VIDEO: Boks sweating on Kolbe injury
NEWS: South Africa are sweating over the fitness of star wing Cheslin Kolbe ahead of their opening match on the Australian leg of the Rugby Championship.
Springbok forwards coach Deon Davids revealed that Kolbe suffered a leg injury in training last Friday.
“The medical staff is busy assessing him,” David said, adding a final call will be made ahead of Wednesday’s team announcement.
“It is nothing serious and hopefully he will be available as soon as possible.”
The Springboks face Australia in Round Three of the Rugby Championship on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
Given that Kolbe has been unable to train since Friday, it appears unlikely he will feature in the Robina Stadium in the Gold Coast.
“They are still busy with his assessment,” the assistant coach said, adding: “We will make a call tomorrow, in terms of his availability.”
The good news is that all the other players – including World Cup stars such as Duane Vermeulen and Francois de Klerk – have recovered from their injuries and are available for selection.
“All the injured other players – like Duane [Vermeulen] and Rynhardt Elstadt are back on the field and training,” Davids told a virtual media briefing.
(Continue below video …)
Despite the Kolbe injury setback, the Springboks will be able to field a very powerful team – similar to that which won the World Cup and 2019 and also featured in the two-one series win over the British and Irish Lions earlier this year.
There will be a couple of changes to the backline from the starting XV that beat the B&I Lions 19-16 in the third Test in Cape Town on August 7 to clinch the series two-one.
On the right wing Sharks flyer Sibusiso Nkosi is the most likely replacement for Kolbe.
At scrumhalf, the return of De Klerk means he will start in the No.9 jersey ahead of Cobus Reinach.
The forwards will also show minimal changes.
Vermeulen will return in place of Jasper Wiese, with the rest of the pack likely to be unchanged from that which beat the B&I Lions last month in Cape Town.
It also means that 12 members of the starting XV that feature in the 32-12 World Cup Final demolition of England on 2 November 2019 will start on Sunday.
The changes are on the wing, where the injured Kolbe is likely to be sidelined, flank (Pieter-Steph du Toit sidelined as a result of shoulder surgery, an injury suffered against the Lions) and loosehead prop – with Tendai Mtawarira having retired.
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