Double injury blow for Springboks

JP Pietersen and Andries Bekker are to return home from Australia after sustaining injuries during South Africa’s 32-25 Tri-Nations victory over the Wallabies in Perth on Saturday.

Winger Pietersen, who started the game at the Subiaco Oval, tore his hamstring and had to be replaced after 64 minutes, while lock Bekker, a second-half substitute for Bakkies Botha, suffered a grade three ACL joint injury to his left shoulder.

According to Springbok media manager, Anthony McKaiser, no replacements will be named ahead of their next meeting with Australia in Brisbane.

“We will just have to rely on the players that we have available on tour,” he told www.sport24.com.

Forward Danie Rossouw, the only player not considered over the past weekend due to a hamstring injury, should be fit again, while the wing option in the squad could see coach Peter de Villiers turn to Odwa Ndungane.

Meanwhile, minor fitness concerns have also been raised over Botha and Bryan Habana, who have a knee problem and groin niggle respectively.

De Villiers said: “The Bakkies injury is more of a worry than anything else, especially since Danie is fit but hasn’t played for a while.

“We haven’t used him a lot and we’ll have to see whether he can be an 80-minute player.

“Bryan is more precautionary, he was rucked in the groin, but he could have played today if he had to. But it’s a tough tour and the management of the players is important.”