Marx suffers injury scare

The Springboks have been left nervously awaiting an update on Malcolm Marx after it was confirmed that he suffered an undisclosed injury in training on Wednesday.

Jacques Nienaber named a heavily-changed match-day squad for South Africa’s second World Cup match against Romania in Bordeaux on Sunday.

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Marx was left out of the 23, with Bongi Mbonambi captaining the side, while veteran utility forward Deon Fourie was named to provide cover on the bench.

Towards the end of the team announcement press conference on Wednesday night, Nienaber mentioned that Marx picked up an injury in the training session in Toulon earlier in the day.

The exact nature of the injury is yet to be disclosed, but Marx has gone for scans and the Springboks are expected to provide a further update later in the week.

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A quick update from @MattP555 at the Springbok hotel in Toulon where Jacques Nienaber has just announced that Malcolm Marx has suffered an injury today in training ????????️ pic.twitter.com/1vQau7o6Nc

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 13, 2023

It will be a stressful wait for the Bok coaches, as Marx has been a core player since the Rassie Erasmus-era started in 2018.

The 29-year-old played his 64th Test match in the World Cup opener against Scotland and has formed a useful combination with Mbonambi, with the two alternating between starting and playing off the bench.

Should Marx be ruled out, it is likely that the Springboks would turn to Joseph Dweba as a replacement, as the Stormers hooker is currently on the standby list.

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Photo: EPA/DARREN ENGLAND