There is currently concern in the Springbok camp about the fitness of Malcolm Marx. Jacques Nienaber confirmed that the ratchet hooker suffered an injury during one of the team’s training sessions in Toulon.
A worried Bok coach did not elaborate much on the extent of the injury, but he said that the 29-year-old forward is going for a scan.
Marx was not included in the match group for Sunday’s World Cup showdown against Romania in Bordeaux, but he is a very important link in the Springboks’ campaign to defend their Webb Ellis title.
“I’m not entirely sure, but I don’t think we’re allowed to release a player’s medical information now. It would be better to wait for him to give the doctor the green light to talk about it,” said Nienaber.
Marx has represented the Springboks in 64 tests and he is widely regarded as one of the best forwards on the international stage.
He scored his 17th try for South Africa in the Boks’ great performance at Twickenham, while he also impressed with his break-in game against Scotland in Marseille.
Bongi Mbonambi is the other hook in the group, while the versatile Deon Fourie and even Marco van Staden can also be approached.
The Stormers’ Joseph Dweba is on the South Africans’ player assistance list along with Handré Pollard and co.
South Africa plays against Romania on Sunday at 15:00.
Springboks: Willie le Roux (full back), Grant Williams (right winger), Canan Moodie (outside centre), André Esterhuizen (inside centre), Makazole Mapimpi (left winger), Damian Willemse (fly-half), Cobus Reinach (scrum-half), Duane Vermeulen (eighth man), Kwagga Smith (flank), Marco van Staden (flank), Marvin Orie (lock), Jean Kleyn (lock), Vincent Koch (prop), Bongi Mbonambi (captain and hooker) and Ox Nche (prop). Substitutes: Deon Fourie, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, RG Snyman, Jasper Wiese, Jaden Hendrikse, Faf de Klerk and Jesse Kriel.
