soon after he came on‚ and he had to play through the pain.”
Meyer also revealed that lock Pieter-Steph du Toit could have played against the All Blacks‚ which suggests he will play a role against the Pumas in a fortnight.
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