Johannesburg - Just three Tests remain before the Springboks kick off their World Cup challenge in Brighton, England, in September and coach Heyneke Meyer’s biggest concern, still, is the ever-growing injury list.
Veteran lock Victor Matfield and star flanker Marcell Coetzee are the latest players to be struck down by injury and neither are expected to play against New Zealand at Ellis Park this weekend. There are also concerns around Jannie du Plessis and Francois Louw.
All the players, including those who didn’t travel to Brisbane last week, will be assessed by the Bok medical team today, but with Matfield (hamstring) and Coetzee (knee) likely out of this weekend’s Rugby Championship Test, Meyer will have to make changes to his team. He may have done so anyway.
One’s got to question what Meyer will still learn playing the Du Plessis brothers, Jannie and Bismarck, and Beast Mtawarira, too. All three showed against the Wallabies they’re good enough to pack down in the front row in England, so Meyer would do well to test his front row depth against the All Blacks. Trevor Nyakane and Vincent Koch could be the new-look front row, with Adriaan Strauss in between.
Lood de Jager, hugely impressive after replacing Matfield Saturday, is expected to start this weekend, while the make-up of the loose-trio could prove Meyer’s biggest headache.
If Coetzee doesn’t play, Schalk Burger could switch to No7, with Warren Whiteley coming in at eighthman - in what would be a true test of his ability ahead of the World Cup squad announcement in a few weeks time. Of course, Siya Kolisi and Teboho Mohoje are also options for Meyer to consider.
There are also likely to be changes at the back. Will Meyer be brave enough to hand Faf de Klerk a start on his home ground, that is, if the nugget scrumhalf is fit enough?
And with Handré Pollard having had two outings this season - and probably done enough to convince Meyer he must go to the World Cup - this could just be the opportunity for Morné Steyn to show his coach he’s not a spent force. Pat Lambie, though, will be itching to get an opportunity as well.
It’ll furthermore be interesting to see if Meyer sticks with his midfield pairing of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel - who’ve secured their spots on the England-bound plane over the last two weekends - or if he’ll consider handing Lionel Mapoe a Test debut. Of course, Jean de Villiers came through an hour’s work with Western Province at the weekend and may be in line for a start against the All Blacks.
What is certain is that the Boks will be captained by a new man come Saturday - either Burger or Louw.
The Star