South Africa were dealt yet another serious injury blow, as they started preparations for their historic Test against New Zealand in Soweto on Saturday.
Rugby 365 reports that Blue Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner has joined French-based Frans Steyn on the sidelines, leaving Gio Aplon as the only fit fullback ahead of the weekend’s Tri-Nations encounter.
The Bok camp are still awaiting a full report from Steyn’s French club, Racing Metro, but he cannot start training before Wednesday and might be considered for the Tests against Australia only – if the South African Rugby Union can get the necessary paperwork sorted out and have him released.
That is why Kirchner’s injury, which has definitely ruled him out of contention for this weekend, is such a big blow.
Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts told a media conference on Monday that Kirchner – one of two Boks injured in Currie Cup action at the weekend – picked up a knee injury.
“He [Kirchner] twisted his knee [playing for the Bulls against Western Province at Newlands at the weekend,” Roberts said, adding: “There is quite a bit of fluid and puffiness around his knee.”
Kirchner, before officially being ruled out, was not the only Bulls player that sat out training in Johannesburg on Monday – he was joined by forwards Dewald Potgieter and Danie Rossouw.
Potgieter suffered a whiplash injury in the first half of the big clash at Newlands at the weekend. Although the hard-working loose forward continued playing, he suffered “a bad neck spasm” and eventually left the field late in the second half.
And while he did not train with the Boks on Monday, scans showed there was no major damage and he will also be monitored during the week.
The Bok team doctor, Roberts, said they were “hopeful” that he would join the team on the training ground on Tuesday.
It seems likely Potgieter will feature against the All Blacks on Saturday, as will the veteran Bok lock Danie Rossouw – who suffered a hip flexor strain in training last week. (Rossouw, of course, did not feature in the Currie Cup at the weekend.)
“He [Rossouw] has recovered nicely,” Roberts said at Monday’s briefing. “He started doing ‘straight line running’ today.
“We expect him to be back doing full team training tomorrow [Tuesday] and if he comes through that he is available for selection for Saturday,” added the Bok doctor.
Loose forward Ryan Kankowski, who was not considered for the Bok team this week, has made a full recovery from his calf strain and will most likely feature for the Sharks in their Currie Cup clash against Province on Saturday.
The Bok team, to be named on Tuesday, could show plenty of changes from that which last featured against Australia in Brisbane – a game the Boks lost 13-30.
Francois Hougaard is set to start at scrumhalf against the All Blacks, with Ireland-bound Ruan Pienaar also still unavailable through injury and fellow World Cup winner Ricky Januarie’s form at an all-time low.
Hougaard looks set to partner provincial teammate Morné Steyn at halfback, with Aplon at fullback – while Juan de Jongh and Jean de Villiers could be the new midfield combination. JP Pietersen could join Bryan Habana on the wing – reuniting the wing pairing from the 2007 World Cup Final.
However, the make-up of the forward pack will depend on the fitness of Rossouw.
Pierre Spies, Schalk Burger and Juan Smith could be the new loose trio – something of an old-firm for the Boks at Test level.
Victor Matfield will be partnered in the second row by either Rossouw or Flip van der Merwe – all of whom are Bulls players. The front row could consist of Gurthrö Steenkamp, John Smit and CJ van der Linde, or Jannie du Plessis in place of Van der Linde.
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I have mixed feelings about this.
Excellent wing.
last line of defence is the bit that worries me.
how about starting jp at 15 and aplon on the wing?
@war1 (Comment 2) :
I could comfortably live with that.
Best of a poor bunch: Kirchner hasn’t impressed either.
Give Gio a run @ 15, nothing to lose 😉
@war1 (Comment 2) : JP’s defence isn’t worth writing home about either..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 6) :
Rich…..off the topic …but are you Podcasting tonight ? 😕
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 6) :
BF really summed it up very well. Best of a bad bunch (Aplon) we need a 1st class 15 and I’m not sure where to find that guy.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 7) : Yeah I am going to be chatting at 9pm SA time.. you joining us?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
We could lend you one for Saturday…..we are going to let you win so you don’t leave SANZAR ! 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : I really think the best in SA has to be either Jantjes or Viljoen..
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 10) : Who are you going to send our way?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 9) :
Do you know what time that is here….. is that 8pm here ?
Are you an hour ahead ?
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 10) :
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 11) :
Lambie?
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 13) : Its 8h20 here now.. so I am assuming I am an hour ahead..
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 13) :
What is your local time now?
20:18 in SA
21:18 in KSA
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) : I dunno Andre..
Im still unsure on that.. I like Lambie, I rate he we will be awesome.. but let the kid settle.. you know what I mean.. Don’t you think he is a bit young still? I know the saying is that if you are good enough, you are old enough. And I am also aware that you rate Lambie as more of a fullback than a flyhalf..
I really don’t know..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 18) :
Good answer. I was pulling your leg.
He is to young maybe after the S15 IF he has a good season.
I won’t debate the position issue just yet. 🙂
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 11) :
How you guys don’t pick Viljoen…he does however blow hot and cold ?
PS Who do you want…. Mils, Dagg, Maitland, Payne, Anesi, Robinson, Ward, Baker, Arnold, Nani-Williams, Clare, Munro ,Paku
….they all quite good ? ❓ All names you will be getting familiar with ?
…as they rob you of SB points on a weekly basis !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 20) :
We wanted someone BETTER than our guys not some wannabes. 😆
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 6) :
In what way? 😯
Best wing defender by a country mile!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 16) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 17) :
It is 7.25 pm here now so we must be an hour apart ….so are we on in 35 minutes ?
So do i ring anyone or does Rob ring us…. if required ?
….new to this Podcast thing ?
….we are not just going to moan about Mapoe all night are we ?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 6) : 😯 dude, if there’s one thing JP can do, it’s defend
@KSA Shark © (Comment 21) :
😆 😆 😆
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 23) :
mail me your skyp addy and I’ll add you.
Rob has a group set up and we’ll add you to the group.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 23) : Pass on your skype name and we can all add you Hert
@Big Fish (Comment 22) :
@war1 (Comment 24) :
Have you seen how JPP tackles? He goes in high and smothers.. he is a fantastic wing cover because he has the sideline.. I just wont trust him as the last line of defence..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 28) :
Nooit man; he has smashed plenty of okes in low tackles; he often goes for the steal or to drive the guy backward in the tackle though; he is powerful enough to do that.
Like War1 said – he is a monster on defence.