South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby says Springboks injuries are genuine – Rugby news
South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby (SANZAR) have termed the Springboks injuries sustained by key Springboks players as genuine. South African Rugby Union (SARU) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jurie Rox made the statement while talking to reporters
on Monday, July 11.
Last week, Australian Rugby Union (ARU) CEO, John O’Neill, asked SANZAR to investigate the injuries to 21 players of the Springboks provisional 47-man squad. Earlier, Springboks head coach, Peter de Villiers, and team doctor, Craig Roberts, declared 21 players
as injured and ruled out their participation from the away matches of the upcoming 2011 Tri-Nations tournament.
ARU questioned the injuries, which was mostly comprised of Springboks first choice players. ARU suspected South African Rugby Union (SARU) was using injuries as a ploy to rest their key players ahead of their 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) campaign.
SARU’s past record in this regard is not good. In 2007, they sent their second string team to the 2007 Tri-Nations tournament in order to rest their players for the 2007 RWC. Later, at the end of their successful 2007 RWC campaign, SARU admitted that they
had strategically rested their first choice players to ensure that they remain fresh for the big tournament.
Providing the details, Rox said, “I did get a query from SANZAR’s CEO Greg Peters, in that regard, provided him with the list of injured players and their medical assessment - obviously not the detail, that's our information and that's privileged information.”
Rox added SARU has expressed their satisfaction with the record provided. Commenting on the investigation demanded by ARU, he added, “It is within the right of Australia and New Zealand to query anything they want to query within the Tri-Nations and within
the SANZAR agreement. Australia has asked for an enquiry, an enquiry has been done by SANZAR and we have given our reply.”
Rox further added that they themselves are worried about the number of injuries to their key players. The injuries have affected his team’s preparations for the upcoming World Cup.
Rox categorically denied the allegations of using the injuries as shield to rest his players. He further added, “We've been open and honest in it. We've got a professional team and the professional judgment from our medical staff is that these players are
not fit to play.” Rox has expressed his confidence that the matter has been settled. He said, “SANZAR is happy with the result, and in the words of Greg Peters, it has been dealt with.”
Springboks will play their first of two away leg matches of the 2011 Tri-Nations tournament against the Wallabies at ANZ Stadium, Sydney on July 23. A week later on July 30, they will play their second game against the All Blacks at Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
The list of the 21 players whose participation has been ruled out from the away leg matches includes:
Duane Vermeulen (knee), Fourie du Preez (knee), Schalk Burger (thumb), Victor Matfield (calf and neck), Bismarck du Plessis (shoulder), Andries Bekker (shoulder, groin and ankle), Jannie du Plessis (knee), Francois Louw (clavicle), Frans Steyn (ankle and
back), Jaque Fourie (groin), Jean de Villiers (groin), BJ Botha (knee), Juan Smith (Achilles), Willem Alberts (shoulder), Gurthrö Steenkamp (forearm), Francois Hougaard (ankle), Butch James (knee), JP Pietersen (back), Tendai Mtawarira (hamstring), Bryan Habana
(shoulder), Bakkies Botha (knee).
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