Springboks hit with more injury woes

SOUTH AFRICA have been hit with further worries as they prepare to head to Dublin for this Saturday’s Test with Ireland.

The world champions, already under pressure to make their end of year Grand Slam tour of Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England a winning one after a disappointing Tri-Nations this summer, have added centres Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh to the list of walking wounded for the trip north.

Sharks centre Adrian Jacobs has been drafted into the Springboks squad as precautionary cover for de Villiers and de Jongh, who were both injured during Western Province’s Currie Cup final defeat to the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

The midfield pair were to be assessed further last night before a final call is made by head coach Peter de Villiers, who had already lost the services of centres Jaque Fourie (toe) and Wynand Olivier (groin).

Jacobs, who has 30 caps for the Springboks, was in the preliminary 39-man squad named two weeks ago, but failed to make the final list that was named on Saturday night.

De Jongh has an ankle problem and De Villiers a groin injury and coach De Villiers said: “We will monitor Juan and Jean’s progress in the next couple of days. We have had a number of injuries among our senior centres so we decided it was essential to have some experienced cover on hand and in the group just in case.”

The world champions have already suffered one injury withdrawal since the 30-man squad was announced after scrum-half Ricky Januarie pulled out with a knee injury. No replacement has yet been named for a new-look squad.

Patrick Lambie and Elton Jantjies, both aged 20, were among the six uncapped players in the 30-man touring party – the others being back Lwazi Mvovo and forwards Willem Alberts, Keegan Daniel and Coenie Oosthuizen.

Lambie, a versatile defender who has played full-back, fly-half and centre this season, was man of the match in the Currie Cup final with his 25-point haul at number 10 helping the Sharks beat Western Province 30-10.

Winger Mvovo and back-rowers Alberts and Daniel were key to the success of the Sharks this season, with prop Oosthuizen excelling for Currie Cup semi-finalists Cheetahs.

De Villiers added: “We looked at the players who were performing now in our selection criteria as we need to be on top form from the first kick-off in Ireland.

“It’s a new-look squad but it has a good backbone of experience for what is going to be a challenging tour.”

Victor Matfield leads the squad in the absence of the injured John Smit, with Juan Smith his deputy.

Other senior players named include Schalk Burger, Bryan Habana, CJ van der Linde, Bakkies Botha and Bismarck du Plessis, while Ulster’s Ruan Pienaar and Racing Metro’s Frans Steyn are the only overseas-based players.

“Our minds and our sights for now are fully set on Ireland.

“Actually they dominate world rugby on first phase and that’s what we are preparing for.”

SOUTH AFRICA (tour squad for Ireland and Britain): Backs: G Aplon, B Basson, J de Jongh, J de Villiers, B Habana, F Hougaard, A Jacobs, E Jantjies, P Lambie, L Mvovo, R Pienaar, F Steyn, M Steyn. Forwards: W Alberts, B Botha, S Burger, K Daniel, B du Plessis, J du Plessis, A Hargreaves, R Kankowski, V Matfield, T Mtawarira, C Oosthuizen, C Ralepelle, J Smith, P Spies, A Strauss, CJ van der Linde, F van der Merwe.