Injuries
Injury forced the The All Blacks into a late reshuffle on Friday as they prepared to mark their 500th Test, with coach Steve Hansen warning his side to lift their game against a rejuvenated France.
Lock Brodie Retallick was ruled out of Saturday’s second Test in Christchurch with a hamstring strain, meaning a call up for seasoned middlerower Sam Whitelock, who had sat out the first match because of a fractured finger.
News from the Springbok camp in Hazyview is that Francois Louw has been released early this week, to concentrate on his wedding, which takes place on Sunday. He will rejoin the Springbok camp again on Monday.
Meanwhile Francois Hougaard, who was sent to Pretoria to see a specialist following a knee cartlidge injury flare-up, and told to sit out for 2 weeks till re-evaluation, will be replaced by Louis Screuder, the Stormers scrumhalf.
Following the injury to Jano Vermaak, the Toyota Cheetahs scrumhalf Piet van Zyl has been called up to the Springbok squad in Mpumalanga.
Uncapped loose forward Arno Botha has been called into the Springbok starting team in the place of the injured Willem Alberts for Saturday’s Castle Lager Incoming Series opener against Italy at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban.
Mixed news for the British and Irish Lions of 2013 for this week, with the injured Cian Healy cited for biting whereas his replacement for the Tour has been named and called up, Alex Corbisiero.
Not only is Cian Healy injured, having injured his ankle against the Western Force, bit there is the serious allegation that he has bitten Brett Sheehan in the same match.
What needs clarification is how the British and Irish Lions can call up a replacement for Healy if he is going to be banned after facing the Judicial Hearing, yet Alex Corbisiero has been called up as a replacement for Healy already.
MTN Golden Lions lock Franco van der Merwe, currently on loan to The Sharks, has been called up to the Springbok squad in the place of the injured Pieter-Steph du Toit.
In-form Melbourne Rebels back row forward Scott Higginbotham has been ruled out of the Test series against the British and Irish Lions with a serious shoulder injury.
Toyota Free State Cheetahs centre Robert Ebersohn has been called up to the Springbok squad currently preparing for the Castle Lager Incoming Series in Durban.
Ebersohn’s inclusion follows uncertainty over the availability of midfielders Jean de Villiers (mild hamstring strain) and JJ Engelbrecht (quad contusion), while Juan de Jongh has already been ruled out of Saturday’s Test against Italy because of a finger injury.
Vodacom Bulls player Lionel Mapoe will miss the remainder of the Vodacom Super Rugby season due to a shoulder injury. The versatile outside back sustained the injury on Saturday during his side’s 30-25 win over the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
It won’t all be plain sailing for Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer as on Monday he begins the buildup to Saturday’s first test match of the season against Italy in Durban.
Dan Carter heads a string of injured All Blacks less than a week from the first Test against France, with coach Steve Hansen unable to confirm Monday if his star playmaker would take the field.
X-rays have revealed Carter cracked a bone in his right hand during the Crusaders’ 23-22 win over the Waratahs in a Super Rugby match last Friday.
Injuries to key players have forced Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to make three changes to his preliminary squad to play the the British and Irish Lions.
Deans had to seek replacements following injuries to wing Digby Ioane, lock Sitaleki Timani and flank Scott Higginbotham.
Samoan coach Stephen Betham has been left scrambling to field a fully fit team against the Lions in their challenge match at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Luke Watson’s much-anticipated return to Newlands is off. The Southern Kings captain has been ruled out of his team’s encounter with the Stormers.
Watson, who captained the Stormers during his stint in Cape Town, has been ruled out of Saturday’s Newlands encounter due to Flu.
Taking a look at the Super Rugby season for The Sharks thus far has been painful and regrettable, the uncertainty and anger of supporters as to “What just happened out there” or “Why? Who is to blame?” and naturally the first thing that is thrown around is “Dismiss the coaching staff!”.
The All Blacks suffered a blow for their Test series next month against France as senior lock Sam Whitelock has been ruled out due to injury.
Clermont scrumhalf Morgan Parra has been ruled out of France’s tour to New Zealand next month, the national side said on Sunday.
Andries Bekker’s career at the Stormers may well have come to a premature end as he joined the Cape franchise’s ever-increasing injury list.
Bekker and fellow Springbok Juan de Jongh were the latest additions to the Stormers’ injury list, ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Reds at Newlands.
The Brumbies have received good news on the injuries to flanker George Smith and centre Pat McCabe as their injuries from last week’s Super Rugby match against the Waratahs are not as bad as first thought.
Being officially out of the Vodacom Super Rugby race has not exempted the DHL Stormers from further injuries, with several players on the doubtful list for a clash against the Reds at Newlands on Saturday that is of academic interest only to South African fans.
Of course former Springbok coach Jake White and his Brumbies, and the Waratahs that beat them this past weekend, may have different ideas about the irrelevance of the game.
The Sharks and the Springboks have received a blow with the news that wing JP Pietersen will be sidelined for an extended period.
There was a clean bill of health to the Vodacom Bulls squad that conquered the Highlanders on Saturday, but a number of players from that match are recovering from bruises and light strains, team doctor Org Strauss confirmed on Monday.
The Reds were dealt a cruel blow when Wallaby wing Digby Ioane was sent back home from the Queensland team’s tour of South Africa with a knee injury.
The Chiefs suffered a cruel blow with the news that star All Black Sam Cane has been ruled out of their Super Rugby crunch match with the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday.
The New Zealand Rugby Union has refused permission for the Hamilton-based Chiefs to recruit an overseas player to alleviate a backline injury crisis as they defend their Super Rugby title.
Western Province Vodacom Cup star Gerbrandt Grobler has flown to Australia to bolster the DHL Stormers’ forward resources, with back row stars Rynhardt Elstadt and Duane Vermeulen on their way home with knee injuries.
Zane Kirchner, Callie Visagie, Jan Serfontein and Marcel van der Merwe should all be available for selection when the Vodacom Bulls take on the Highlanders at Loftus Versfeld in two weeks’ time, after their bye weekend.
The Southern Kings have been dealt a cruel blow with the news that star loose forward Jacques Engelbrecht is out of the game against the Highlanders on Saturday.
The Hurricanes have called up Manawatu hooker Rob Foreman after an injuries to Motu Matu’u and Dane Coles.
The Hurricanes only have Ash Dixon as a recognised hooker available but prop Reggie Goodes able to cover the position as back-up.
Coles has a fractured eye socket and Matu’u fractured his forearm playing against the Stormers on the weekend.
Die beseringslysie van die Vodacom Bulls word al korter. Dit is die nuus uit die Bulls kamp na die naweek se wedstryd teen die Waratahs.
Niggling injuries to regular stalwarts Cecil Afrika and Branco du Preez have forced the hand of Springboks Sevens coach Paul Treu.
The Sharks have been dealt another cruel injury blow as centre Paul Jordaan suffered a season ending injury during a training session in Sydney early this week.
Vodacom Bulls lock Paul Willemse will be out of action for three months following a knee injury sustained in Saturday’s win over the Southern Kings, but there is a green light to the fitness of Wynand Olivier and Dewald Potgieter.
A MRI scan on Monday revealed a MCL injury to the big lock, ruling him out of action for the next nine weeks. He will undergo an operation on Wednesday.
Sharks’ coach John Plumtree has revealed that their 6-12 loss to the Cheetahs has come with the added cost of losing prop Tendai (the Beast) Mtawarira for a month amongst others.
Cheetahs and Bok pivot Johan Goosen’s knee operation to repair damage to his knee ligament was a success, and he was present at the Cheetahs training session on Monday.