Springboks dealt Kriel blow ahead of crunch All Blacks contest
South Africa have been dealt a blow ahead of Saturday's crunch Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand after influential flanker Jaco Kriel was ruled out with a shoulder injury.
The powerful forward complained of pain in his shoulder following the Springboks' 23-23 draw with Australia in Perth last weekend.
And Kriel has consequently returned home to South Africa, with no replacement selected in his place.
A South Africa Rugby Union (SARU) statement read: "Springbok flank Jaco Kriel will return home to South Africa after a shoulder injury has ruled him out of Saturday's vital Castle Lager Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Auckland.
"The industrious flanker complained of a shoulder problem after the drawn match in Perth last Saturday.
"His condition did not improve since then and he was sent for a scan on Monday afternoon in Auckland.
"The scan revealed that Kriel, who has formed a formidable loose trio combination with Siya Kolisi and Uzair Cassiem in recent weeks, had sustained a labrum tear."
South Africa also confirmed that prop Wilco Louw has been called into the squad to replace Coenie Oosthuizen, who has a broken arm.
The Springboks have two wins and a draw in this year's Rugby Championship ahead of the contest in Albany, while the All Blacks are three from three.
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“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
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