Bok injury list grows as hooker Malcolm Marx pulls up lame
Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx.
In Toulon
The Springboks have been dealt a second injury blow when coach Jacques Nienaber revealed that hooker Malcolm Marx pulled up lame in Wednesday's training session in Toulon.
Marx suffered an injury that Nienaber did not want to specify because of the Protection of Personal Information Act, but said the first-choice Bok hooker went for scans on Wednesday.
Marx wasn't going to be part of the Springbok match-day 23 for Sunday's second Pool B Rugby World Cup game against Romania in Bordeaux, where Nienaber opted to start Bongi Mbonambi with Deon Fourie providing cover off the bench.
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However, Nienaber's tone changed when he spoke about how Marx, a critical cog to the Bok forward group, had to undergo a scan and how he wasn't able to reveal the extent of the injury.
Marx joins Eben Etzebeth on the Springboks' injury list, with the lock facing a 10-14 day wait for recovery even though Nienaber said he was on the field on Tuesday.
"Malcolm went for assessments today, so we'll probably know the extent of the injury later tonight," Nienaber said.
"Malcolm wasn't selected for this game, so that doesn't change anything in terms of the selection of this particular game.
"I'm not 100 percent sure, but I don't think we're allowed to give out medical information about a player.
"It'll be better to talk to him, or he gives the doctor the green light, who is probably in a better space to talk and will know more than I do."
READ | Dynamic Deon Fourie breaks hooker drought to answer Bok call for Romania clash
While the Springboks have Stormers' starting hooker Joseph Dweba on standby in the event of a tournament-ending injury, flanker Marco van Staden, who will be starting in the number six jersey, has also been participating in lineout routines.
Teams
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Grant Williams, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Kwagga Smit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Jesse Kriel
Romania
TBA
Nienaber had made it clear before departing for the World Cup last month that in the event of a front-row injury, they'll make a straight swap.
However, he explained how Van Staden, who was once named at hooker in his early days at the Bulls by then director of rugby John Mitchell, has been taking part in sessions that involved set-piece work by hookers.
"Marco was marked on our play sheet last month as a backup hooker," Nienaber said.
"Even from our alignment camps, he was always throwing in and he got used to it while also participating in the scrumming and lineout sessions as a back-up option for us.
"There's also Deon who has been operating in that position for us."
Sunday's match kicks off at 15:00.
