Six players sidelined in one position

As the Springboks build towards this Saturday’s highly-anticipated clash against the All Blacks, they have been hit by a lock injury crisis.

Prior to the start of the Rugby Championship, World Cup trio Jean Kleyn, Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager were already sidelined with serious injuries.

At the worst possible time, fellow locks RG Snyman (foot) and Salmaan Moerat (concussion) have been ruled out of this Saturday’s Test, while Eben Etzebeth is also a doubt due to injury.

This leaves inexperienced Ruan Nortje and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg as the only two fit members of the squad.

Pieter-Steph du Toit is now likely to fill in at No 5, while Ben-Jason Dixon could be considered at No 4.

“Salmaan went off with an HIA, so unfortunately he won’t be available for selection,” Davids said at a press conference, as quoted by SuperSport.com.

“Unfortunately we have an injury list when it comes to our locks. We know that guys like Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert and Jean Kleyn are out. At this point in time RG Snyman is also unavailable due to a leg injury and I can’t go into detail but it looks like he will be out for a couple of weeks.

“At this point in time Eben Etzebeth is also a doubt with a bit of a niggle. It is also something we will look at in terms of his availability. Lucky we have some good depth, guys who have played in those positions like Pieter-Steph and Ruan Nortje, and Nicolaas who we brought in. We also have Ben-Jason who can play there.

“It is always tough when you lose players with experience but it is also a great opportunity for those players to see the quality of what the next guy can bring to the squad.”

Springboks squad for the Rugby Championship Tests against the All Blacks:

Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Ox Nche (Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan-Hendrik Wessels (both Bulls).
Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier).
Loose forwards: Ben-Jason Dixon (Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92), Elrigh Louw (Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers).
Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Sharks).
Flyhalves: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok (both Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers).
Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Canan Moodie (Bulls).

Meanwhile, Ireland’s Andrew Brace will referee the Springboks’ first Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 31 August.

Kick-off is scheduled for 17:00.

Brace will be assisted by England’s Matthew Carley and Australia’s Jordan Way, while Ireland’s Brian MacNeice will be on TMO duty.

South Africa have a decent record when being officiated by Brace having won three of the four Tests the 36-year-old has taken charge of.