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Prop-lems for Springboks in lead up to Pumas clash
By Harry West
South Africa have suffered a blow with the news that prop Frans Malherbe is likely to miss the start of their Rugby Championship campaign against Argentina at the weekend due to a neck injury.
The Springboks were thought to be already resigned to losing front-row Ruan Dreyer, who had been reportedly released to be with his family as he is expecting to become a father this week, but the team announced on Monday that Dreyer would take Malherbe's place.
Coenie Oosthuizen and Trevor Nyakane are also in line to take a starting berth for the tournament opener in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The Pumas are traditionally fearsome when it comes to scrum time, meaning the absence of Malherbe is a genuine concern for head coach Allister Coetzee.
"Frans started complaining of neck pain on Thursday and over the weekend it started radiating down his arm, so we are concerned for a disc injury," said Boks team doctor Konrad von Hagen.
"So we will have a scan done later today and after that we will know about his availability for the game.
"The scan will tell me, and I need to know is it a disc injury or a facet joint. If it is a facet join it will get better quickly whereas a disc will take longer.
"At the end of the scan I will know what the prognosis will be and if we need to get a specialist involvement we will and we will then decide what the plan is for him in terms of the long-term."
Flankers Jaco Kriel (flu) and Siya Kolisi (ankle) are both back in contention, while the Springboks are waiting to see how scrum-half Ross Cronje recovers from a rib injury.
Hooker Malcolm Marx (shoulder) is back to full health, while number 10 Handre Pollard (ankle) and captain Warren Whiteley (abdominal) continue their rehabilitation from longer-term issues.
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Think it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
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