Springbok pair in doubt for NZ clash

Springbok skipper Victor Matfield and flanker Marcell Coetzee could miss the Rugby Championship match against the All Blacks in Johannesburg.

The Springboks could be missing two key players for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks in Johannesburg.

Captain Victor Matfield and flanker Marcell Coetzee are both in doubt after being forced from the field in last week's 20-24 loss to Australia.

Matfield picked up a hamstring strain and Coetzee struggled after a knock to his knee, the South African Rugby Union's website says.

Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts says a call on their availability will only be made later in the week.

"Both are doubtful to play this weekend, but luckily neither of them are in doubt to miss the Rugby World Cup," he said.

Jannie du Plessis and Schalk Burger also picked up knocks in Brisbane on Saturday, and Roberts said they would be reassessed after the first team's first training session of the week on Tuesday.

Other injured players in the Springbok squad - Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez, Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts and Frans Steyn - won't be considered for selection this week.

With only three fit locks in the squad, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has called up the experienced Flip van der Merwe as cover.

"Flip is very experienced and can cover both lock positions, so it made sense to pro-actively assess our options and bring him in," Meyer said.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
Springbok pair in doubt for NZ clash | SBS News