Rassie's casualty list grows as injuries mount in Bok camp
by Craig Taylor · KickOffWhile it’s been an eventful Greatest Rivalry tour for the All Blacks on the injury front, the Springboks have some concerns of their own, with coach Rassie Erasmus providing a squad injury update to the media after naming his side for the second Test in Cape Town.
South Africa are still sweating on the return of Siya Kolisi, who was bracketed at No 6 for the weekend, but if he isn’t fit enough to make his return in green and gold, Paul de Villiers will deputise for him once again on Saturday.
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But that’s not the only problem injury-wise in the Bok camp, Erasmus noted, with Grant Williams, Ben-Jason Dixon and Canan Moodie sidelined.
“Unfortunately, Canan pulled a hamstring, and Grant picked up an ankle injury,” said Erasmus.
“Ben-Jason has some concussion symptoms that he picked up last week.”
While Cheslin Kolbe wasn’t named in the side for Saturday, Erasmus said there would be a chance he could be drafted in later in the week. Kolbe left the field against the All Blacks at Ellis Park with cramps on Saturday.
Erasmus said, however, that the winger now has another concern as well.
“It’s not even the hamstring anymore now, it’s a bit of the ankle as well,” Erasmus told reporters.
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There’s no doubt that the attrition rate will continue to climb throughout the four-match series for both sides, but Erasmus will want as many of his players as possible available for the third and fourth Tests.
Saturday’s Test in Cape Town kicks off at 17:10.