Springbok hooker poser
RASSIE: MARX INJURY LEAVES COACH WITH HEADACHE
Hamstring injury rules star out of June internationals against Wales and England.
One of Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ worst fears were realised yesterday when star Lions hooker Malcolm Marx was ruled out for the Test series against England next month.
After undergoing a full scan on his injured hamstring picked up in last weekend’s Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes in Wellington, Marx was yesterday ruled out for “at least six weeks”.
That means he will miss the Lions’ last three Super Rugby matches before the June break against the Highlanders, Brumb- ies and Stormers, as well as the Springboks’ Test against Wales on June 2 in Washington as well as the first two Tests against England in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein. Even if he does return in the week before the third England Test on June 23 in Cape Town, it is doubtful whether Erasmus will involve him so soon again.
The Lions medical team described Marx injury as a highgrade hamstring tendon tear which doesn’t require surgery, but probably an intensive rehabilitation period.
It will bring two Bok veterans Bismarck du Plessis and Adriaan Strauss into the picture, while Akker van der Merwe, Franco Marais and Scarra Ntubeni will also be in the running.
Lions coach Swys de Bruin said to replace Marx for their last Super Rugby tour game against the Highlanders in Dunedin this weekend they will look at Robbie Coetzee to start, with a stop-gap solution on the bench in the form of flank Marnus Schoeman and prop Jacques van Rooyen.
“We are privileged to have Marnus who can come on as hooker. We also have Jacques van Rooyen who can fill in well at hooker if he has to,” said De Bruin.
“We have put Jacques on standby in the past, not that we needed him to change position, but we are okay there. We also have the option of bringing in (prop) Corne (Fourie), but they had their first baby so calling him up wasn’t really an option.”
Louis Koen (right), SA Rugby’s high performance manager and Junior Springbok assistant coach, is satisfied with the progress made by the Under-20s on their UK tour and said it was the perfect preparation for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.
The Junior Springboks followed their 41-3 victory over Scotland in Edinburgh with a 41-5 defeat of Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday. They take on England in Worcester tomorrow.
The World Rugby Under-20 Championship will be hosted in the south of France from May 30 to June 17 and the Junior Springboks have been drawn in Pool C with Georgia, Ireland and France.
“We are very pleased with the progress the forwards made in the match against Wales, especially in the set pieces,” said Koen.
“The scrums and lineouts were excellent and another positive was the opportunities we created on attack, although we need to round off those chances going forward. Our defence was also very good.
“In general, the progress made after each game has been pleasing and that is certainly something we can build on going forward.”
Koen said the fact that the players have been exposed to touring overseas before the international spectacle would also be beneficial.
“We are blessed to have this opportunity to tour in the UK before the World Rugby Under-20 Championship,” said Koen.
“It gives the players insight into what touring involves, such as staying in hotels, being on the team bus and going through customs at an airport, which are small but important things.
“The chance to face international teams on their home ground is also invaluable.
Koen is expecting a physical battle against England.
“The fact that we have a short turn-around from the clash against Wales will make it tougher.” – Own Correspondent