Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has provided an update on some key players in his 37-man squad for the Rugby Championship.
After victories against Italy and Georgia in July, the Boks are currently in camp preparing for Tests against the Wallabies in Johannesburg (August 16) and Cape Town (August 23).
On Tuesday, Erasmus revealed that speedsters Canan Moodie and Cheslin Kolbe are the only players in the current squad with niggles.
Canan’s got a bit of a hand issue. It was like an infection,” said Erasmus.
“Cheslin had a bit of a knee, but he seems to be ok. So, in the squad currently with us, there are no big injury concerns with the 37 guys that are here.
We’ve got the three youngsters [Under-20 stars Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead] training with us, and they are all injury-free.”
Erasmus added: “Canan has already started training and Cheslin will hopefully be ready next week.”
There is no change on the long-term injury front when it comes to players like Elrigh Louw, Frans Malherbe and Cameron Hanekom, who are all out for a long time.
However, there is a possibility that prop Gerhard Steenekamp could return to the playing field in the latter stages of the Rugby Championship.
The 28-year-old has been out of action for the last few months with a knee injury.
“It will be six weeks before Gerhard Steenekamp is ready,” Erasmus explained.
“He is struggling a bit with his [knee], but the Bulls are doing the rehab on him.”
