Adnaan Mohamed in Johannesburg
The Springboks are facing a crisis in the lock position ahead of Saturday’s crucial Rugby Championship round three match against the All Blacks here at Ellis Park.
On Monday, it was confirmed at a press conference at the team hotel in Hyde Park in Sandton by Springbok forwards coach Deon Davids that Salmaan Moerat and RG Snyman will both not be available for the test against New Zealand.
Moerat, who led the side in the test against Portugal, is still battling a concussion he suffered when he also skippered the Boks against the Wallabies in Perth. Snyman is struggling with a leg injury.
However, a possible bigger setback is that veteran lock Eben Etzebeth who is doubtful for Saturday’s clash.
Etzebeth (32), who boasts a whopping 124 test caps, is an integral figure in South Africa’s engine room, and is also a leader in the team.
When questioned about Etzebeth’s niggle and whether he would take part in Monday’s closed training session at Ellis Park, Davids was cagey regarding the extent of the injury.
Davids reiterated the Boks policy of not picking players who don’t participate in the Monday training session, saying that the same protocol will be followed.
“Salmaan is following the normal head injury assessment protocols, so he won’t be available for selection,” Davids confirmed.
“We’ve also got a bit of a hoodoo when it comes to our locks outside of Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert and Jean Kleyn being injured.
“Snyman is also not available due to a leg injury. I can’t go into detail with that, but he’ll be out for a couple of weeks.
“Etzebeth is also struggling with a bit of a niggle and that’s something we’ll look at in terms of his availability.
“We’ll have to wait for the doctor’s feedback on that and Monday’s training matter remains part our protocol and it is applied every time.”
“We have Pieter-Steph and Ruan, who had a good game and there’s also a guy like Nicolaas who has come in.
“There’s also Ben-Jason Dixon, who has played a couple (of times) at lock for the Stormers, but it is always tough when you lose some experience.
“However, it also brings a great and exciting opportunity with the quality that the next guy could bring into the squad.” added Davids.
With World Cup winners, like De Jager, Mostert and Kleyn all still on the sideline, it could mean a return to the second row for Pieter-Steph du Toit.
The loose forward wore the No.5 jersey in South Africa’s 33-7 over the Wallabies in Brisbane.
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus now has to weigh up his options in the second row.
Ben-Jason Dixon, who has played with distinction since he made his debut on the flank in the green and gold in the test against Portugal.
Like Du Toit the 26-year-old boasts a high work rate and has a played in the second row for the Stormers before. He is however still inexperienced at test level with only two caps behind his name.
Bulls captain Ruan Nortje is set to feature once again after he started in the 30-12 win over the Wallabies in Perth.
Erasmus has also brought Montpellier lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg into the squad.
The 30-year-old has only one test cap behind his name when he last played for the Boks in 2021.
When Erasmus names his side on Tuesday, it will therefore be interesting to see the starting lock combination in the engine room.
Rassie will also have to weigh up his options on the bench where the bomb squad is expected to make an in impact in the second half.
