Springboks will be missing key players for their two-Test home series against Ireland due to…..
World champions South Africa will be missing key players for their two-Test home series against Ireland next month.
Backs Canan Moodie, Damien Willemse and Kurt-Lee Arendse have been ruled out until after the 6 July game against Andy Farrell’s side in Pretoria. Cheslin Kolbe is also a doubt with a knee problem.
Prop Steven Kitshoff and locks Jean Kleyn and Lood de Jager will also be absent from those games and the 22 June Test with Wales in Twickenham, coach Rassie Erasmus told reporters on Thursday.
South Africa will be bolstered for the meeting in London, which falls outside the international window, by players from the Pretoria-based Bulls if the latter lose their home United Rugby Championship semi-final to Leinster on Saturday (3pm).
Erasmus confirmed an SOS may be sent to veteran Bulls full-back Willie le Roux if that is the case.
The absence of France-based flanker Siya Kolisi (below) for the Wales test will open the door for a new captain on a temporary, or perhaps permanent, basis, with the twice World Cup-winning skipper not certain to lead the Springboks again.
“Inside the team, the captaincy is not such a big thing,” Erasmus, whose side lost to Ireland in the World Cup pool stage, said.
“Without Siya against Wales, it will probably be Pieter-Steph du Toit or Eben (Etzebeth). Or even Bongi (Mbonambi), but we might want to start Malcolm (Marx at hooker) to manage Bongi’s game time.
“However, the older guys are all calling well during training; they are aware that there are kids around them, and we are all coaching them together.” If Siya is fit, he will be considered for the tests against Ireland.”
After last year’s World Cup victory, Kolisi moved to Racing 92, a Top 14 team, proving Erasmus’s preference for a homegrown leader.
The last time the Springboks played was in the final in France eight months ago, winning 12-11 against New Zealand.
On Wednesday, Farrell is anticipated to announce his team.
