Springboks’ big lock shock
Coach Heyneke Meyer yesterday revealed Bulls secondrower Flip van der Merwe is not available for the World Cup.
Centre and lock positions give Bok coach Meyer sleepness nights in World Cup year.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has labelled big lock Flip van der Merwe’s unavailability for selection a “big setback in World Cup year”. Meyer revealed during the first day of a three-day Springbok training camp in Sunninghill yesterday that Van der Merwe’s decision compounded his headaches in the lock position.
“Flip at this stage is not available for international rugby,” said Meyer.
I’ve always rated him and he has just come back from injury, a big setback especially in northern conditions.”
Van der Merwe is contracted by the Bulls until the end of the season, after which he will join French outfit Clermont.
With the Boks first outing on July 11 against a World XV looming large, Meyer said the lock and centre positions are a big concern to him.
“The one position I’m really worried about is lock. Eben Etzebeth has just recovered from injury and Pieter-Steph du Toit has been injured. Victor Matfield has just returned, but Lood de Jager is also still injured,” he said.
On the up side, Bok skipper Jean de Villiers is on track to be fit for the World Cup after serious knee construction the end of last year.
“Jean is actually ahead of schedule. He is at camp and taking part in the planning and doing his rehab on his own. We are very positive about his recovery.”
Although 44 players attended the camp yesterday, only 20 took part in the session because of injury.
“You sometimes forget why you coach. To see the guys so passionate back in the fold – and I haven’t seen the guys for almost five months – is a long time in rugby,” said Meyer.
“It’s a great vibe there, again seeing new faces. You just realise what it means for guys to be involved in the Bok set-up and seeing a guy like Pierre (Spies) back after injury.”