The Springboks have been hit hard by injuries recently, many to players who have been star performers for them, the players that have been injured:
Frans Malherbe (Neck Injury) 3 months
Siya Kolisi (ankle injury) 3 months
Duane Vermuelen (knee injury) 6 weeks
Julian Redelinghys (hamstring injury) 6 weeks
Ruan Combrinck (broken tibia) 6 weeks
Trevor Nyakane (ankle injury) 6 weeks *Should be fit within the next week or 2
**The following players were not chosen in the Springbok Rugby Championship due to injury sustained prior to competition**
Handre Pollard (Knee injury) 9-11 months
Pat Lambie (Concussion) 2-3 months *Could return to the Bok squad within the next 2 weeks
Cobus Reinach (Knee injury) 9 months
Marcell Coetzee (Knee injury) 9 months
Jan Serfontein (wrist injury) 3-4 months
Rohan Janse van Rensburg (shoulder injury) *Currently in rehab, and might be called up to Springbok squad in the next few weeks.
I felt the need to include Rohan Janse van Rensburg, because if he were 100% fit, he is almost a no-choice selection. Him being left out of the squad without injury is almost like leaving Beauden Barrett out of the All Black squad. Pollard, Lambie, Reinach, Coetzee and Serfontein have all played for the Boks before, and if it weren't for their injuries, they would almost most definitely be in the Bok squad. Both Lambie and Serfontein were initially in the June series squad, but Jan sustained an injury at training and Lambie during the 1st test against Ireland. With Lambie and Nyakane both expected to maybe return to the Bok squad/team within the next 2 weeks, that still leaves the Boks with a staggering list of 10 injuries, including Rohan Janse van Rensburg. Many of those players are either first-choice players or play a significant part on the bench as impact players. 7 of those players played at last year's World Cup. That is valuable experience missing for the Boks. One thing that really concerns me is Pat Lambie and his concussion. It's been over 2 months since he sustained it, and is still feeling post-concussion symptoms. CJ Stander only got a 1-week ban for that. Alesana Tuilagi received a 4 week (later reduced to 2 week) ban for literally bumping off a player, and hitting the player with his knee by mistake in the process, who walked away barely hurt. The IRB really does need to review their system, and the Boks need to find a way to work around these injuries.
Frans Malherbe (Neck Injury) 3 months
Siya Kolisi (ankle injury) 3 months
Duane Vermuelen (knee injury) 6 weeks
Julian Redelinghys (hamstring injury) 6 weeks
Ruan Combrinck (broken tibia) 6 weeks
Trevor Nyakane (ankle injury) 6 weeks *Should be fit within the next week or 2
**The following players were not chosen in the Springbok Rugby Championship due to injury sustained prior to competition**
Handre Pollard (Knee injury) 9-11 months
Pat Lambie (Concussion) 2-3 months *Could return to the Bok squad within the next 2 weeks
Cobus Reinach (Knee injury) 9 months
Marcell Coetzee (Knee injury) 9 months
Jan Serfontein (wrist injury) 3-4 months
Rohan Janse van Rensburg (shoulder injury) *Currently in rehab, and might be called up to Springbok squad in the next few weeks.
I felt the need to include Rohan Janse van Rensburg, because if he were 100% fit, he is almost a no-choice selection. Him being left out of the squad without injury is almost like leaving Beauden Barrett out of the All Black squad. Pollard, Lambie, Reinach, Coetzee and Serfontein have all played for the Boks before, and if it weren't for their injuries, they would almost most definitely be in the Bok squad. Both Lambie and Serfontein were initially in the June series squad, but Jan sustained an injury at training and Lambie during the 1st test against Ireland. With Lambie and Nyakane both expected to maybe return to the Bok squad/team within the next 2 weeks, that still leaves the Boks with a staggering list of 10 injuries, including Rohan Janse van Rensburg. Many of those players are either first-choice players or play a significant part on the bench as impact players. 7 of those players played at last year's World Cup. That is valuable experience missing for the Boks. One thing that really concerns me is Pat Lambie and his concussion. It's been over 2 months since he sustained it, and is still feeling post-concussion symptoms. CJ Stander only got a 1-week ban for that. Alesana Tuilagi received a 4 week (later reduced to 2 week) ban for literally bumping off a player, and hitting the player with his knee by mistake in the process, who walked away barely hurt. The IRB really does need to review their system, and the Boks need to find a way to work around these injuries.
