Lions Tour: While British & Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan's plans have been affected by the injury to Tomas O'Leary and the potential loss of Alan Quinlan, South Africa are not without problems of their own ahead of the forthcoming tour.
Conrad Jantjes leads a mounting injury list for South Africa ahead of the tour which gets underway at the end of the month.
The Stormers full-back, who was the main contender to wear the number 15 jersey for the Springboks, broke his leg during a Super 14 clash against the Chiefs at the weekend and has been ruled out for rest of the year.
“It is always upsetting when a player that is in the driving seat is injured,” national coach Peter de Villiers said. “The loss of Conrad is a blow to us and especially for him as it rules him out for some time.”
De Villiers is further hindered by the news that Jantjes’ possible replacement Frans Steyn has been ruled out for six to eight weeks with a knee injury.
Powerhouse forwards Schalk Burger (calf) and Andries Bekker (rib) and backs Adrian Jacobs (shoulder), Fourie du Preez (calf) and Jean de Villiers (groin) have all also suffered injuries as the Super 14 competition draws towards the end.
"The Super 14 is a tough competition and we expected that injuries might impact on our selection for the Lions series," de Villiers added.
"For that reason we never cast anything in stone even though there are players incumbent in certain positions who would in all likelihood be included in a starting XV.
"The fact that some of these players are currently beset by injury is a concern, but I do not want to draw any conclusions until I have consulted with the respective medical teams and have a full understanding of the extent of each injury and the recovery prognosis," he said.
Outside centre Jacobs, who started in 11 of the Springboks' 13 tests in 2008, returned to training with the Natal Sharks this week after tearing muscles in his shoulder. The 28-year-old is gambling on being able to play through the injury, which will require surgery at some point.
Inside centre De Villiers, South Africa's player of the year in 2008, may return for the Stormers' final Super 14 match on May 16th, but utility back Steyn has now suffered a knee injury that could keep him out of action for eight weeks, complicating the coach's options in the flyhalf position where Ruan Pienaar has just returned from injury and Bath-based Butch James has undergone knee surgery and is out for nine months.
Flank Burger, lock Bekker and scrumhalf Du Preez are all expected to be fit in time for the first test against the Lions, in Durban on June 20th.
