“He’s okay. He needs a few rehabilitation sessions, then hopefully he will be back on his feet and on the field quickly.”
This is what Anlia Etzebeth, Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth’s wife, told RNews on Tuesday.
RNews reported earlier that Etzebeth is expected to be unable to train for up to 10 days due to a shoulder injury he sustained in the latest World Cup match.
Etzebeth left the field in the 26th minute of the Springboks’ 18-3 victory over Scotland in Marseille on Sunday.
Rassie Erasmus, the South African director of Rugby, said on Monday 11 September that they are still waiting for a scan.
“It’s just a big worry, nobody wants to get injured now,” says Anlia.
“Everyone wants to play so badly; it’s just stressful when you go through something like that.”
Anlia, who flies to France on September 20 to join her husband, tries to support him as best she can from South Africa.
“But his head is very strong, all (the Springboks) are.” They learn to think positively about injuries.”
She says that she is not too worried.
“I know that they have a very good team of physiotherapists.”
South Africa continues the defense of its World Cup title on Sunday when it faces Romania in Bordeaux. Erasmus said Etzebeth “wouldn’t have been selected for that match anyway. But we would have expected him to have trained fully.”
