JJ Harmse
Pretoria – What on earth is going on with Frans Steyn’s availability for the Springboks’ Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium on August 21?
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) said in a statement on Wednesday that a decision will only be taken on Thursday once the Bok medical team have received a report from French club Racing Metro about the nature of Steyn’s injury.
Steyn injured an ankle playing inside centre in a warm-up game against Perpignan on Friday. He was due to go for a scan on Tuesday to determine the seriousness of the injury.
One would have thought that the outcome of the scan would be considered a matter of urgency, especially as the final squad for the Test against the All Blacks will be named on Friday.
Racing Metro said in a statement that Steyn will not be considered for this weekend’s game against Brive, which is the club’s opening fixture in the French Top 14.
Club spokesperson Franck di Palma said that they were hopeful that Steyn would be able to be considered for the second league game against Montpellier.
It is significant that he makes no reference to Steyn’s possible involvement with the Boks.
“Francois is injured for the weekend. We’re not sure whether he will be ready for the game against Montpellier. We don’t publicise the nature of players’ injuries, but can confirm that he suffered the injury against Perpignan,” Di Palma wrote in an e-mail.
It is strange that the club’s media liaison says nothing about Steyn’s availability for the Boks, but many things in Steyn’s “Springbok Saga” have been strange.
The chances appear slim that he will be fit for the Test against the All Blacks – and one strongly suspects that the Bok camp already know that.
Pretoria – What on earth is going on with Frans Steyn’s availability for the Springboks’ Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium on August 21?
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) said in a statement on Wednesday that a decision will only be taken on Thursday once the Bok medical team have received a report from French club Racing Metro about the nature of Steyn’s injury.
Steyn injured an ankle playing inside centre in a warm-up game against Perpignan on Friday. He was due to go for a scan on Tuesday to determine the seriousness of the injury.
One would have thought that the outcome of the scan would be considered a matter of urgency, especially as the final squad for the Test against the All Blacks will be named on Friday.
Racing Metro said in a statement that Steyn will not be considered for this weekend’s game against Brive, which is the club’s opening fixture in the French Top 14.
Club spokesperson Franck di Palma said that they were hopeful that Steyn would be able to be considered for the second league game against Montpellier.
It is significant that he makes no reference to Steyn’s possible involvement with the Boks.
“Francois is injured for the weekend. We’re not sure whether he will be ready for the game against Montpellier. We don’t publicise the nature of players’ injuries, but can confirm that he suffered the injury against Perpignan,” Di Palma wrote in an e-mail.
It is strange that the club’s media liaison says nothing about Steyn’s availability for the Boks, but many things in Steyn’s “Springbok Saga” have been strange.
The chances appear slim that he will be fit for the Test against the All Blacks – and one strongly suspects that the Bok camp already know that.