Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi and flyhalf Handre Pollard could play their first Tests of 2023 in the World Cup warm-ups, but prop Ox Nche is sidelined for another four weeks.
Nche is still recovering from a pectoral injury that ruled the loosehead prop out of South Africa’s opening matches of the year, against Australia and New Zealand.
With four matches left before the Boks launch their defence of the Webb Ellis Cup in France, he faces a race against time to feature in the warm-up games in August.
Nche, Kolisi and Pollard remain part of an extended group of Bok players who assembled in Pretoria on Wednesday to prepare for the Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Johannesburg next week.
Addressing the status of the injured trio at a Bok conference in Pretoria on Thursday, head coach Jacques Nienaber told reporters: “Ox is doing well. He’s back in camp after two weeks out, and he’ll probably be out for another four weeks or so.
“Handre and Siya are also on the road to recovery and if everything goes well, hopefully they can play in the Rugby World Cup warm-up matches. We can’t predict for certain when they’ll be back, but what I can say is that we won’t push them.
“All three are players have done the job for us before and we know they’ll be able to come back from injury and play.”
Nienaber admitted that while the Boks’ defeat against the All Blacks last weekend in Auckland was disappointing, it would not change the world champions’ plans as they attempt to strike a fine balance between player load and results in the build-up to France.
The South Africans will play their last Test in the Republic of 2023 next Saturday, against Argentina at Ellis Park, which will be followed by outings against Los Pumas in Buenos Aires (5 August), Wales in Cardiff (19 August) and New Zealand in London (25 August).
Nienaber said their team selection in these matches would play a crucial role as they attempt to get the squad to peak at the right time.
“Our plans will remain the same for the Test against Argentina – the main thing for us now is to manage the players’ load,” he added. “It was our primary goal to win the Rugby Championship, but unfortunately that isn’t in our hands anymore. As things stand, Australia must do us a favour.
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“The team we select to face Argentina will be a side we think will be good enough to beat Argentina, just as we selected teams we thought were good to enough to face the All Blacks and Australia.
“That match is going to be our last one at home this year, and it’s being hosted at an iconic stadium in Emirates Airline Park. It would be phenomenal to play in front of a full stadium because there aren’t many stadiums that are more intimidating that that.”
Reflecting on the loss to the Kiwis, Nienaber said: “We were concerned with the way we started the match, but the main positive is the way we clawed our way back after the first 20 minutes.
“We conceded four penalties to one in the first quarter, and we made handling errors that were totally out of character for the Springboks. But hats off the players for the way they shrugged it off and managed to get a foothold in the game.”
Centre Jesse Kriel, who is likely to feature against Los Pumas for the first time this year, added: “The team to face Argentina will only be selected next week, but of course I’m desperate to play.
“If you ask any player, they’ll tell you they want to play, but we understand that the selections are always based on what the team needs against specific opposition.”
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images