DURBAN - With the Rugby Championship going ahead in November, the Springboks, if they participate, could be without three of the four locks that made such a telling contribution to the World Cup triumph in Japan last year.
On the same weekend, across the English channel, Lood de Jager suffered yet another shoulder injury playing for Sale in the English Premiership. A major drawback around the Rugby Championship going ahead - in fact, it is an acceptable deal-breaker - is that a massive Bok squad of 45 will have to travel to Australia in mid-October to go into a two-week quarantine before the kick-off in November.
As far as players being match ready, it is a big plus for the Bok coach that a number of players are getting some much-needed game time in the northern hemisphere, but it doesn’t help if they are getting injured ...