The Springboks will soon get their season under way with a ‘warm-up’ fixture of sorts against the Barbarians on 28 June, followed by the July Tests against Italy and Georgia.
With Elrigh Louw injured and Jasper Wiese having missed much of the domestic season due to injury, there was already some debate over the depth and options at No 8.
Young Bulls star Cameron Hanekom has been in top form, and it was thought that he could be a strong contender for more international game-time this season, but there were very worrying signs that he might have picked up a serious injury in the URC semi-final against the Sharks.
The 21-year-old will definitely miss the URC final, and there are concerns that he could be set for an extended period on the sidelines after leaving the field with what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury on Saturday.
“He’s being given a scan. Obviously, he’s very upset which is natural,” Bulls coach Jake White commented after the game.
“I told his parents earlier in the changeroom they must remember he is 21 [years old]. People forget when I started coaching 21-year-old forwards weren’t invited to Bulls training.
“If they were it was generally for the old men to bash them on a Monday night [at training].
“He has obviously jumped the line because he is so talented and he feels a bit down now, but we must not forget that he’s just 21 years old.
“There’s still a lot of rugby that he’s going to be involved in over the next couple of years.”
If Hanekom is now ruled out for the Springboks, Wiese will have a big job to do at No 8, while the door could also open for Juarno Augustus.
FULL SPRINGBOK SQUAD:
Forwards: Cameron Hanekom, Wilco Louw, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Bulls), Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Vincent Tshituka (Sharks), Neethling Fouche, Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Renzo du Plessis, Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams (Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie (Bulls), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse (Stormers), Quan Horn, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe (Lions), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Ntokozo Makhaza (UCT).
SPRINGBOKS’ FIXTURES
28 June: vs Barbarians, DHL Stadium, Cape Town. Kick off: 17:05.
5 July: vs Italy, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria. Kick off: 17:10.
12 July: vs Italy, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha. Kick off: 17:10.
19 July: vs Georgia, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit. Kick off: 17:10.
16 August: vs Australia, Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Kick off: 17:10.
23 August: vs Australia, DHL Stadium, Cape Town. Kick off: 17:10.
6 September: vs New Zealand, Auckland. Kick off: 09:05.
13 September: vs New Zealand, Wellington. Kick off: 09:05.
27 September: vs Argentina, Kings Park, Durban. Kick off: 17:10.
4 October: vs Argentina, London. Kick off: 15:00.
8 November: vs France, Paris. Kick off: TBD.
15 November: vs Italy, Turin. Kick off: TBD.
22 November: vs Ireland, Dublin. Kick off: 19:40.
29 November: vs Wales, Cardiff. Kick off: 17:10.
WHO WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO SEE MAKE THEIR TEST DEBUT?
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Meanwhile, here is an important reminder on ticket sales for the Springbok men’s game against Argentina in the Rugby Championship at Twickenham in October.
Ticket sales
Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster.co.uk and England Rugby, starting from just £55* for adults and £28* for Under-16s.
(*booking fees apply)
Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/springboks/springboks-major-injury-worry-emerges/
