Springbok Test in doubt
BREAKING NEWS: The second Test between South Africa and Georgia, scheduled for Ellis Park on Friday, is in serious doubt.
It is the result of a COVID-19 outbreak in the Springbok camp.
Both teams have cancelled their planned media activities on Tuesday and a media release is expected later on Tuesday.
The Springboks, in a statement, confirmed that the team announcement – scheduled for Tuesday – has been postponed “until further notice”.
“The team suspended their training programme for Monday and placed the squad in preventative isolation prior to further PCR testing and a review by the Medical Advisory Group,” the statement said.
“The entire team and management had PCR tests on Tuesday morning, and will remain in isolation until the results and subsequent recommendations are received from MAG.”
On Monday the team, via a media release, revealed that lock Lodewyk de Jager returned a positive outcome in scheduled testing.
“Because of his close contact with a number of squad members, the entire group has gone into isolation,” the statement said.
If Friday’s Test against Georgia is called off, as expected, it will cast serious doubt over the British and Irish Lions tour – which got underway with 56-14 mauling of the Johannesburg-based Lions at the weekend.
The B&I Lions’next scheduled match is against the Sharks, at Ellis Park on Wednesday.
In another development, it was reported that Saturday’s tour match between the Bulls and the B&I Lions at Loftus was also in doubt – following positive COVID-19 testing from within the Bulls camp.
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