Replacement for Mapimpi confirmed
UPDATE: South Africa confirmed that centre Lukhanyo Am has replaced wing Makazole Mapimpi in their squad for World Cup 2023.
Mapimpi fractured his cheekbone in the Springboks’ 49-18 win against Tonga on Sunday.
The wing is expected to be out of action for four to six weeks, SA Rugby revealed on Monday.
Am will join the squad in Toulon this week, having returned to training on his rehabilitation from a knee injury suffered in the 24-13 victory win over Argentina in Buenos Aires on August 5.
The 29-year-old centre missed out on squad selection because of the injury having appeared in the first four matches of the season as he recovered from a knee injury suffered in 2022.
He is the second injury replacement to the 33-man squad following the call-up of flyhalf Handre Pollard for hooker Malcolm Marx. Pollard made a successful return to the team against Tonga.
Am won the RWC with South Africa in 2019 and made the assist for Mapimpi’s try in the final against England.
#NEWS: Another big blow for the Boks 👇#RWC2023 #SouthAfrica #Springboks https://t.co/2tWNDWYvZk
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) October 1, 2023
Source: World Rugby & SA Rugby
