Severity of skipper’s injury to be assessed today
SPRINGBOK rugby captain Warren Whiteley will learn today the severity of a groin injury that kept him out of a 35-12 triumph over France this weekend, which completed a 3-0 series whitewash.
The loose forward was withdrawn from the team just a couple of hours before the kick-off after aggravating a groin strain by landing awkwardly during a midweek lineout session.
“We do not know at this stage how serious the injury to Warren is,” Springbok coach Allister Coetzee admitted.
“He will be assessed today and a decision taken together with the medical team of the Golden Lions. Warren has been struggling with a bit of a groin strain for a while. We decided to give him as much time as possible to be declared fit.
“Sometimes you patch up a player and make it possible for him to get through a game, but we decided it was not worth the risk.”
South Africa next play on August 19 against Argentina in a Rugby Championship opener in Port Elizabeth.
Whiteley was named the Springbok captain this year in succession to hooker Adriaan Strauss, who retired after a calamitous season last year, in which the team lost eight of 12 Tests.
Meanwhile former South Africa forward and coach Nick Mallett hailed the Springboks for completing a 3-0 Test series whitewash over France on Saturday.
“Incredible,” said the SuperSport TV analyst, referring to the dramatic turnaround in fortunes for a country that has won the World Cup twice.
South Africa beat France 37-14 in Pretoria, 37-15 in Durban and 35-12 in a Johannesburg Test that drew 55 820 spectators. Eight months ago, the Springboks were jeered after a 57-15 thrashing in Durban from their greatest rivals New Zealand.
It was among eight losses in 12 Tests during last year –a dismal calendar-year record for a team since it first competed internationally in 1891.
Mallett, who also coached Italy and French club Stade Francais, singled out relentless tackling as a key factor in the transformation of the Springboks.
“There has been a massive step-up in tackling from last year,” he said. “The laziness of last season has gone and in its place has come collective enthusiasm.”
Mallett said the addition of 1995 Springbok World Cup-winning centre Brendan Venter to a coaching staff headed by Coetzee was another key factor.
“He has a very strong personality,” he said of the Cape Town-based doctor who has held varying coaching positions in South Africa, England and Italy.
Venter has been widely praised for changing the sieve-like Springbok defence of last year into a unit that restricted France to four tries in three Tests.
“I also believe Brendan has helped Allister in creating a brotherhood, as they call it, in the Springbok squad.”
Mallett was critical of France, who were expected to provide tougher opposition, especially in Durban when the team was bolstered by Toulon and Clermont stars.
“I was bitterly disappointed with France. They looked poorly coached, poorly prepared and lost the physical battles in each Test.” — AFP