Springboks coach reveals Eben Etzebeth under injury cloud for All Blacks

Springboks assistant coach Deon Davids has revealed that Eben Etzebeth is under an injury cloud ahead of this weekend’s clash with the All Blacks. RG Snyman will also miss the Test as an injury crisis sweeps through the team’s second-row department.

Etzebeth has long been regarded as one of the best locks in international rugby, with the hulking 2.03-metre lock starring in South Africa’s run to back-to-back Rugby World Cup crowns. The 32-year-old recently stepped up as a captain for most of the win over Australia in Perth.

However, less than a week out from one of the best Test matches of the year between arch-rivals South Africa and New Zealand, Etzebeth is at risk of missing the clash at Ellis Park. The Springboks are waiting for feedback from team doctors before ruling the lock out.

The Springboks will have their depth at second-row put to the Test in a rematch of last year’s Rugby World Cup Final, with the likes of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ben-Jason Dixon among those in the mix to step up for the injured Etzebeth and Snyman.

Snyman, 29, was withdrawn from the Springboks’ team to play the Wallabies in Brisbane earlier this month less than an hour out from kick-off. While the dual World Cup winner returned to face the Aussies in Perth, the Munster is expected to watch on from the sidelines again.

“Salmaan (Moerat) follows a normal protocol for HIA so unfortunately he won’t be available for selection for this game,” assistant coach Deon Davids told reporters in Johannesburg.

“At this stage, we know that guys like Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert, Jean Kleyn are out with injury.

“At this point of time, a guy like RG Snyman is also unavailable due to a leg injury. Unfortunately, I can’t go into detail in terms of that so he will be out for a couple of weeks.

“At this point of time, Eben Etzebeth is also struggling with a bit of a niggle so it’s also something we’ll look at in terms of his availability for this coming week.

“But luckily, at the end of the day… we’ve got some good depths in terms of guys that have played up until now in those positions.

“It will always be tough when you lose some experience but it’s also a great opportunity, an exciting opportunity to see the quality and what the next guy can bring in the squad.”

While the Springboks have their own second-row issues to manage this week, All Blacks coach Scott Robertson will once again turn to a new crop of players to step in the shoes of giants. Of course, they no longer have legendary duo Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock in the mix.

Patrick Tuipulotu played two Test matches against England in July but the Blues captain hasn’t made the trip out to South Africa. Captain Scott Barrett joins a young group of players as options at lock including Sam Darry, Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa’i.

“Scott Barrett, he will be back this week and I think he will be massive to have him back from a leadership point of view but also in terms of a playing point of view,” Davids explained.

“Yes, Whitelock and Retallick are quality players and any team that loses that quality will take them some time to build on that but I think there’s some good youngsters coming through and with the leadership and the assistance of Barrett and Tuipulotu and those guys around them.

“I think they will grow in stature.”