SA rugby stars nursing minor knocks after test
Debutants repay Bok coach’s faith
The Springboks’ thrilling 4239 win over bitter rivals England at Ellis Park did not come at any big cost to personnel, with fullback Willie le Roux, scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and flyhalf Handre Pollard expected to be fit for the test in Bloemfontein at the weekend.
Coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed after the match that Le Roux and De Klerk struggled with minor cramps while Pollard’s shoulder issue is not expected to rule him out of the second test.
Le Roux was replaced by Warrick Gelant after 64 minutes, Ivan van Zyl came on for De Klerk in the 73th minute while Pollard, who scored 17 points, lasted the whole game.
“Willie and Faf were just [suffering with] cramps and Handre has a bit of a shoulder problem,” he said.
Erasmus was brave to hand debuts to right wing S’busiso Nkosi, who scored a brace of tries, left wing Aphiwe Dyantyi, who scored one of his own, and lock RG Snyman against a more experienced England side and he was impressed by their performances.
“What I take out of this match is that we gave caps to younger players to try them under pressure and we will have to make bold calls going into the World Cup. There is nothing more rewarding than to see guys like S’busiso, Lukhanyo [Am], Aphiwe, RG and the others who have not played too many international matches playing well,” he said.
Erasmus, meanwhile, has trimmed his squad to 33 players for the remaining two tests against England.
Squad: Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi (capt), Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Akker van der Merwe, Tendai Mtawarira, Daniel du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Thomas du Toit, Franco Mostert, Marvin Orie, Oupa Mohoje, RG Snyman, Duane Vermeulen, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Sibusiso Nkosi, Robert du Preez, Warrick Gelant, Jesse Kriel, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard, Ivan van Zyl, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Elton Jantjies, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Willie le Roux