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Oi, not good news if true. Especially the news on Eben.

rugby365.com

Springboks face lock crisis

INJURY UPDATE: The Springboks have lost a few senior locks ahead of their clash against the All Blacks.
rugby365.com rugby365.com

INJURY UPDATE: The Springboks have lost a few senior locks ahead of their clash against the All Blacks.

On Monday, the Bok camp confirmed that Salmaan Moerat and RG Snyman are both out of the Rugby Championship Round Three match at Ellis Park.

More worryingly is that veteran lock Eben Etzebeth is doubtful for Saturday’s clash

Moerat is still battling a concussion he suffered in Australia, while Snyman is battling a leg injury.

Meanwhile, Etzebeth is an integral figure in South Africa’s engine room, and he is also a leader in the team. The Boks will miss him the most if he is not there.

With those players on the sideline, it could mean a return to the second row for Pieter-Steph du Toit.

The loose forward wore the No.5 jersey in South Africa’s 33-7 over the Wallabies in Brisbane.

Rassie Erasmus can also use Stormers star Ben-Jason Dixon in the second row.

Bulls captain Ruan Nortje is also in the squad after he started against the Wallabies in Perth.

However, Du Toit and Nortje are both No.5 locks which means the Boks are looking very thin at No.4.
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We could get away for 40 minutes without Etzebeth or Mostert against the Wallabies, but now with Snyman and Moerat also not available for 1st test the only replacement with international exp to take one of their places is Du Toit and another of the newcomers... v big ask against the Kiwis, puts our whole forward pack on the back foot. Not good!!!
 
ctriaan said:
Is one of Kleyn or Jenkins not available?
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Kleyn is out injured and Jenkins hasn't been mentioned in any squads or team chatter for a while so I assume he is unavailable for selection (ostensibly injury related too).
 
Even if Jenkins were available, you can't exactly call out someone from the cold and expect them to deliver a flawless lineout under pressure against the All Blacks. They don't know the calls.

The bigger problem is we will have to replace at least one lock after half time and we need a lineout caller there all the time.

It also affects the scrum. Nortje doesn't particularly strike me as someone who will provide the same impetus behind the front three as Etzebeth.

Harry Jones reckons Eben is definitely out so our crocked lock list reads

Eben Etzebeth
Franco Mostert
Lood de Jager
RG Snyman
Jean Kleyn
Salmaan Moerat

Now imagine if PSdT were to get injured early in the game. It is a bit of an issue. We desperately need to blood some new tighthead locks because our current crop, with the exception of Eben, are injured more often than not.
 
Team for Saturday. Worst fears confirmed. Eben out

SPRINGBOK TEAM: Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach, Jasper Wiese, Ben-Jason Dixon, Siya Kolisi (captain), Ruan Nortje, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche.

Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Handre Pollard.
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Jasper Wiese straight in after his suspension and Fassi at the back, combined with no established lock cover on the bench make it a real interesting team.
 
Agent_Smith said:
Team for Saturday. Worst fears confirmed. Eben out



Jasper Wiese straight in after his suspension and Fassi at the back, combined with no established lock cover on the bench make it a real interesting team.
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Not good. Is willie also injured?
 
1. Lock situation... eish. Lineouts is main concern.
2. Sacha is great but its a big big call. I was thinking Pollard and Willie with Sacha on Bench to cover both. Hoping the lad has a belter.
3. I thought Rassie would pick Willie for NZ. Fassie is properly good though so also hope he smashes it.
 
Good team but we are in trouble should one of the starting locks get injured. Also, starting with Sasha might be a gamble. Rassie has balls I will never have!
 
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