While the injuries don’t seem to be at crisis point, the Boks are readying themselves to be without stand-in captain Victor Matfield and flank Marcel Coetzee this weekend against the World Champions, meaning even less experience is likely to take the field this weekend.
While both haven’t actually been ruled out of the team at the moment, the chances of their inclusion in any match 23 are “slim at this stage”, according to team doctor Craig Roberts as they join a number of senior players on the sidelines ahead of the fixture.
But the good news is that both injuries won’t be long-term, and that both players should be ready long before World Cup selection at the end of August.
“The first one is Victor Matfield who hurt his hamstring during the game,” Dr Roberts said in assessing the injuries.
“We will do some scans today and reassess him today where we will have a better picture where he will be for this weekend. At this stage he is doubtful for the weekend but we will only make that call later on in the week when we have done the scans.
“The other one was Marcel Coetzee, who took a big knock to his knee. Thankfully it looks as if his knee ligaments are all in tact. He will also be reassessed today and we will have a better picture of where we are with him. It looks more like a bad contusion to the muscle and quad. He is also doubtful for this weekend but again we will also make that decision later after we’ve done the scans.”
Coetzee looked a lot worse when he limped off the field and the good news regarding his injury will go down well for the Boks, who will need all the experience they can get for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
Pressed on the matter Doctor Roberts was clear he wasn’t holding his breath that both will be ready.
“Look the chances are slim, but I need to scan them and know exactly what we are dealing with and then we can make a call on them. But they are slim at this stage.”
Apart from the duo, there were a few other injury concerns, of which veteran Jannie du Plessis is the most troublesome, but not likely to keep him out of another date with the All Blacks.
“We had a few minor injuries as well. Francois Louw had a nasty minor laceration to his cheek, he had to come off as a blood injury. He is fine at the moment, and he did finish the game, he will be fine for the weekend.
