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South Africa's injury crisis deepens as listed player misses plane
By Jan De Koning
South Africa’s injury situation appears to be approaching crisis proportions. Rugby 365 has revealed this evening that another player, still listed as a member of the Springbok squad, did not get on the plane when it departed for a training camp in Jersey on Sunday.
The team will prepare there for a week ahead of their year-end Tests against Scotland, England and Wales.
Prop Frans Malherbe is the latest casualty.
He was one of three Springboks injured in the Stormers’ 17-28 United Rugby Championship loss to the defending champions, Glasgow Warriors, in Stellenbosch at the weekend.
The others were utility back Damian Willemse and loose forward Ben-Jason Dixon.
Willemse, who suffered a groin injury while scoring a try at the Danie Craven Stadium, was officially withdrawn on Sunday and replaced by Bulls loose forward Cameron Hanekom.
Dixon, who was not selected for the tour, suffered a knee injury and went for scans.
@rugby365com can also reveal that Willemse, who only recently returned from finger surgery that saw him miss all the mid-year and Rugby Championship Tests, will be sidelined for three to four months with the groin injury.
He is unlikely to be back in action before February next year.
The big concern for the Boks will be the absence of stalwart prop Malherbe, who rolled his ankle against the Warriors.
He is the third Bok casualty since the year-end tour squad was announced last week.
Johan Grobbelaar (hooker) and Wilco Louw (prop) were called up to replace the injury withdrawal of utility forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
On Sunday Willemse was replaced by Hanekom, but no replacement was announced for Malherbe.
The official Springbok media release still lists him as a member of the touring squad.
However, there are now only two specialist tighthead props in the group – Vincent Koch and Wilco Louw, although Thomas du Toit can play on both sides of the front row.
The loosehead props are Ox Nche and Gerhard Steenekamp.
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Latest Comments
Refs make mistakes and they make 50/50 decisions that people don't like. Everyone knows that. And if we're aiming for a world in which people can't discuss those decisions then we're being idiotic.
But there is a big difference between questioning a decision and questioning the integrity of a referee. I don't mind a player or coach saying that they disagree with a Busby decision about Barrett, for example. In fact I am fine if they want to go and produce a tape and a commentary about it. Refs are in the public eye just as much as players are, and it's cool for people to analyze their performances IMV.
What's not OK is to say that they are biased, have hidden agendas, or intentionally favor certain teams or individuals. Nor is it great to call into question their competence, notwithstanding the obvious fact that some refs are more talented and/or experienced than others. Stick to discussing what they did, not who they are or what there intentions may be.
Also, while I think it should be fine (and not penalized) for a player or coach to disagree with certain decisions, I would observe that great teams don't blame "uncontrollables" for their losses and failures. As a player Hansen should treat refereeing the same as the bounce of the ball, the weather or injuries in the team. Uncontrollables are part of the challenge, regardless of how fair you think they are in any particular case.
Go to commentsBailey took someone else's spot though. Every year England name a 36 man squad for the six nations, but in 2022 they named 35 men + Orlando Bailey.
England have a finite amount to spend on player wages, so can't just add young players to the squad for free.
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