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‘A Sad news as Springboks dealt a massive double backline injury blow ahead of Ireland series

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Springboks dealt double backline injury blow ahead of Ireland series

When South Africa plays Ireland in a two-Test series in July, they might be without one of their main backline players.

It was announced on the same day that the Springboks would begin their second in-person alignment camp in Cape Town on Wednesday that utility back Damian Willemse would have surgery to treat a finger injury.

He could be out of commission for up to four months due to the injury.

The disappointment coincides with Sharks Rugby Director Neil Powell’s announcement that the Durban-based team will be without captain and two-time World Cup winner Lukhanyo Am for the remainder of the campaign.

RugbyPass TV will soon be home to the amazing documentary Chasing the Sun, which follows the Springboks’ path to triumph in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

These defeats come one month ahead of the Boks’ Test season opener against Wales in London on June 22 and the ensuing series against Ireland.

Rassie Erasmus, the Bok coach, will be under a lot of stress due to Willemse’s injury.

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When speaking to the media following his team’s valiant 16–12 victory over the weekend in a United Rugby Championship game in Galway, Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson hinted that Willemse might be available for the Test series.

Scan results, however, indicate that surgery is necessary.

The 26-year-old played a key role at fullback for the Boks during their successful World Cup campaign in France the previous year.

He roamed throughout the backline and frequently played inside centre for the Stormers.

Willemse joins Am on injured list

Springboks ramp up preparations for Tests against Wales and Ireland

Damian Willemse of the Stormers is tackled by Ulster players during their United Rugby Championship match in March.

In their March United Rugby Championship encounter, Ulster players confront Stormers’ Damian Willemse.
Grant Pitcher (Gallo Images) is the image.Along with centre Lukhanyo Am, utility back Damian Willemse is listed as unlikely to start for the Springboks’ crucial Test series against Ireland in July.

Before the much awaited clash with Ireland, Willemse is scheduled to have finger surgery, which could affect his availability.

Am has a slim chance of making a full recovery in time despite having a rib fracture and a sternoclavicular joint injury.

Jaden Hendrikse, the scrumhalf for the Sharks, is also hurt and is unlikely to play against the second-best squad in the world.
Willemse and Am’s prognoses come against the backdrop of the Springboks’ second in-person alignment camp, which started in Cape Town on Wednesday.

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three days beforehandIn preparation for their first Test match of the season on June 22 in London against Wales, the Boks are being put through their paces.

For the two-day camp, 38 players have been assembled by Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus.

The first alignment camp took place in March, and as most players were playing in the northern hemisphere at the time, the original idea of holding an in-person camp early in May was replaced with a series of online alignment sessions with chosen local and international players.

Sharks players have been excused from this week’s practice in anticipation of their Friday matchup against Gloucester in the EPCR Challenge Cup final.

The camp comes after last weekend’s two-day coaches’ strategy session, during which the programme’s foundation was established.

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In a statement released by South African Rugby, Erasmus stated, “We are moving into a new cycle as a group as our first Test is only a few weeks away, so it is vital we start diving deeper into our on-field planning.”

“We are in a good position to start zooming into different areas of the game in more detail because in the first two camps we presented our wider plans to the players and introduced the new ideas presented by all the coaches, especially the new additions to the coaching team in Tony Brown, Jerry Flannery, and Jaco Peyer.

“It will be fantastic to have everyone together and make sure the coaches and players are 100% in agreement with what we want to accomplish and how we plan to approach the season,” the head coach added, referring to the impending first Test.
Erasmus stated that the Boks will have a difficult year since they will play two Test matches on home soil against the All Blacks and Ireland, as well as two away matches against Australia.

“We play two Tests against Ireland, the world’s second-ranked team, and our first Test against Portugal in the upcoming series after the Test against Wales falls outside the international window.

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A day earlierThe Rugby Championship will then begin with back-to-back away Test matches against Australia, two Test matches against New Zealand in South Africa, and two home and away matches against Argentina.

“The sooner we are in sync as a group, the better. Our upcoming tour will also function as a rigorous test, with games against Scotland, England, and Wales scheduled.”

Springbok fixtures:

  • Wales vs. SA on June 22 (Twickenham, London)
  • Ireland vs. South Africa, July 6, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
  • Ireland vs. South Africa, July 13, Kings Park, Durban
  • July 20: SA vs. Portugal at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium
  • Australia vs. SA on August 10 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane
  • Australia vs. SA on August 17 at Optus Stadium in Perth
  • August 31 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg: SA vs. New Zealand
  • September 7: South Africa vs. New Zealand, at Cape Town Stadium
  • September 21: Santiago’s Estadio Unico Madre Ciudades will host Argentina vs SA.
  • SA vs. Argentina on September 28 at Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela
  • Scotland vs. SA on November 10 at Murrayfield, Edinburgh
  • England vs. SA on November 16 at Twickenham, London
  • November 23: Wales vs. SA at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium
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