Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Springboks coach reveals Eben Etzebeth under injury cloud for All Blacks

Eben Etzebeth poses after the Springboks World Cup win. Photo by Adam Pretty - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images

Springboks assistant coach Deon Davids has revealed that Eben Etzebeth is under an injury cloud ahead of this weekend’s clash with the All Blacks. RG Snyman will also miss the Test as an injury crisis sweeps through the team’s second-row department.

ADVERTISEMENT

Etzebeth has long been regarded as one of the best locks in international rugby, with the hulking 2.03-metre lock starring in South Africa’s run to back-to-back Rugby World Cup crowns. The 32-year-old recently stepped up as a captain for most of the win over Australia in Perth.

However, less than a week out from one of the best Test matches of the year between arch-rivals South Africa and New Zealand, Etzebeth is at risk of missing the clash at Ellis Park. The Springboks are waiting for feedback from team doctors before ruling the lock out.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

The Springboks will have their depth at second-row put to the Test in a rematch of last year’s Rugby World Cup Final, with the likes of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ben-Jason Dixon among those in the mix to step up for the injured Etzebeth and Snyman.

Snyman, 29, was withdrawn from the Springboks’ team to play the Wallabies in Brisbane earlier this month less than an hour out from kick-off. While the dual World Cup winner returned to face the Aussies in Perth, the Munster is expected to watch on from the sidelines again.

“Salmaan (Moerat) follows a normal protocol for HIA so unfortunately he won’t be available for selection for this game,” assistant coach Deon Davids told reporters in Johannesburg.

“At this stage, we know that guys like Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert, Jean Kleyn are out with injury.

ADVERTISEMENT

“At this point of time, a guy like RG Snyman is also unavailable due to a leg injury. Unfortunately, I can’t go into detail in terms of that so he will be out for a couple of weeks.

“At this point of time, Eben Etzebeth is also struggling with a bit of a niggle so it’s also something we’ll look at in terms of his availability for this coming week.

“But luckily, at the end of the day… we’ve got some good depths in terms of guys that have played up until now in those positions.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins
4
Draws
0
Wins
1
Average Points scored
23
18
First try wins
60%
Home team wins
60%

“It will always be tough when you lose some experience but it’s also a great opportunity, an exciting opportunity to see the quality and what the next guy can bring in the squad.”

ADVERTISEMENT

While the Springboks have their own second-row issues to manage this week, All Blacks coach Scott Robertson will once again turn to a new crop of players to step in the shoes of giants. Of course, they no longer have legendary duo Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock in the mix.

Patrick Tuipulotu played two Test matches against England in July but the Blues captain hasn’t made the trip out to South Africa. Captain Scott Barrett joins a young group of players as options at lock including Sam Darry, Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa’i.

“Scott Barrett, he will be back this week and I think he will be massive to have him back from a leadership point of view but also in terms of a playing point of view,” Davids explained.

“Yes, Whitelock and Retallick are quality players and any team that loses that quality will take them some time to build on that but I think there’s some good youngsters coming through and with the leadership and the assistance of Barrett and Tuipulotu and those guys around them.

“I think they will grow in stature.”

ADVERTISEMENT

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Saitama Wildknights vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

Perry Baker in the house | HSBC Life on Tour | Los Angeles

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

2 Comments
J
JK 264 days ago

So the boks are down 5 locks now? Eben, Rg, Moerat, Klein and Mostert? That's awful luck. I would guess PTSD moves to lock and they bring back Jason Ben Dixon at 6

a
adamdeswardt 264 days ago

and Lood

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
Solenn Bonnet 5 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 'If any Welsh side makes the URC knockout games, it will be worth applauding’ 'If any Welsh side makes the URC knockout games, it will be worth applauding’
Search