He went down in a crumpled heap on the Newlands turf at the weekend, but Western Province No 8 Nizaam Carr may play through the pain in Saturday’s Currie Cup final against the Golden Lions.
Star loose forward Carr had to leave the field after just 18 minutes with a hip pointer injury when he fielded a kickoff and went almost straight to ground.
Normally it takes between one and three weeks to recover from such an injury, but the Cape Times understands that the 23-year-old Carr has a good chance of being fit to play in the final at Newlands (5pm kickoff).
It is believed that he had an injection to his hip on Saturday night and that he felt okay afterwards. But whether he plays will depend on how the hip reacts to treatment in the coming days.
It does not appear to be too serious, and it is unlikely to keep him out of a possible Springbok end-of-year tour if he were to be called up next week Monday.
“I’m hoping that everything is okay for Nemo to be part of a final,” WP coach Allister Coetzee said. “The way he’s played throughout the season, it would be sad if he can’t make the final. We are all holding thumbs for Nizaam, but if Nizaam is not ready, (Sikhumbuzo) Notshe would easily step into his place.”
Either Jurie van Vuuren or Gerbrandt Grobler will then come on to the bench.
Cheslin Kolbe pulled up with cramp, but the coach said “it’s nothing serious”, so the only real injury concern apart from Carr is inside centre Jaco Taute (ribs), who will be assessed today. - Cape Times