Springboks await Sanzaar Championship decision
The Springboks will remain in Gqeberha in coming days as SA Rugby waits for a decision from Sanzaar on the fate of the Rugby Championship.
Recent Covid-19 outbreaks in New Zealand and Australia forced Sanzaar to suspend the plan of the two countries cohosting most of the tournament, which includes SA and Argentina. As SA Rugby waits on the final outcome, there is persistent speculation in New Zealand that Sanzaar reached an agreement for the remaining Rugby Championship fixtures to be played in Queensland.
“The Springboks, who will enjoy some time off for the next few days to freshen up mentally and physically following a jampacked schedule in the last twoand-a-half months, will remain in Nelson Mandela Bay until Sanzaar announces where the remaining Rugby Championship fixtures will be hosted,” read a statement from SA Rugby on Monday.
Meanwhile, SA Rugby also announced that Grant Williams will join the Springbok squad in Nelson Mandela Bay as scrumhalf cover for Jaden Hendrikse, who has been ruled out with a leg fracture.
Substitute Hendrikse was stretchered off the field after seven minutes of action when he was tackled in the team’s 2910 victory against Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
He has been ruled out for the rest of the competition.
Williams, who has made a strong statement on the field for the Sharks, joins Faf de Klerk, Herschel Jantjies and Cobus Reinach as the scrumhalves in the squad.
The good news is that De Klerk and Jantjies, who were both on the injury list in the past two weeks, are on track with their recovery from a leg strain and hip pointer niggle, respectively and will be available for selection for the Tests against Australia and New Zealand.
“It is sad to lose a player like Jaden who was really beginning to find his feet in the system and starting to make his mark in Test rugby, but unfortunately injuries are part of the game,” said Bok coach Jacques Nienaber.