Key Bok players return for tough battle against Pumas
WHILE the Springboks are set to welcome back a number of key players from various niggles and physical problems, a cloud hangs over Handre Pollard for Saturday’s Test against Argentina at King’s Park.
The prodigiously talented Blue Bulls pivot suffered a head knock during the 27-20 loss to New Zealand on July 25 and Bok team doctor Craig Roberts said he was suffering from delayed concussion.
Victor Matfield, Jannie du Plessis, Francois Louw and JP Pietersen will not be part of the weekend’s festivities. Frans Steyn was also ruled out and he has been granted leave of absence due to a family bereavement.
Roberts announced, however, that regular captain Jean de Villiers is in the running to play. That would necessitate a change in midfield and probably a foretaste of what is to come at the World Cup as Roberts explained that Jaque Fourie’s absence is not for medical reasons.
Fourie du Preez’s fitness has also been given a thumbs up and should he pull through, game time beckons for the wily halfback. Roberts said: “Jean de Villiers stepped aside to get some game time so if he gets through the training week, he’ll also be available for selection. Fourie du Preez also came through the morning session very well. The test will be how he responds to the load of the training but he could potentially be ready.”
Roberts said Pollard “actually passed” assessments at the time and immediately after the game, but “after two days we do another assessment and at that stage he started developing some symptoms of concussion, so it is what we call a delayed concussion. There is a set protocol we will follow before we clear him to play. He is in the process of going through that protocol and if he gets through all the stages and is asymptomatic we can clear him but we will only know later in the week.”
Sharks lock Pieter-Steph du Toit also joined the Boks after his successful run out against the Golden Lions in Pietermaritzburg on Friday evening, and that somewhat alleviates the lock crisis that was consuming the Boks due to Matfield’s iffy hamstring.
Argentina proved to be more than a competitive unit in last year’s Rugby Championship but they seem to be playing within themselves this year with the World Cup in mind.
Their forwards, though, have not held back and as witnessed in the 3918 defeat to New Zealand in Christchurch on July 17, their forward pack has an element of grunt and abrasiveness that keeps all the Test teams honest.
Springbok forwards and attack coach Johann van Graan expects a brutal and uncompromising onslaught from the Pumas. “It is about composure, consistency and playing winning, attacking, aggressive and decision-making rugby each weekend,” he said.
“There’s no such thing as the Rugby Championship being gone. We are playing against quality opposition.
“The forward challenge will be a big one .... Everybody is scoring when they have opportunities from five metres and almost all the top eight nations are pretty much close together when it comes to forwards. Most of them are scrumming well.”