Rassie sheds light on injuries ahead of Rugby Championship

Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus, has issued an injury update as the world champions continue their preparations for the Rugby Championship.

South Africa’s title defence kicks off with back-to-back matches against Australia, the first of which will be at Ellis Park before the two sides square off at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

Last week, Erasmus trimmed his squad to 37 players who met in Johannesburg on Monday, ahead of a two-week conditioning camp.

Speaking to the media, Erasmus confirmed that there are no major injury concerns in the current squad – despite Canan Moodie and Cheslin Kolbe carrying niggles.

“Canan Moodie has got a bit of a hand issue, an infection, but it should be cleared up on Monday. He is already training with us again,” the two time World Cup winning mentor confirmed.

“As for Cheslin, he had a bit of a knee issue, but he seems to be okay. So in the squad currently with us, there are no real big injury concerns. Hopefully, next Monday he will be training again.”

The other 35 players, plus the three Junior Boks (Hashim Pead, Bathobele Hlekani, and Cheswill Jooste) who were invited to the camp, are all fit and firing – the coach confirmed.

The not so positive news are for the Boks outside the camp such as Bulls’ prop, Gerhard Steenkamp, who has a long term injury.

“Long-term injuries that are not here in the squad, I can’t go deep into it, but Elrigh Louw is one, and Frans Malherbe is another,” Erasmus said.

“I think it’s still six before Gerhard Steenekamp is ready. He is still struggling and doing his rehab with the Bulls.”