Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Springboks have been dealt a second injury blow when coach Jacques Nienaber revealed that hooker Malcolm Marx pulled up lame in Wednesday’s training session in Toulon.
Marx suffered an injury that Nienaber did not want to specify because of the Protection of Personal Information Act, but said the first-choice Bok hooker went for scans on Wednesday.
Marx wasn’t going to be part of the Springbok match-day 23 for Sunday’s second Pool B Rugby World Cup game against Romania in Bordeaux, where Nienaber opted to start Bongi Mbonambi with Deon Fourie providing cover off the bench.
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However, Nienaber’s tone changed when he spoke about how Marx, a critical cog to the Bok forward group, had to undergo a scan and how he wasn’t able to reveal the extent of the injury.
Marx joins Eben Etzebeth on the Springboks’ injury list, with the lock facing a 10-14 day wait for recovery even though Nienaber said he was on the field on Tuesday.
“Malcolm wasn’t selected for this game, so that doesn’t change anything in terms of the selection of this particular game.
“I’m not 100 percent sure, but I don’t think we’re allowed to give out medical information about a player.
“It’ll be better to talk to him, or he gives the doctor the green light, who is probably in a better space to talk and will know more than I do.”
While the Springboks have Stormers’ starting hooker Joseph Dweba on standby in the event of a tournament-ending injury, flanker Marco van Staden, who will be starting in the number six jersey, has also been participating in lineout routines.
Nienaber had made it clear before departing for the World Cup last month that in the event of a front-row injury, they’ll make a straight swap.
However, he explained how Van Staden, who was once named at hooker in his early days at the Bulls by then director of rugby John Mitchell, has been taking part in sessions that involved set-piece work by hookers.
“Marco was marked on our play sheet last month as a backup hooker,” Nienaber said.
“There’s also Deon who has been operating in that position for us.”
Sunday’s match kicks off at 15:00.
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