Pollard in doubt for Durban Test
Flyhalf Handré Pollard is in doubt for South Africa's final Rugby Championship outing, against Argentina in Durban on Saturday.
Pollard is struggling to overcome a head knock he suffered in the recent loss to New Zealand in Johannesburg.
Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts explained that although he passed concussion tests during and immediately after the game, the young pivot started showing some symptoms two days later.
"Handre Pollard is quite an interesting one, he has actually got a concussion. You might have seen during the game we pulled him off for an assessment after he got knocked in a tackle.
"He actually passed that assessment, he had another assessment immediately after the game which he passed again. Part of that process 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," he said.
Patrick Lambie and Morné Steyn are the most likely candidates to replace him in the No.10 jersey, should Pollard fail his fitness tests.
Other injured players – Vincent Koch, Warren Whiteley, Trevor Nyakane and Marcell Coetzee – all have an outside chance of being fit for this weekend.
Players likely to return from injury include Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez, Jan Serfontein, Stephen Kitshoff and Willem Alberts, although that will depend on how they respond to training during the week.
It suggests the Bok team is likely to show many changes this week.
Victor Matfield, JP Pietersen, Jannie du Plessis, Francois Louw, Duane Vermeulen, Coenie Oosthuizen and Frans Steyn will all be watching from the stands at Kings Park this weekend as they have been ruled out due to injuries.
"Victor [Matfield] with his hamstring strain is doing really well but he won't be ready for the first game. JP Pietersen has also got a hamstring and he is in a similar boat and may be ready for the second game [against Argentina] depending on how he progresses this week.
"Jannie [Du Plessis] as we reported has got a medial ligament strain, he won't be available this week either. Francois Louw has got a rotator cuff tear, he injured his shoulder and he is going to miss both Argentina games but he should be fit for the World Cup," said Roberts.
The Bok doctor said that while the likes of Vermeulen, Oosthuizen and Steyn have made good progress, they are still ome way off full fitness.
"Duane [Vermeulen] is doing well with his neck, Coenie [Oosthuizen] is doing well with his neck and Frans Steyn with his pec strain as well so that is our long-term rehab group at the moment," he added.
The Boks and Pumas go head-to-head in Durban this week – in the last round of Rugby Championship action – before they head to Buenos Aires for their final pre-World Cup warm-up.
By Michael de Vries in Durban
