The convincing win of the Springboks on Saturday was followed by news on the injury front.
Most notably Francois Steyn, who rolled his left ankle last Monday morning, will have to undergo an operation to clean the ankle up and will be sidelined for 3 months recovering from the surgery.
“Losing Frans is a big blow as he is one of our most experienced players,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer. However, it’s better that he gets the ankle sorted out properly as he still has a long rugby career ahead of him and can play many more Tests for South Africa.”
In addition, Coenie Oosthuizen’s “general stiffness” seems to be more than just that, as Dr Craig Roberts, medical doctor of the Springboks has decided to send Coenie for a second opinion to Durban, fearing that Coenie has not recovered fully from the neck operation.
“I’ve not been completely happy with his neck, as he still showed symptoms after having played in the Currie Cup last weekend,” said Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts. “We’re seeking another opinion as we need to make the right decision for his career. Coenie is a young player and potentially he has a long career ahead of him, so long term we need to make the right decisions and can’t put him at risk in any way.”
Jacques Potgieter who sustained a groin injury in the Blue Bulls game Saturday before last and who then pulled up during practise last Monday at the Springboks is also out injured and sent back to recover.
“Jacques could not train last week and we were hoping to get him ready for selection for this week, but he has not responded as well as we had hoped and subsequently it was decided to withdraw him from the squad as he would not be available this weekend.”
The result is that cover for CENTRE and for BLINDSIDE FLANK had to be called up to the Springbok squad as they prepare to meet the All Blacks at the Soccer City complex near Soweto on Saturday. Heyneke Meyer’s choice has fallen on Lionel Mapoe who has been doing sterling work at the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup and also on Arno Botha the exciting Blue Bulls youngster who covers both blindside flank and No 8.
Four other Springbok players were nursing game bruises following Saturday’s Test, with Zane Kirchner, Willem Alberts, Jannie du Plessis and Johan Goosen sitting out of training on Monday.
Zane Kirchner bruised his hip when Adam Ashley-Cooper’s head and shoulder hit him in that fateful crash which saw Adam Ashley-Cooper stretchered off, out stone cold. Johan Goosen’s bruised left heel was rested today as a precautionery measure, seeing as he was still suffering with it during the Test, he should be ready for the weekend though. Jannie du Plessis is nursing a bruised knee and Willem Alberts is nursing a sore hip after the massive tackles he put in on Saturday.
“Seeing that Willem is also not 100% at the moment, we only have three fit loose forwards in the squad and needed someone to provide cover at blindside flank and No 8, which is why Arno is coming to join us. He was part of our Young Guns squad in June as has been in our plans before,” said Meyer.
“Lionel has been in great form lately and apart from providing cover in the midfield, he can also be used on the wing if necessary.”
There really is no love for Keagan Daniel.
Wow, who saw that coming. Mapoe as certainly upped his game this season, and if his past shenanigans are behind him, he may well have a bright future. Arno Botha has played very well, and probably deserves a spot, but agree with Loosie, what has Daniels done wrong. Ostrich has spoken time and time again about consistency in selection, so by default, he must have seen something in Daniels that we mere mortals can’t……..and it must be bad!
Putting my provincial cap on I would far rather if Arno Botha is playing at the moment that he be doing it on Friday night in the BIG game against WP than making up squad numbers or at best warming the bench. But from a Bok perspective Loosehead and JFK is it not more of a case of like for like and with Alberts an injury concern and Potgieter out does Botha not fit the bill better than Daniel, if anything could you not be questioning why someone like Jean Deysel is not there as a closer fit to the guys injured, or Michael Rhodes, Warren Whitely or Rhynhardt Elstadt even if they haven’t maybe been part of the squad earlier in the year like Daniel?
I was impressed with Arno Botha vs the Sharks. That lad has a bright future. I also feel for Daniels, it seems his style of play just doesn’t do it for Meyer, but then that shouldn’t surprise, he also seems to not really rate Brüssow either.
Good call on Mapoe, he has been good. Jordaan too, just a pity he is a tad injury prone.
Is Daniel a true Blindsider or is he primarily a No 6 and No 8?
Replacing Alberts (bit of an injury doubt) or Jacques Potgieter, who was exclusively used at blindside…. both big units, hard strike runners (not the elusive runner type like Daniel) and blindsiders are supposed to be bone crunching tacklers.
There HAS TO BE balance in a looseforward combination and selecting Daniel for possible blindside role would disturb this ideal type of trio.
Apples for apples….
Look, Daniel has been on fire, at No 6 and No 8 and one feels for him, but there has to be perspective as to the role envisaged.
I mean’t that Daniel has fallen from starting hero to Sharks captain in a few weeks.
# 5 @ GBS,
Agree with you. Daniels is on fire, but it seems he revels in the looser play at CC level, whereas his impact on the test scene isn’t as profound.
My take is that Louw is the incumbent at 6, Alberts at 7, and Vermeulen beginning to grow at 8. Marcel can actually play all positions in the backrow, but I reckon more 6 or 8, and Arno Botha is more suited to 7/8. Hence his call up.
We are blessed in the sense that often there are so many players that, we feel are hard done by. Arno Botha has made the transition from Junior rugby to senior rugby with aplomb. Another player beginning to develop nicely at 7, is Lappies Labuschagne.
The Bools player who signed for Leinster / Munster / Ulster must be kicking himself.
8 @ Loosehead,
CJ Stander, I think the Bools are kicking themselves for letting him go. Stander is fast, strong, and very good, but I think Arno Botha can become great!
g’morning mates
as ya ol can see, ive switched nationalities for the next few hours (propably will have to go wash myself in acid afterwards) but anything for the blommetjies to go through
so here goes
come-on au-stra-lia!!
#if anyone wonders, i live in the same town as my great mate pdv
wicket!!
yes
and watson can do no wrong
29/2
pakistan 10/3
15 overs
#14 shouldve been
108/3 lol
108/4
15.1 overs
Well done to these 2. So a team that provides 5 players to the Springbok team is not allowed to play Super Rugby, but a team that provides none is. Shows just how messed up SARU is.
aus require 150 to win
come-on au-stra-li-a
lions @ 17
lol
australia 48/3 after 11 overs
sorry sa, its another exit out of an icc tournament!!
18th over and pakistan’s first seamer coming on!!
20 @ ashley:
But at least (according to the team and management) they can’t be deemed chokers, because that was from a previous era.
Bwahahaha, What a lot of sh1t.
Proteas are bigger CHOKERS than the Boston Strangler ever was.
I guarantee you if the Paki’s win and knock SA out, the Proteas will “rise to the occasion” and thrash India, because the game means F ALL.
cough cough cough cough
out before we even had the chance to play our last game!!
Anyone know the Heimlich Manouver to dislodge that piece of meat choking the “other” team in green?
scrumdown @ 22
well, we’ll know for sure in a while, won’t we
actually was also gonna predict a massive victory myself “because we’re playing for pride” or thats what giggles (a.b.) would want us to believe
scrumdown @ 24
maybe they should just try something simpler like the hind lick manouvre?
#26
vra enige bloubul ondersteuner, hulle sal vir jou die hind lick in die fynste detail kan explain, lol
scrumdown
anyway, howzit broetsie
heard your name was scrapped from the heavenly springbok 15 in the last minute …. if you can believe gbs, that is!
28 @ ashley:
Howzit?
You mean my altrication with several motor vehicles late one evening last week?
Hmm, first time Watson has failed and Aussie loses, maybe without Watson they are just an average team?
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