The injury status within the Springbok squad is still uncertain two days ahead of the team’s departure for their overseas leg of the Tri-Nations.
This was revealed at a Springbok press briefing in Johannesburg on Tuesday with assistant coaches Gert Smal and Allistair Coetzee.
Furthermore, Smal and Coetzee seemingly could not speak openly about team selection without coach Jake White, who was in a meeting with the SA Rugby board, president’s council and provincial coaches discussing the transformation charter.
”I can’t speak on team selection; it is unfortunate Jake is not here. I also can’t make statements on injuries, but it looks positive,” said Smal on Tuesday.
At face value the Springboks’ preparation could take yet another knock as certain key players are set to be excluded from travelling with the team because of injury.
In a press release issued by the Springbok spin doctor Vusi Kama, team doctor Yussuf Hassan stated that the final team announcement will only be made on Thursday when a full prognosis on injuries has been concluded.
”The overall picture looks good, it is encouraging. The final results will be available over the next few days. We will make an announcement on Thursday on the medical condition of our players. Unfortunately, at this stage we cannot make pronouncements on individual players. Our process is an ongoing one, for all players,” Hassan was quoted in the release.
In light of the looming injury crisis in the Bok team, White could be forced to blood the new caps in the squad, namely Akona Ndungane, Pierre Spies, JP Pietersen and Chiliboy Ralepelle.
”We are looking for something different and new, so it is good to get some young blood in the team,” Coetzee said.
Bigger problems seem to lie ahead for the Boks as they try pick themselves up from a demoralising defeat to the French two Saturdays ago and an unimpressive showing against Scotland in their second Test three weeks ago.
”The French game was very disappointing. In fact, our last two games were disappointing. We set high standards for ourselves and we won’t sleep and stop working hard until we get there,” said Smal.
Injuries, new caps, and a lack of training time in South Africa could seriously hinder the Boks chances of winning away from home, especially in New Zealand.
However, a poor Tri-Nations for the Boks will put a question mark against White’s future and that of certain players ahead of next year’s World Cup. — Sapa