The Springboks suffered a major injury setback as 20-year-old Riley Norton will be out for up to two months after suffering a grade-three hamstring strain.
Riley Norton, one of the rising stars of South African rugby, had been primed to make his Test debut and feature for the Springboks at some stage during their three Nations Championship Tests over the next three weeks against England, Scotland, and Wales respectively.
But, Norton's potential Test debut has now been delayed as he has been ruled out of action after suffering a hamstring strain in the build-up to Saturday's Test against England at Ellis Park. Coach Rassie Erasmus revealed in a team announcement media briefing on Monday that the young lock just pulled his hamstring while chasing in training, and that it was a bad hamstring injury.
What makes this untimely injury more cruel for the 20-year-old Norton is Erasmus' admission that he would have played against England on Saturday, earning his maiden Test cap. 'The plan was to play him in this game and then send him back to the Junior Boks for their [Junior World Championship] playoffs.'
Riley's injury adds to the Springboks' growing lock stock depletion, with Erasmus also confirming the unavailability of Franco Mostert (ankle) and Lood de Jager (illness). 'Franco Mostert is hopefully back in the next two or three weeks, Lood maybe next week,' Erasmus explained.
The Springboks will be hoping that the injuries to Norton, Mostert, and de Jager are not too severe and that they will be back on the field soon. The team has a tough schedule ahead of them with the three Nations Championship Tests against England, Scotland, and Wales over the next three weeks.
'It was probably the second-last move of the session. He just pulled his hamstring while chasing. It wasn't a weird incident, he just pulled it.'
Rassie Erasmus, Springbok coach
Norton's injury is a major setback for the Springboks, but they will be hoping that he will make a full recovery and be back on the field soon. The young lock has a lot of potential and had been touted as one of the future stars of South African rugby.
And with the Springboks facing a tough schedule ahead of them, they will be hoping that the injuries to Norton, Mostert, and de Jager are not too severe and that they will be back on the field soon.
The Springboks will be looking to Norton to make a big impact when he returns to the field, but for now, he will be sidelined for up to two months. Erasmus will be hoping that the young lock will make a full recovery and be back on the field soon, but for now, he will have to make do without him.
Norton's injury adds to the Springboks' growing lock stock depletion, and it remains to be seen how they will cope without three of their top locks.
And with the Springboks facing a tough schedule ahead of them, they will be hoping that the injuries to Norton, Mostert, and de Jager are not too severe and that they will be back on the field soon.