The physical toll of the new and extended Super 14 has hit the Springboks hard, with three players seemingly out for some time, and the news would not have brought comfort to Jake White as the training camp in Bloemfontein got under way in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
The most serious and potentially damaging injury was that of flyhalf Andre Pretorius who, according to White, will probably go under the knife to sort out a groin problem.
Also disconcerting, particularly in light of South Africa’s dearth at prop, is news that new cap BJ Botha will almost certainly need an operation on his back.
The third injury is that sustained by Marius Joubert in the Stormers’ Super 14 campaign.
The injury list may grow this weekend with the Bulls set to take on the Crusaders in a bruising Super 14 semifinal and the successful request by the Wildebeest to have Solly Tiyabilika and Brent Russell play in the Vodacom Cup final on Saturday.
”It is a problem, especially up front where guys like BF Botha, CJ van der Linde and Guthro Steenkamp are out injured,” said White.
”The selectors did a great job of providing me with cover for the flyhalf position and Butch James is a blessing, while Brent Russell, Meyer Bosman and Jaco van der Westhuyzen can all cover at flyhalf,” he added.
He said he will not be calling any replacements for the injured players.
The Bulls players may be out of the camp for another 10 days, should they defeat the Crusaders.
”If the Bulls can emulate their achievement against the Stormers, then they could be out for two weeks,” said Springbok captain John Smit.
Both White and Smit are optimistic about the results achieved by the South African teams and believe this will stand them in good stead this year.
White believes that the experience the Bulls gained in last year’s semifinal loss will be invaluable as they look to take on the New Zealand table-toppers in Christchurch on Saturday.
”I will be very surprised if the Bulls don’t take that experience last year and turn it around, and that is because they have had continuity and experience,” said White, plugging his own belief that continuity is worth plenty at the end of the day.
The Boks kicked off their camp with fitness tests on Wednesday and will start on-field training on Thursday morning at Shimla Park. — Sapa