Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has revealed how Riley Norton suffered a “bad” injury in training and the initial prognosis for the 20-year-old lock.
The former Junior Boks captain impressed in an 80-minute performance for the Boks against the Barbarians in Gqeberha last week and had been expected to make his Test debut during the Nations Championship in July.
Instead, Norton has been ruled out after picking up a grade-three hamstring injury in the build-up to Saturday’s Test against England at Ellis Park.
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“Riley got injured in training, unfortunately,” said Erasmus after naming his team for the match.
“It was probably the second-last move of the session. He just pulled his hamstring while chasing. It wasn’t a weird incident, he just pulled it.
“Unfortunately it’s a bad hamstring injury. I think he’ll be out for eight to 10 weeks.”
The Bok coach said Norton would otherwise have been selected for Saturday.
“The plan was to play him in this game and then send him back to the Junior Boks for their [Junior World Championship] playoffs.”
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Erasmus suggested the intensity of Springbok training may have contributed to the injury, with younger players having to adapt quickly to the demands of the senior national environment.
“[Winger] Jaco Williams also had a hamstring injury, but he’s fully fit now and will be available for selection,” he said.
“I think with some of the younger guys coming into camp, the intensity of training is incredibly high because they really push the older guys.
“I wouldn’t say it was our fault, but maybe for some of the younger guys it’s about getting used to keeping up with that intensity all the time.”
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Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
