Bok horror story revealed

The injury list at the start of South Africa's build-up to their international season reads like a horror story.

Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts on Monday revealed a list of 15 players in a squad of 48 – most of them key members – that are injured.

Top of that list is seasoned prop Coenie Oosthuizen, who underwent surgery on his neck and is in serious doubt for the World Cup in September and October.

The other big concern is veteran scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, who tore medial collateral ligaments in his knee during a training session with his Japanese club last week.

"Fourie send me the video clip of how he got injured and that can be anything from four to eight weeks," Roberts said, adding: "We'll assess him, so he'll not be available for a few games in the Championship."

Other players on a very extensive injury list include Heinrich Brüssow (fractured arm), Schalk Burger (groin), Lodewyk de Jager (elbow), Jean de Villiers (knee), Pieter-Steph du Toit (knee), Patrick Lambie (neck), Lionel Mapoe (knee), Cobus Reinach (hand), Jan Serfontein (hip and knee), Frans Steyn (pectoral muscle) and Duane Vermeulen (neck).

Add to that Jaque Fourie, who must undergo a strict conditioning programme in the coming weeks, and Willem Alberts – who was withdrawn from Monday's training session in Johannesburg because of an ankle niggle.

Roberts, who admitted the situation was not ideal less that two weeks away from their opening international and was giving him "grey hairs", said it is seldom he has had to deal with such a long list of injuries.

"However, that's the reality of rugby," Roberts told a media briefing, as the team started their build-up to the international against a World XV at Newlands on July 11.

"A lot of guys are coming back from long-term injuries, which makes it tricky – because ideally you want to build players up to full match-fitness," he said, adding: "That means a few guys who are close at the moment are not going to play in the whole Rugby Championship – they might only play a couple of games.

"Every effort will be made to ensure as many of the injured players get game time before we finalise the squad for the World Cup.

"Players will be managed individually and we could send them back to their provinces to get game time, but that will be done in consultation with the unions and only when necessary."

Roberts  said Oosthuizen was struggling with a disc pushing on the nerves in his neck.

"We were hoping it would get better, but it didn't with the rest that he had – so the decision was made to undergo surgery.

"It gives him the best chance long-term and a window of opportunity to be available for the World Cup. However, he is out of the Championship.

"The time frames are quite tight for the World Cup, but there is a chance he might be ready."

The doctor said the key to getting star lock Pieter-Steph du Toit (knee injury) ready for the World Cup is about "finding the right game time" for him.

"We anticipate he'll only be back for the last few games of the Championship, but it's a week-by week basis."

The medical staff said they are "happy" with captain Jean de Villiers' progress from knee surgery.

"It's about progression and then to make the right decision when to get him back playing."

Burly No.8 Duane Vermeulen is still struggling with the neck spasm that sidelined him for the latter part of the Super Rugby season.

"He needs a lot of rest and rehab, so he might not be available for the first few games," Roberts said.

"Jaque [Fourie] is not currently injured. We did have him on our condition list, as he hasn't played for a while and he needs a bit of conditioning so he won't be considered for the first couple of games."

Lambie has cleared by a specialist, but he needs to progress so that he can start taking contact.

"We'll see if we will give him game time in a Test or through some other games."

Reinach has been doing well with his fractured hand and should be ready for the first few games.

Burger has a groin strain, but hopefully he'll be right for the first game.

Lionel Mapoe has a lateral knee problem, while Jan Serfontein has been struggling with a hip injury and more recently a medial knee ligament strain.

That leaves the Boks a bit thin in midfield.

@rugby365com