Springbok news: Bok World Cup plans in “catch 22” situation

Springbok rugby is in a “catch-22” situation at the moment and will need to “box clever” in the opening three weeks of the international season if they are to take a fully-fit squad to this year’s Rugby World Cup.

The franchise apathy at keeping to agreements to rest players has hurt the Bok cause, and now the national team needs to manage players, bring others back from injury and try and accommodate a massive injury list within three weeks of playing the top two sides in the world.

More than this they face this task in front of an unforgiving public who demand results, oblivious to the stark reality of the injury crisis that is facing the Springbok team at the moment.

To counter this the 49 man squad has been named to cover the bases, but it is clear that a large part of the injured squad is the frontline that the Boks will use going into the Rugby World Cup and the key is to get them fit as well, and in form.

Ideally the Bok coach would want to play injured players like Jean de Villiers, Duane Vermeulen and Pat Lambie in 20 minute bursts working up to a full game, but the reality is there simply isn’t time left, with just five international games left before the Rugby World Cup.

This means a number of the squad may well make their debut for the Boks, but not be there when the final 31 is picked for the World Cup.

Read more here.