Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has been forced to change his plans for next weekend’s Rugby Championship clash against Australia in Port Elizabeth.
The national team camp confirmed yesterday that both centres Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am will miss the home leg of the tournament against the Wallabies and New Zealand the following week.
Injured wing Makazole Mapimpi has also been ruled out.
A look at the seven players in Erasmus’ current Springbok camp in Port Elizabeth leaves only Andre Esterhuizen and Jesse Kriel as midfielders in the squad.
The one option available to Erasmus is to move flyhalf Handre Pollard to inside centre and play him alongside with Elton Jantjies at No.10.
But the coach has a week to weigh up his options and says he will keep a close eye on some of the players that are on Currie Cup duty this weekend.
Erasmus explains: “We lost a couple of players to injury, but we are looking forward to possibly welcome back some others who have been playing for their provinces and recovered from injury.
“We are still keeping an eye on a number of players who we would like to involve in the coming weeks, but we would first like to see them get through [the weekend].”
Springboks’ preliminary squad
Forwards:
Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi (captain), Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, RG Snyman, Warren Whiteley.
Backs:
Faf de Klerk, Aphiwe Dyantyi, André Esterhuizen, Elton Jantjies, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel and Handré Pollard.