South Africa Head Coach Jacques Nienaber has confirmed the injury absence of three high profile Springboks stars, from his official squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The back-line with face a re-structuring ahead of the competition, as the ‘Bok’s talismanic fly half Handre Pollard is ruled out with a calf problem, and powerhouse centre Lukanyo Am is side-lined with a knee injury. The is also a notable absence from the forwards pack, as hard-hitting lock Lood de Jager has also developed a chest problem.
De Jager’s issue is as yet unconfirmed, with news outlet The South African highlighting Nienaber’s thoughts on the undisclosed chest problem. “People will understand, and it is not my place to elaborate on that (De Jager’s status). I know what it is, but it is not for me to say.”
The trio have been written out of the official 33-man squad, which was unveiled in Johannesburg yesterday. However, there may still be an opportunity for the Springboks stalwarts to make an appearance at the upcoming competition, if they are called up as relevant injury cover.
Pollard has been out of action since picking up the calf injury whilst on duty for Leicester Tigers back in May. Lukanyo Am’s injury is more recent, as the Cell C Sharks man suffered the knee injury in the Springbok’s narrow win over Argentina last weekend. De Jager missed out on the recent trip to Buenos Aires, due to his sustained illness.
The door remains a jar for Pollard and Am, as the back-line duo have been named on a 5-man reserve list that will travel to the Northern Hemisphere. The Springbok’s Rugby World Cup warm-up fixtures list involves a seismic clash matches against the All Blacks at Twickenham.
“Handre’s rehab went well, but he now needs to go through a Test match week and the demands of a Test match week,” explained Nienaber to Rugby 365. “He needs to be able to produce on a Saturday and then he has to back it up the next week and the next week without putting him in too early.
He will be able to start training with us, whereas with Lukhanyo we think it is a two-to-four-week injury. It is still very acute, and we will probably get a better gauge at the end of this week how he is doing.
“We believe they both will have the potential to be fit and ready to go by the Scotland game (September 10th), maybe the week after that, but they can only come into the World Cup squad if there is an injury or if a player does something to deselect himself.”