The Springboks, already injury-ravaged and fast running out of fit lock forwards, face “an unbelievably difficult task” against the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations this weekend, according to assistant coach Gary Gold.
With more than 20 top players recuperating from injury back in South Africa, the Springboks lost second row forward Johann Muller to a hamstring injury last week before Flip van der Merwe was injured in the 39-20 defeat to Australia on Saturday.
Team doctor Craig Roberts said Van der Merwe would need a “miraculous recovery” from a rib cartilage injury to face New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday, although his fellow lock Alistair Hargreaves should recover from an abdominal strain.
That leaves just Danie Rossouw, who started at flanker against the Wallabies, as well as Hargreaves and uncapped Gerhard Mostert, who joined the squad on Sunday, as the fit locks.
“I’m not going to sit here and give mindless clichs, it’s going to be an unbelievably difficult task,” Gold told reporters after training in Sydney on Monday.
“I have no question of a doubt that the All Blacks team is going to be a star-studded team once again. It will be incredibly difficult.
“But this is a huge opportunity for a group of guys trying to make their mark as Springboks to go over there and make history.
“This jersey’s incredibly important item and means an incredible amount to this group. This is the toughest cauldron and it can give you a great deal of confidence.”
Zero excuses
South Africa were badly beaten by the Wallabies last weekend, 39-10 down after less than an hour and scoring two tries only when the Australians had started emptying their bench.
“There were performances that weren’t good enough, there were certain issues about attitude … we need to know that we have our strategies and stick to them,” said Gold.
“Zero excuses, at this level of competition, you make a mistake and you pay the price.”
A surprised Mostert was in Paris preparing for the start of a two-year spell at Stade Francais when he got the call to join the squad in Sydney.
“I’d only been in France for less than a week so I was so surprised to get the call,” the 26-year-old said. “I knew there was a small chance of a call-up but still, a big surprise.
“I’m very excited if I get to go on or even in the match 22, you couldn’t ask for a better match. I’m stoked.”
Mostert could hardly fail to get into the matchday squad given the threadbare state of the Springbok lock department.
“We literally are picking last man standing, if they’re fit enough then they’re going to play,” Gold said.
“If we pitch up and our attitude is correct we have the ability to turn things around and put in a much improved performance,” he added. — Reuters