REVEALED: Why 'broken down' Trokkie is not with the Boks

INTERVIEW: South Africa has an alarming injury list just weeks out from the start of the World Champions’ international season.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, in a virtual media briefing, read off a list of injured players that will be cause for concern – including some new afflictions.

Headlining the sickbay catalogue is ‘new’ call-up Juarno Marc-quin Augustus.

Erasmus revealed that the Ulster-bound Augustus, affectionately known as ‘Trokkie’, has not passed his “exit medical” at English Premiership club Northampton Saints.

The uncapped Augustus, 27, will join Ulster on a three-year contract for the 2025/26 season.

He injured his back in a Saints training session and missed the final few weeks of the season.

Along with the unfortunate hamstring injury suffered by Bulls No.8 Cameron Hanekom in the United Rugby Championship semifinal win over the Sharks, Erasmus opted to call up Stormers fan favourite Evan Roos.

The Bulls No.8, Hanekom, was carted from the field with a hamstring injury following a clearout at a ruck from Springboks captain Siya Kolisi in the second half of the URC semifinal victory over the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday.

The recently crowned Next-Gen player of the season was given a morphine whistle on the field and was seen on crutches after the match.

“I could see on television Cameron [Hanekom] was out, so that evening we phone him [Roos] to inform him he is flying in the next day,” Erasmus said.

Erasmus added that there is currently 55 players in the ‘pre-season’ training camp – whittled down from 65.

“We have an alignment camps with 80 players,” he said, adding: “With Trevor Nyakane, Frans Malherbe, Deon Fourie, Elrich Louw, Cameron Hanekom who are unlikely to play for us this year.”

On the list of short-term sickbay attendants are Gerhard Steenekamp and Ntuthuko Mchunu.

Prop Thomas du Toit is still involved with his club Bath in the Premiership Final this coming Saturday and will join the team later, leaving the Boks a bit thin in the front row.

“We haven’t seen Pieter-Steph du Toit yet,” he said of the double World Cup winner’s shoulder surgery earlier this year.

Ben-Jason Dixon (wrist surgery, expected return in July) and Lukhanyo Am (knee) have not been cleared yet.

Jasper Wiese, Grant Williams (neck) and Makazola Mapimpi (hamstring) are also expected to return in the next month.

Utility back Damian Willemse will miss the season-opener against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28, as he serves the last match of a foul-play tackle ban.

Lock RG Snyman is playing for Leinster against the Bulls in the URC Final in Dublin this coming Saturday.

The same applies to Leicester Tigers’ Bok flyhalf Handre Pollard, who will face Bath in the Premiership Final.

The Bulls are unlikely to feature in the BaaBaas face-off, as they will only return from Dublin next week.

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