Double blow for tour as Boks, Bulls hit by Covid

IT is now likely that there will be no rugby this weekend, as both the Springboks’ Test against Georgia and the Bulls tour match against the British and Irish Lions have been hit with an outbreak of Covid-related positive tests.

The Bulls match has been postponed after five positive tests, SA Rugby confirmed in a statement, with a view to possibly reschedule the encounter or to accommodate an alternative opponent, while both the Boks and Georgia have returned positive results in their squads.

There have been four positive results in the Georgian team and four additional positive tests among Bok players – Marvin Orie, Frans Steyn, Handre Pollard and Frans Malherbe – with an additional six positives within the management squad, including coach Jacques Nienaber.

“These positive results are a setback and have underlined the danger of transmissibility of the Delta variant,” said SA Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux.

“The Springboks’ second Test against Georgia is now in serious doubt, but we will wait for the MAG (medical assessment group) to consider the data and we will make the final decision tomorrow.

“The priority is to maintain the integrity of the Test series and we will continue to focus on that.”

The Springbok team announcement was postponed on Monday after Bok lock Lood de Jager tested positive for Covid-19 in scheduled testing. Due to his close proximity to his teammates, the entire squad was put into selfisolation.

The entire squad and management went for PCR tests yesterday morning and it is those tests that have indicated the development of the cluster.

It was expected that the matchday 23 to face the Georgians on the day would have possibly represented the first choice team to play the B&I Lions later this month, as a raft of overseas-based players were expected to be selected by Bok coach Jacques Nienamber.

Meanwhile, Edgar Rathbone of the Blue Bulls Company indicated last night that the tentative plan is to reschedule the tour match for Tuesday, June 20 – five days before the first Test between the Boks and B&I Lions.

Said Rathbone: “Obviously, firstly we need to look after the players and make sure they are safe and healthy.

“For South African rugby as a whole, I think it is important that all the tour games go ahead. There is obviously commercial value around every game, and broadcasting rights and that sort of thing. We are going to try and make it work as best as possible, and make the game happen if we can fit it into the schedule.”

The Lions’ Tom Curry said before the match against the Bulls was postponed that he had “massive understanding” of the South African players affected by the coronavirus pandemic. He spoke from personal experience after his Sale Sharks team missed out on last season’s English Premiership play-offs when they were forced to cancel their last league match because of Covid-19 in their camp.

“For South African players a Lions tour is once every 12 years. It’s a huge occasion for them, so massive, massive understanding for them,” said Curry.

“It’s not people’s fault if they catch Covid, to be honest, so huge understanding for them.”

But Curry and defence coach Steve Tandy said the Lions were not being distracted from their preparations by the problems affecting their future opponents.

“It’s out of our control. Whatever happens, happens,” said Curry.

Tandy added: “We’re just focusing on ourselves, building on past performances.