Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids said on Monday they may have to face New Zealand at Ellis Park on Saturday without their most-capped player, Eben Etzebeth, while RG Snyman and Salmaan Moerat are not ready to return to Test action.
Davids delivered the news at a press conference in Johannesburg on Monday ahead of the big Rugby Championship Test. The Boks, after back-to-back wins away against Australia, are in a good position to lift the trophy but much will depend on the Tests against the All Blacks over the next two weekends.
Etzebeth has a knee niggle, Snyman continues to nurse the foot niggle that ruled him out of the two Wallaby Tests, and Moerat would continue his return to play protocols after suffering concussion in Perth.
Yes, we have a few injuries among our locks but its part of the game and Pieter-Steph [du Toit[ and Ruan [Nortje] had good games in our last outing, Davids said.
Its never nice to lose experience but this will open up opportunities for other players to put up their hands and show what they can do at the highest level.
