SA Rugby Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus announced on Tuesday that Springbok flyhalf Damian Willemse has been declared fit for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, while lock Eben Etzebeth and scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse were on track to return to action during the competition as they continue their recovery from shoulder injuries.
Unfortunately for the coaches, however, flyhalf Handre Pollard could miss out on the southern hemisphere showpiece due to the delay in his recovery from a calf injury.
The Springboks will kick off their Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign on Saturday, 8 July, against Australia at Loftus Versfeld, which will be followed by a Test against New Zealand at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland a week later (Saturday, 15 July). They will wrap up the shortened version of the competition against Argentina at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday 29 July.
“Our only real injury concern for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship is Handre,” said Erasmus. “Eben and Jaden’s test results are looking good, and Damian is good to go.”
Zooming in on Pollard’s injury, Erasmus said: “It’s a calf injury that he injured again when he played for Leicester.
“At this stage he’s in a similar position to Siya (Kolisi) who could be available for the World Cup warm-up games.”
Erasmus also revealed that utility forward Jean-Luc du Preez has joined the squad in Pretoria.
Nienaber allayed fears that Pollard’s injury could set the team back in their preparation for this vital season, which will culminate in the Rugby World Cup in France and said: “No, it’s not a setback in our planning. We have a game strategy and each flyhalf brings their own style and skillset to the game.”
