Rocked by the loss of three key players, the Springboks will have a leery eye on the clash between World Cup pool rivals Scotland and France on Saturday, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am and Lood de Jager were all missing from the Bok squad announced on Tuesday for the global tournament, and their absence will be a massive challenge for the South Africans in their defence of the Webb Ellis Cup.
A largely full-strength Scotland beat World Cup hosts and favourites France at Murrayfield last week, and the Scots this weekend are bidding for a third straight warm-up win ahead of rugby’s showpiece event.
The biggest blow for the Boks?👀@mark_keohane and Zels discuss the impact of Lukhanyo Am's injury on the Boks' World Cup prospects. pic.twitter.com/O2CJHWMNVi
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) August 11, 2023
Gregor Townsend’s charges face a daunting task to get out of Pool B at the tournament, having been drawn alongside the defending champions, as well as top-ranked Ireland, Tonga and Romania.
In his TimesLIVE column, Keohane suggests Scotland have never been a walkover for South Africa, and the showdown between the teams in Marseille on 10 September cannot be taken lightly by the Boks.
KEO: Trouble in paradise for Boks en route to France
“Scotland, on Sunday, 10th September, is huge for the Springboks and the Scots served notice that they won’t be in France to provide an entrée for South Africa’s match-up with Ireland,” he writes.
“All the best French players will be back for the return fixture this weekend and Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has picked a lineup that will be close to the one that lines up against the Boks.
“The Boks just can’t afford any hiccup against Scotland and this Saturday’s Test will be the most accurate indicator of just what awaits the Boks in Marseille on the 10th September.
“Ironically, there are four South Africans in the starting XV in props WP Nel and Pierre Schoeman and wingers Kyle Steyn and Duhan van der Merwe.
“These are nervous times for the Boks.”
Photo: Phill Magakoe/AFP