Two key Springbok forwards now doubts for Ireland clash

South Africa take on Romania in Bordeaux this Sunday afternoon before facing the Irish in Paris six days later.

INJURY DOUBT: South Africa's Eben Etzebeth is a doubt for the Ireland match. Pic Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

South Africa’s strength in depth may be in for a serious test. Not this Sunday when a rewired squad takes on Romania in Bordeaux, but against Ireland in Paris six days later should two key forwards fail to shake injuries.

The Springboks had been indicating that the shoulder injury which forced Eben Etzebeth to leave the field less than half an hour into last weekend’s opening defeat of Scotland was a 7-10 day recuperation job.

This has been upgraded to a 10-14 day period and head coach Jacques Nienaber has reiterated that no player will play unless 100% fit. The sense is that Etzebeth, who took some some part in training yesterday, is unlikely to feature.

Also, Nienaber has revealed that hooker Malcolm Marx suffered an unspecified injury in training this week and is set to undergo scans to determine the extent of the problem. More food for thought.

Etzebeth has played 113 times for the Boks, Marx 63. They are arguably the two key forwards in a pack full of supremely talented and physical athletes. Marx, for instance, was named on World Rugby’s Dream Team for 2022 despite a mixed year for the side.

No other South African forward got that nod. Both are World Cup winners.

Meanwhile, Nienaber has named Bongi Mbonambi at hooker, and as captain, for the Romanian outing. Backing him up off the bench is utility forward Deon Fourie who hasn’t played in the front row since he featured there for Lyon five years ago.

Fourie moved to France in 2014 and played hooker, flanker, hooker, flanker in the course of his first four seasons in the Top 14. He is 36 years of age now and Marx’s issue makes the world champions look thin at a critical position.

“I’ve never tasted it [playing hooker] at Test-match level, that’s the reality,” said Fourie this week.

“I've been training there for two years now with the Boks. I’ve been in and out with hooker training, but hopefully it's like riding a bike. If I get the opportunity to play there I can just jump back on and ride it.”

Flanker Marco van Staden has also been listed as an option at hooker.

The side is deeper in the second row. Even without Etzebeth they can name a lock combination of Munster’s Jean Kleyn, who is fit again after a minor injury, and Marvin Orie. RG Snyman, one of only five forwards on the bench, is acting as reserve and Franco Mostert is another option.

All told, there are 14 changes to the starting XV with the odd man in being Damian Willemse and he switches from full-back to out-half. Only five of the others who faced Scotland will be involved second time around.

The main talking point this coming weekend is the presence of all four of their scrum-halves in the matchday 23. Cobus Reinach starts at nine, Jaden Hendrikse is his back-up, Grant Williams is named on the wing and Faf de Klerk is covering ten from the bench. Wild.

“People were surprised when we picked four scrum-halves in the squad but we knew they offered us the skills and versatility to provide backline options to manage the challenges that tournament rugby gives you,” said Nienaber.

South Africa (v Romania): W Le Roux; G Williams, C Moodie, A Esterhuizen, M Mapimpi; D Willemse, C Reinach; O Nche, B Mbonambi, V Kock; J Kleyn, M Orie; M van Staden, K Smith, D Vermeulen.

Replacements: D Fourie, S Kitshoff, T Nyakane, RG Snyman, J Wiese, J Hendrikse, F de Klerk, J Kriel.