The Springboks could be without several key players when they regroup for their end-of-year tour, with Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith and Cheslin Kolbe all facing fitness concerns.
Rassie Erasmus’ side are due to play four Tests in November as part of the conclusion to the Nations Championship. Their schedule includes matches against Italy, France and Ireland, followed by one final fixture against an opponent yet to be confirmed at the end of the month.
The extent of the injury problems will influence Erasmus’ selection, with the Springboks’ medical team expected to assess a number of players before the squad travels north.
The Sharks recently announced that Etzebeth had suffered a “lower limb injury” and said they were “awaiting a further medical examination to determine the extent of the injury”.
There has been no further update on the lock, but the lack of clarity means he could face another period on the sidelines and may not be available for the tour.
RG Snyman and Kwagga Smith have both been absent for the whole season after suffering serious knee injuries. Neither player is expected to recover in time to return as soon as November, leaving both facing a race against time to feature in the Springboks’ final Tests of the year.
Kolbe could also miss the trip after breaking his jaw during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series. His availability will depend on his recovery, with the injury adding to the selection uncertainty on the eve of the tour.
The Springboks are scheduled to regroup at the end of October before travelling abroad for their opening Test in the four-match programme.
The November fixtures will also complete the remaining pool matches in the Nations Championship, a competition involving teams from the southern and northern hemispheres.
Points collected during those matches will determine each hemisphere’s final rankings from one to six. The outcome of the pool stage then decides the fixtures for the finals weekend, with teams facing the side ranked in the equivalent position in the other conference.
That means the seventh and final match for each team will be contested between corresponding seeds: sixth against sixth, fifth against fifth and so on, culminating in a first-versus-first Grand Final.
