The hits just keep on coming for Jean-Luc du Preez, who was due to start his first Test in seven years for the Springboks against the Wallabies in Cape Town, before being recently ruled out with an illness.
He was then due to start this Saturday’s Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park, but he suffered an unfortunate knee injury in training this week, and is likely to miss the remainder of the Test season.
“I think he will be sidelined for a substantial period,” Erasmus said at a press conference on Thursday.
Siya Kolisi has now been drafted in to start at No 8.
“Siya was touch and go for the match, but trained fully on Monday and when JL (Du Preez) injured his knee on Tuesday,” Erasmus added.
The No 8 position has been somewhat cursed this year, with Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw ruled out for lengthy periods, while Jasper Wiese still has one more week left on his month-long ban for a head butt.
HOW THE SPRINGBOKS WILL LINE UP ON SATURDAY
Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (c), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ethan Hooker.
Date: Saturday, September 6
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 09:05 SA time (19.05 in Auckland)
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
Stats and facts:
Springbok record against New Zealand:
Played: 108, Won: 42, Lost: 62, Drawn: 4. Points for: 1 790; Points against: 2 235; Tries scored: 173; Tries conceded: 244. Win %: 38.8%.
WHO DO YOU THINK WOULDE BE THE BEST BET AT NO 8 IF EVERYONE WAS FIT?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
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