Just as with last year’s year-end tour to Europe, the Springboks’ fly-half pantry suddenly looks like the pantries of most South African households by the end of the month: bra empty.
There are three fly-halfs – Manie Libbok, Handré Pollard and Damian Willemse – in the Boks’ training group for the upcoming Rugby Championship, but Rassie Erasmus confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that only Libbok is match fit.
“Handré has a calf muscle injury and it may take him longer to come back than we initially hoped,” says SA Rugby’s director of rugby.
Pollard suffered the injury in the run-up to the English Premier League semi-final between the Leicester Tigers and the Sale Sharks and he was withdrawn from the match at the last minute.
Although the Tigers said a week later that the Springbok flyhalf should not be on the crutches list for too long, Erasmus painted a different picture.
“Handré will definitely be ready for the World Cup tournament, but we will have to keep a close eye on his progress to determine when he can play.”
In turn, Willemse received a hard blow to his knee.
This means that Libbok is likely to have the inside track for the first Rugby Championship Test against Australia on July 8.
Although the Stormers fly-half was not at his best in the final of the United Rugby Championship against Munster, he showed what he is capable of in the semi-final against Connacht.
The 25-year-old Humansdorp native displayed his attacking flair with his two tries, while he was also in the spotlight with six set-piece attempts.
Tom Shanklin – the former Welsh star – has already predicted that the South Africans will dish out a more creative game when Libbok the no. 10 jersey wear.
“He is excellent in attack and defenders are wary of him. His speed and acceleration mean that he only needs a small gap to fool a defender. One struggles to tackle him because he is very fast,” were Shanklin’s exact words.
But if Pollard and Willemse do not recover from their injuries in time, Erasmus also threw the name of Elton Jantjies into the hat.
“Someone like Elton is currently playing good rugby and we will consider him. But for now, the team doctor will keep a watchful eye on the other loose links and their recovery process.”
