Boks sweat on Etzebeth fitness with lock stocks in crisis before All Blacks examination

Pieter-Steph du Toit of the Springboks competes in the lineout against Lukhan Salakaia-Loto of the Wallabies during The Rugby Championship match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on 10 August 2024. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

By Craig Ray

26 Aug 2024

With five locks confirmed injured, and a sixth in Eben Etzebeth on the doubtful list, Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has a brewing crisis on his hands.

The Springboks could go into Saturday’s Rugby Championship showdown against the All Blacks with a makeshift second row after it was revealed that Eben Etzebeth is struggling to shake off a knee injury.

Salmaan Moerat, the other No 4 lock in the group, is officially out of the Ellis Park showdown as he overcomes concussion while RG Snyman also won’t be considered for selection over a foot injury.

With Lood de Jager out with a long-term shoulder problem and Franco Mostert and Jean Kleyn also ruled out for several months, the once well-stocked lock cupboard is almost empty.

If nothing else, this shows how quickly the wheel of Test rugby can turn. The Boks, buoyed after winning both Tests in Australia for the first time in the professional era and five points clear at the top of the standings, had every right to feel confident heading into the All Blacks clash.

But Etzebeth’s possible withdrawal, coupled with the injuries to others, will have sapped some of that confidence. Losing five world-class locks would hurt any team. Losing perhaps the best lock of all time, who is playing some of his best rugby, could be colossal.

Ruan Nortjé has a handful of caps while Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, called up seemingly out of the blue last week, has one Test cap.

boks etzebeth locks janse van rensburg Kwagga Smith of the Springboks is supported by teammates Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (left) and Frans Malherbe (right) during The Rugby Championship match against Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on 21 August 2021. (Photo: Gordon Arons / Gallo Images)

Coach Rassie Erasmus knew that Etzebeth was listed as “doubtful” last week, hence the call to Janse van Rensburg, who has hardened his game in the physical French Top 14 with Montpellier. But in the roster, Janse van Rensburg would be about eighth in the Bok pecking order.

Marvin Orie, part of the successful Rugby World Cup 2023 squad, has not been mentioned at all. The Boks management clearly has no desire to recall him to the squad.

‘Not a crisis’

It’s a far from ideal scenario but it’s the reality the Boks face. They will give Etzebeth every chance to prove his fitness, but Erasmus and forwards coach Deon Davids will also be working on contingencies.

And as always, the Boks are not going to let a good crisis go to waste.

“Yes, we have a few injuries amongst our locks, but it’s part of the game and Pieter-Steph (du Toit) and Ruan (Nortje) had good games in our last outing,” Davids said at a media briefing on Monday.

boks etzebeth locks du toit Pieter-Steph du Toit of the Springboks competes in the lineout against Lukhan Salakaia-Loto of the Wallabies during The Rugby Championship match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on 10 August 2024. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

“It’s never nice to lose experience, but this will open up opportunities for other players to put up their hands and show what they can do at the highest level.

“Franco (Mostert), Lood (de Jager) and Jean (Kleyn) are also out and while it may seem like a crisis, we see it as an opportunity to increase our depth at lock and we want the next players to show us what they can do.”

The All Blacks’ lineout struggled in the July series against England and while it improved against Argentina, it was probably an area the Boks were hoping to pressurise.

New Zealand captain Scott Barrett is on the SA tour after missing the Pumas matches, which will help shore up their set piece, but it’s still an area the Boks ideally would’ve aimed to target.

It’s not to say the Boks won’t attempt to unsettle the Kiwi lineout, but considering the potential reshuffle, the world champions might be more focused on securing their own ball at the expense of coming up with too many plans to disrupt Barrett and his men.

It seems the best-case contingency, if Etzebeth is ruled out, is that Du Toit starts as a No 4 given how physical he is. Nortje would continue as the No 5 lock after a good outing against Australia in Perth. Ben-Jason Dixon is likely to wear the No 7 jersey in that set-up with Janse van Rensburg almost certainly the lock on the bench.

There has been an air of expectancy that the Boks should beat the rebuilding All Blacks twice on this tour. It’s a reasonable expectation considering the development paths of the two teams.

But the Boks’ heavy injury list, which also includes Rugby World Cup 2023 winners Faf de Klerk, Damian Willemse, Deon Fourie and probably the game-shy Steven Kitshoff, in addition to the locks, is certainly evening up the contest.

“We will never underestimate an All Black team,” said Davids. “There is a massive respect between the sides, and they showed what they can do when they have their backs against the wall (by bouncing back strongly against Argentina).

“They are mostly close games when we play against them if one looks back, and they always present a good match-up in all departments, so this week will be no different.” DM

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‘Not a crisis’