preview of Bok world cup squad

Springbok utility back Patrick Lambie has been passed fit to take his place in the World Cup squad that will be announced in Johannesburg tonight after having injured his collar bone early in the Tri-Nations match against the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth.

Fullback Francois Steyn, who suffered a hamstring injury against the Wallabies in Durban the week before, has also been given the green light for the team’s departure on September 1.

The Boks gather in Johannesburg today ahead of tonight’s big televised announcement (7.30pm) and will be in camp for just over a week before leaving for Wellington next Thursday.

The multi-talented Lambie strained ligaments in his AC (acromio clavicular) joint in the first minutes of the match against the All Blacks when he broke through a half-gap out wide but was nailed by two defenders. He attempted to play on through the injury but there was a poignant moment in the 19th minute when he fielded an up-and-under and, after passing the ball, he winced in obvious discomfort and seconds later was substituted.

This kind of injury is common place in rugby and the recovery period is two to three weeks because the treatment has become so good. This would mean Lambie will travel to New Zealand with the squad and be fit for selection for the big opener against Wales in Wellington (three weeks from the PE match against the All Blacks).

The final call, though, will be made by Peter de Villiers, and if he feels that departing with a potentially injured player is a liability, the youngster would certainly be top of the “cover” list that will remain in South Africa. There is an IRB regulation that states that players not passed 100 percent fit before departure cannot be replaced if they break down with the same injury. It is a laughable law because it is unpolicable. How would an IRB official know whether Steyn’s hamstring, Lambie’s shoulder or any other player in the tournament ‘s niggle was not 100 percent right?

The other obvious casualty from the weekend was Heinrich Brussow, who suffered facial injuries, but these are more cosmetic at this stage than World Cup-threatening, but speculation did surface in the media yesterday that Stormers openside flank Francois Louw could be the bolter in a squad that otherwise picks itself.

There is little cover for openside flank in the greater squad now that loose forward resources have been depleted by the withdrawal of Juan Smith.

Otherwise the majority of the squad has been known for months, and there was a revealing comment from Victor Matfield last week when he was asked if he was concerned that fringe players might play individualistically because World Cup places were up for grabs.

“No, that is not going to happen,” he said on the eve of the Test against the All Blacks. “You would be safe in assuming that all 22 on duty against the All Blacks will be on the plane to New Zealand.”

Which leaves eight positions to be filled in the 30-man squad, and they will probably come from backs Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Lwazi Mvovo and Francois Steyn, and forwards Johann Muller, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Flip van der Merwe and possibly Louw.

by Mike Greenaway