Springboks Coach Rassie Erasmus Provides Injury Update Ahead of Rugby Championship

• Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed that there were no major injury concerns in the squad ahead of their Rugby Championship preparations
• Although two prominent players had been nursing minor niggles, Erasmus said they were expected to return to full training shortly
• The coach also revealed that a few long-term injuries had kept certain players out of the current camp, including one forward still recovering at his club

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that there are no major injury concerns in the current squad ahead of the upcoming Rugby Championship, where South Africa will look to defend its title.

The Springboks are set to face the Wallabies in back-to-back clashes, beginning at Ellis Park before the return fixture at DHL Stadium in Cape Town. The squad has been trimmed to 37 players, all of whom have gathered in Johannesburg for a two-week conditioning camp.

What did Erasmus say about the Springboks' injury concerns?

Read also

Orlando Pirates urged to sign a game-changer like Lucas Ribeiro

Erasmus addressed the media with updates on player fitness, noting that only minor niggles exist within the camp.

“Canan Moodie has a bit of a hand issue, an infection, but it should be cleared up by Monday. He is already training with us again,” Erasmus said.

“As for Cheslin [Kolbe], he had a slight knee issue, but he seems okay. Hopefully, he’ll be back to full training next Monday.”

Aside from Moodie and Kolbe, Erasmus confirmed that the remaining 35 players, along with the three Junior Boks invited to the camp, are all fit and training well.

The coach also touched on longer-term absentees, including Bulls prop Gerhard Steenekamp, who has yet to feature for the Boks this year.

Watch the video below:

“Long-term injuries that are not part of the squad, I can’t go into much detail, but Elrigh Louw and Frans Malherbe are two of them,” said Erasmus.

Read also

Why Kaizer Chiefs lost to Asante Kotoko in Toyota Cup – Coach Nasreddine Nabi explains

Gerhard Steenekamp is still about six weeks away. He’s undergoing rehab with the Bulls.”

South Africa will take on Australia on 16 and 23 August before locking horns with New Zealand on 6 September.

Which key players are missing from the Springboks' squad?

Notably, some familiar faces have been left out: winger Makazole Mapimpi, scrum-half Faf de Klerk, lock Salmaan Moerat, back-rower Evan Roos, tighthead prop Neethling Fouché, and flanker Vincent Tshituka.

Watch the video below:

Jasper Wiese is also unavailable as he begins serving a three-match suspension following his red-card head-butt incident in the recent match against Italy, as ruled by the World Rugby Disciplinary Committee.

Watch the video below:

Commenting on the squad, Erasmus acknowledged the challenge of narrowing down the group:

“It’s always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands during the Castle Lager Incoming Series. But we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship,” Erasmus said.

Read also

Zakhele Lepasa breaks ties with Orlando Pirates after 7-year journey

SA Rugby mourns former Springboks captain.

Briefly News previously reported that a former Springboks captain passed away on Monday morning after a long illness. The player who was born in Zimbabwe was instrumental even after retirement as both a coach and an administrator.

He has been described by South African Rugby as a leader in the game of rugby and has left an incredible legacy behind.

Source: Briefly News