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Springboks statement: Pollard and Am's Championship-ending injuries
By Liam Heagney
Jacques Nienaber’s Springboks will finish out their Rugby Championship campaign without fly-half Handre Pollard and centre Lukhanyo Am following their respective knee injuries in last Saturday’s round three loss to the Wallabies in Adelaide.
Pollard and Am were left out of the much-changed Springboks XV named for this Saturday’s rematch with Australia in Sydney, coach Nienaber explaining at his team announcement that an update on the injury situation would likely be provided on Wednesday.
This has now happened and it is bad news for Pollard and Am as they will return to their respective clubs, Leicester Tigers and Cell C Sharks, for further medical advice, ruling them out of the Springboks’ round five and six matches versus Argentina in Buenos Aires on September 17 and in Durban on September 24.
A Springboks statement read: “Fly-half Handre Pollard and centre Lukhanyo Am will return to their clubs for further medical assessments after being ruled out of Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against Australia in Sydney.
“Both players suffered knee injuries against Australia in Adelaide last weekend, which prompted the decision to send them back to the Leicester Tigers and Cell C Sharks respectively for further medical advice. Elton Jantjies (hand) and Pieter-Steph du Toit (knee), meanwhile, will remain in camp, as they are expected to recover sufficiently from their injuries for the last two matches of the team’s campaign.”
Springboks coach Nienaber said no replacements would be called up at this stage as they have sufficient cover within the squad. However, if the need arises, they will call on reinforcements. “It’s always unfortunate to lose players in a squad, but this opens the door for other players to step in and showcase what they can do in those positions,” he said.
“We will now have 32 players in camp and with Elton expected to recover for the matches against Argentina and players such as Andre (Esterhuizen) and Jesse (Kriel) and Frans (Steyn) all being capable centres, we are well covered.”
Pollard was set to arrive at Leicester at the end of the Championship and would have been expected to make his Gallagher Premiership debut at some stage in October following his high-profile signing from Montpellier as the replacement for England's George Ford, who had left for Sale. Am had also made a club move in 2022, switching from the Kobe Steelers in Japan to the URC Sharks.
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Latest Comments
Does anyone know a way to loook at how many mins each player has played whilst on tour?
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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