Cape Town – Steven Kitshoff’s World Cup claims has suffered a cruel blow just as the Springboks’ 2015 season is about to get under way.
The Stormers prop Kitshoff suffered a freak injury to his left knee at training on Tuesday, at the Cape Town Stadium.
Springbok Heyneke Meyer said on Wednesday that Kitshoff had “done” his knee” after the frontranker damaged a medial collateral ligament (MCL). It was likely that Kitshoff would be sidelined for up to four weeks.
“I have just been told by Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts that his scans confirmed the diagnosis of a grade two MCL injury and he’ll be out for four weeks,” said Meyer. “It’s really emotional when someone goes down with injury and now its happened to Kitshoff. I really believe he would definitely have been in the mix against Australia (on July 18), and that was the plan.
“It’s unfortunate that he’s injured now because we planned to play him with Frans (Malherbe) in the next.”
There was better news for Kitshoff’s teammate Vincent Koch who was named on the bench for Saturday’s match. Koch was, however, a surprise choice ahead of fellow Stormers prop Malherbe, who has already has been capped four times for the national side.
“I said I would use The Rugby Championship to see some players perform at the highest level. Vincent has done very well, he’s been impressive in Super Rugby and this is the right time to show what he can do.
“It will be a big test for him because he’s going up against a very good scrummaging pack. I felt it was right to give him a ‘go’ now.”
Meyer explained why Malherbe did not crack the nod for Saturday.
“I am still working on Frans’ fitness levels,” said Meyer. “I know what I got in Frans and he’ll have his chance in the next game.
“Vincent has been brilliant around the field and this is his chance to take his scrummaging up to the next level, especially as a tighthead.”
Meanwhile, Meyer had a meeting with midfielder Jaque Fourie on Tuesday, after which a mutual decision was taken that he would return to Kobe Kobelco Steelers, his club in Japan, to regain his fitness and to get game time.
“He decided to withdraw from the Springbok squad for now, but we agreed that the door is still open for him to be selected for the Rugby World Cup if he is needed,” said Meyer. - ANA