Africa-Press – South-Africa. SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus on Monday confirmed that Makazole Mapimpi’s Rugby World Cup is over after sustaining a facial injury.
The wing collided with Tongan scrumhalf Augustine Pulu during the Springboks’ 49-18 win against the Pacific Islanders in Marseille on Sunday, after which he left the field with the right side of his face swollen.
Mapimpi came off in the 28th minute and didn’t come back on the field. He was replaced by Jesse Kriel.
The game was Mapimpi’s second of the World Cup and he was making decent metres despite the limited nature of ball coming in his direction.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said in the post-match press conference late on Sunday evening that Mapimpi suffered a blowout fracture of his cheekbone.
Erasmus confirmed that Mapimpi will be out for at least four to six weeks, effectively ending his participation in the tournament.
“It’s sad with Mapimpi’s injury because he’ll be out for the rest of the tournament,” Erasmus said.
“It’s sad that something like that happened because it was an accident, because he now has a fractured eye socket and a blowout fracture.
“The eye is swollen, and the cheekbone is fractured, so I think he’s out for four to six weeks, so we won’t just miss him as a brilliant rugby player, but what he brings to the team is a lot of heart and honesty.
“He doesn’t say a lot, but when he does, everybody listens. He trains hard and he communicates well on the field.
“He never moans if he’s not selected, and he helps the younger players who come through.”
Visit News24’s Rugby World Cup 2023 zone for fixtures, pools, profiles, top stories
Erasmus, who said they have an idea who they want to replace Mapimpi with but need to go through the World Rugby channels, confirmed they would fly Mapimpi and Malcolm Marx back to the tournament in the event they make the final.
Marx was the first to leave the Bok camp after injuring his knee in the second week of the tournament. He was replaced by Handre Pollard.
“We have an idea of who we want to replace him [with], but we first have to notify World Rugby,” Erasmus said.
“If we get to the final, we will definitely fly Mapimpi back, along with the other guys who got injuries that went back home.
“It’s the game of rugby and those collisions happen.”
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
