Springbok No 8 Pierre Spies has been ruled out of The Rugby Championship due to an injury he sustained playing Super Rugby last month.
SA Rugby
Spies, who played in his 50th Test against England in Port Elizabeth in June, injured his left ring finger in the Super Rugby Qualifier against the Crusaders last month.
According to Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts, initial X-rays did not reveal any significant abnormality.
“However, on review and further investigation, including a CT scan and assessment by a hand specialist in Cape Town, it was found that Pierre had a fracture into the joint,” said Roberts.
“Surgical correction is needed in order to prevent permanent damage. The usual rehabilitation time for these kinds of injuries is eight to 12 weeks.”
At this stage, Spies will not be replaced in the Springbok squad currently preparing for the opening Test of The Rugby Championship, on Saturday at Newlands, against Argentina.
“We have faith in the players in the squad and will consider the call-up of a possible replacement at a later stage,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“Losing Pierre is obviously a setback, because he is the most experienced member of our forward pack, but we will never take any risks with injured players.
Injuries are part of the game and this now provides an opportunity for someone else to stake a claim.”
Spies joins four other Springbok loose forwards that are currently not available for selection. Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Heinrich Brüssow are injured, while Ryan Kankowski is not available because of club commitments in Japan.
Furthermore another player that was in the selection frame, Duane Vermeulen, will only return to action for Western Province in the Currie Cup this weekend after a four-month layoff because of a knee injury.
Lock forward Eben Etzebeth took full part in training on Tuesday.
The Springbok team for the first Test will be named on Wednesday.
Feite is, al kies HM die hele Sharks en WP span en nie eers een ou bulletjie nie, dan gaan daar nog steeds ‘n klomp ou suurknolle en bitterbekke wees, want die coaching staff is nog te blou …..
HM wens al seker hy het die 2de maklikste werk in die land – Zuma s’n.
31 @ bdb:
Nee jinne BiDiBiDi, van hierdie ouens issie vars nie… en die probleem is, hulle weet nie hulle poepolle stink nie.
Maar nouja, laat die goed begaan, die dinge sal homselwers mooi regruk en uitwerk, soos tyd aangaan.
Nee hel kyk die Blouste blou bul kan by Puma kom leer van eie span voortrek. Eish Puma the last outpost het nog nooit die Super titel gewen ne, nooit.
Flaws daar ou maat flaws, maak jou oe bietjie oop.
@ superBul:
That may well, but our bru Puma’s team has earned him those bragging rights THIS year. We are talking about NOW, not previous trophies and watt watta…Sharks have been the ‘in form’ team this year, imo.
@ Puma:
I remember your remarks after the semi-final at Newlands to the effect that Heyneke might do worse than selecting the whole Sharks’ pack except for Etzebeth.
Well, what do you know, there is now a strong possibilty of exactly just that!!!!
I have a feeling we won’t be seeing Pierre Spies in the Springbok jumper again soon.
The old adage of ‘the sharks are circling’ has never had a more ominous ring to it than at present
It is always sad when a player is injured.
I hope that Pierre recovers soon.
I can’t understand this sudden man love for Kankowsi. He played one good game which was against the Reds, and has been pretty average in all the others.
HM will take a look at Vermeulen and Deysel on Saturday, and possibly Potgieter on Friday, and then make a call after that.
18 @ grootblousmile:
I still maintain that of the no 8’s currently available, Pierre is the best we have. So its a loss and weakens the team.
Id be inclined to play Alberts at 8 with Kolisi coming in. I think that HM may play Potgieter though, although Im not a fan at all of his play. All show and not that much go IMO.
I wonder if Duanne will get a call up in a week or 2, after his first CC run. That sucks for WP because they could use all the help that they can get, and having Duanne back in the mix would certainly help.
@ Loosehead: agree with Loosehead. One good game and Afrokop is in the Bok team from nowhere. It will take more for the Skaamhaaie to come down to earth than a mere 30 point drubbing. They’ll be flying high until next year’s (another) S15 disappointment.
Alberts at 8, Kolisi at 6 and Marcel at 7.
I’m not a big fan of Spies, but he isn’t that bad. Don’t think he’s ever let his country down. Never been the worst player on the field, and when the Boks forwards struggle, he will struggle. I hope Vermeulen only plays CC rugby this year. Like Afrokop, he doesn’t deserve a place as he hasn’t done enough in 2012 to justify it.
Alberts to 8, Coetzee and Kolisi on the flanks.
I see the majority are touting the trio of Kolisi, Coetzee and Alberts, as am i but something tells me well be seeing Keegan in the starting line up.
It wouldnt be my choice but ill reserve judgement.
Loosehead, though not a sensitive man, is a little perturbed about rumours and allegations that he is ecstatic about the injury to Mr P Spies. Please refer to comments 37 & 38 on the following thread http://www.rugby-talk.com/2012/08/rugby-championship-springbok-squad-announced/?cp=1#comments and comment 36 on this thread.
Loosehead also received a telephone call, with a message, from someone claiming to be Keven Petersen last night regarding this subject and Loosehead’s apparent elation on hearing this.
Although Loosehead has on many occasions made his feelings regarding Mr Spies quite clear, he is not happy to hear of his injury. The Springbok squad will be weaker without him.
Loosehead is however happy to note that with the inclusion of another #8 in the Springbok starting team, that the Boks will be playing with seven forwards and Andries Bekker.
Whoops I did it again! [or so the song goes}
You got to feel for Pierre spies, he has been struggling for form and getting injured now is the worst thing that could have happened to him. He needed this series to show his worth, if others perform he moght struggle to get back into the squad.
@ biltongbek:
If I were Pierre I wouldn’t have given up my spot in the team for a broken finger, I would have played come hell or high water!
I watched the replay last night of that 3rd test against the Poms we drew a month ago, and I specifically followed Pierre’s every move, and I can tell you he wasn’t THAT bad in a pack that went backwards most of the time.
Go check it out.
Oh, and play Alberts at #7 please.
He is too slow at #8 (as is Vermeulen, by the way).
Play Keegan there (since we don’t have a Josh Strauss or Ernest Joubert to fall back on).
And please, start with Ruan at #9 (last night’s replay convinced me again that he should have stuck to scrummie under PdV’s reign, instead of buggering around at #10).
37 @ Loosehead:
41 @ Rugbyprof:
It was not only one game against the Reds. Just look how brilliant Kanko was against the Bulls. That was probably his best game and then again against the Reds and Stormers. Give some credit to the player.
46 @ Pietman:
Spies played well for the Boks against England Piet. Just seemed to fall of the pace again playing for the Bulls.
For now I think we should start with Keegan at 8 he has good skills and is fast. I like a faster 8. Alberts is very good but slower and Vermeulen as good as he is is also slow. None have the skills that Keegan has though. Small or not think we should go with Keegan. In time mabye Coetzee could become a 8. He has played there before and his skills and pace would also suit playing 8.
48 @ Puma:
He was nowhere against the Stormers. So he played well in 2 games in the last couple of years. Kanko has had many chances and hasn’t really lived up to the hype.
47 @ Pietman: Blue Tinted glasses?
Chilliboy also out injured with a knee. Liebenberg in the Bok squad as a replacement.
@ Loosehead😮
Was looking forward to Liebenberg playing on his home turf in Kimberley this weekend.
Is Andriaan Strauss not available? Surely he is much better than Liebenberg……
* Chiliboy has always been a sicknote; granted, he improved a lot under PdeV, got more playng time.
@ Pietman:
Don’t know how that little yellow bugger got there, sorry.
The effects of playing too much rugby is quite clear.
I am not a Spies fan, but I am sorry to hear he is injured.
I notice in all the suggestions above (unless I missed some) everyone agrees on Marcel Coetzee, and I totally agree, in my opinion the most consistently good loosie we have, that guy has a great future.
Regarding the others, I would like to see how Kolisi performs at international level, and Argentina may be a good time to try him, dont want to throw him in first time against the ABs.
Third one depends on the game plan, if its crash ball stuff, probably Alberts, if its speed and mobility go with Daniel, we shall have to wait and see what HM plan is.
52 @ Pietman: Strauss is there, they just need a 3rd hooker in the squad for the oversea’s leg of the TC.
51 @ Loosehead:
Thanks for the news Loosehead; a pity for Chilliboy never like to hear of players injured, but a good opportunity for Liebenberg, it must only be a short term measure as the man is over 30 but hopefully he enjoys his experience in the ‘Bok set up.
50 @ Loosehead:
I just can’t get this from quite a few that Kanko has had MANY chances. Please tell me how many games he started to have had so many chances for the Boks? He was mostly used from the bench. A chance for me means a season starting. Not a few games coming from the bench. Kanko has NEVER had a truely fair chance playing for the Boks. You can’t call coming off the bench a chance.
I watched that game again against Stormers yesterday and Kanko was superb there. His best game was against the Bulls. Ask Matfield he rated him highly after that game and the rest he played for the Sharks this season.
Anyhow he is not available as he is in Japan. It is a damn shame because this would have been his really first chance to start for the Boks.
Coetzee could become a excellet 8 as well. Has the speed and very good skills too. I like fast 8 not a lumbering 8.
It was last week already that stories about Chilliboy being injured were going about and so one wonders if the decision to announce a replacement should not have been done sooner, some folk thought Burden would be next in line but I asked whether Liebenberg was maybe the one who would be picked, although if had known his age would maybe not have suggested that. I guess with the Boks being in Cape Town Liebenberg was close by. With them making the decision so late it ruled out them calling Schalk Brits who will be busy with pre-season preparations with Saracens and probably not get to Cape Town in good time, I feel this is a short term measure as Liebenberg is already over 30 and with them going with that then maybe Brits (who is 31) would have been a better choice if they had decided earlier to replace Chilliboy. Looking further into the future though maybe they should have gone with Burden. Anyway as the third hooker in the squad you would think playing opportunties would be limited if any at all, unless there are unfortunate injuries.
49 @ Puma:
Hi ya Puma, not really watched much Super 15 this year so can’t debate on who of Alberts or Daniels is the better player but do you not think it will be better to have the bigger Alberts on to start against the Pumas to help the pack, the Pumas are well known for their scrummaging and perhaps if its wet and heavy underfoot then it won’t mean Alberts being less pacey will have such an impact. I know Alberts and Daniels both can cover various positions in the pack so are both good bench candidates but maybe better to have Daniels as a ‘supersub’ who can come on and try run at tiring Pumas and if it is still tight in the end his leadership abilities will also be welcome near the end of a game.
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