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London – Injuries to Bismarck du Plessis and Schalk Burger may result in a different looking Springbok pack for Saturday’s test against Italy in Udine.
They are struggling with rib injuries after the Test against France and while both played touch rugby with teammates on Monday, they were absent from the scrumming session.
The Bok scrum is under scrutiny again following the defeat in Toulouse, especially after the strong performance by Italy against the All Blacks in Milan.
While the Bok scrum had its moments against France, they conceded five penalties and it cost South Africa the game.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers was very critical afterwards of referee Wayne Barnes’s interpretations of the scrumming laws and pointed out that the South Africans also suffered under him when they lost against Australia in Brisbane.
However, CJ van der Linde did not play that day and it was De Villiers’s decision to send the Leinster player on at loosehead prop that backfired.
He had not scrummed with the Bok team since joining them in Dublin on Wednesday and it showed in the Test.
Monday’s session was much better, with Adriaan Strauss of the Free State Cheetahs packing down at hooker.
It looks as if John Smit will back-up the hooker position as the other hooker on tour, Bandise Maku, did not train with the Test side. Maku is expected to be among the dozen or so players that will return to South Africa on Thursday.
Francois Hougaard (scrumhalf) and Jean Deysel (flanker) trained with the team. Deysel’s presence indicates that he may replace Burger if the latter does not recover from injury in time.
“We’re being pro-active because these two (Du Plessis and Burger) have rib injuries. But we have two doctors on tour and they’re working flat-out on getting Schalk and Bismarck fit,” said De Villiers.
“The injuries may not end their tours, but can prevent them from playing on Saturday.”
The rest of the team, which will be announced in Udine on Wednesday, is likely to be unchanged, but De Villiers hinted at possibly rotating some players. Victor Matfield may be one of them, with Andries Bekker possibly starting at lock.
London – Injuries to Bismarck du Plessis and Schalk Burger may result in a different looking Springbok pack for Saturday’s test against Italy in Udine.
They are struggling with rib injuries after the Test against France and while both played touch rugby with teammates on Monday, they were absent from the scrumming session.
The Bok scrum is under scrutiny again following the defeat in Toulouse, especially after the strong performance by Italy against the All Blacks in Milan.
While the Bok scrum had its moments against France, they conceded five penalties and it cost South Africa the game.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers was very critical afterwards of referee Wayne Barnes’s interpretations of the scrumming laws and pointed out that the South Africans also suffered under him when they lost against Australia in Brisbane.
However, CJ van der Linde did not play that day and it was De Villiers’s decision to send the Leinster player on at loosehead prop that backfired.
He had not scrummed with the Bok team since joining them in Dublin on Wednesday and it showed in the Test.
Monday’s session was much better, with Adriaan Strauss of the Free State Cheetahs packing down at hooker.
It looks as if John Smit will back-up the hooker position as the other hooker on tour, Bandise Maku, did not train with the Test side. Maku is expected to be among the dozen or so players that will return to South Africa on Thursday.
Francois Hougaard (scrumhalf) and Jean Deysel (flanker) trained with the team. Deysel’s presence indicates that he may replace Burger if the latter does not recover from injury in time.
“We’re being pro-active because these two (Du Plessis and Burger) have rib injuries. But we have two doctors on tour and they’re working flat-out on getting Schalk and Bismarck fit,” said De Villiers.
“The injuries may not end their tours, but can prevent them from playing on Saturday.”
The rest of the team, which will be announced in Udine on Wednesday, is likely to be unchanged, but De Villiers hinted at possibly rotating some players. Victor Matfield may be one of them, with Andries Bekker possibly starting at lock.
