DUBLIN – Springbok prop Coenie Oosthuizen will return home from Dublin after he suffered a knee injury against Ireland on Saturday evening in the Aviva Stadium.
Oosthuizen left the field in the opening stages of the match and was replaced by Wilco Louw, who played in only his second international for the Springboks.
Oosthuizen will first undergo a scan in Dublin before flying home to Durban.
A decision on a replacement will be made shortly.
Loose forward Pieter-Steph du Toit sustained concussion in the closing minutes of the match, and he will be managed accordingly in the coming week.
Meanwhile, Springbok coach Allister Coetzee said his team have to rectify matters in their next tour match against France following their disappointing 38-3 loss in Dublin against Ireland on Saturday night.
Coetzee said his side was outsmarted by Ireland, who were tactically better than the tourists.
The match in Dublin was the team’s first of four on their month-long Outgoing tour, which also includes Tests against France, Italy and Wales.
“It was a disappointing defeat and as a group, we take full responsibility for it. We let ourselves down and our supporters,” said Coetzee.
“We have three games left on tour and we have to fight our way back. I have to give credit to Ireland, they played tactically very well.”
According to the Springbok coach, his side must learn the lessons from their Dublin experience.
“We lacked patience in our build-up and got off to a terrible start when we lost Coenie Oosthuizen in the first minute of the game, and then conceded two penalties at the set-piece.”
Coetzee was further disappointed with the penalties they conceded, which allowed the Irish to keep on building pressure as the match progressed.
“Our discipline let us down, it allowed them to build scoreboard pressure and then it becomes difficult to play catch-up rugby. We created chances, but our execution was not good, while Ireland were clinical,” added Coetzee.
“We must now focus on France and work hard in the coming week to rectify things.”
The Springboks travel to Paris on Sunday and will start with their match preparations on Monday in the French capital.