Australian Rugby Union wants SANZAR to probe Springboks’ large scale injuries issues - Rugby News
Australian Rugby Union has asked South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby (SANZAR) to look into the matter of Springboks injuries before the Tri-Nations Cup 2011. South Africa Rugby Union publicised the news of at least 21 injured key players and ruled
them out for the initial two matches of the Tri-Nations Cup.
The tournament is starting on July 23 and will conclude on August 27. The 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) will start in September and is immediately after the Tri-Nations. RWC 2011 will kick off on September 9, less than two weeks after the completion of the
Tri-Nations Cup. There has been talk of players being over worked if they play the Tri-nation and then the RWC immediately after.
The ARU has questions regarding the long list of unfit players. They want to explore the reality behind the matter because South Africa can rest their best player in order to obtain better results in the forthcoming Rugby World Cup 2011.
South Africa had tried the same trick in 2007, before going into the world showpiece. Sout Africa Rugby Union (SARU) had rested key players and kept them away from the Tri-Nations tournament and ultimately grabbed the crown in Paris.
A spokesman for Australian Rugby Union cleared their stance after the extensive injury report and said that ARU expects the best South African team contesting the upcoming event. He added that, “We can't comment from here on what their injury status is,
but I'm sure the SANZAR administration will take that up with SARU. The SANZAR joint venture is quite specific about the three countries making best endeavours to field their best available teams and we also have that assurance in writing from the SARU chief
executive.”
South African Rugby Union has ruled out the following key players from the Tri-Nations Cup, declaring them unfit for the initial two matches.
Duane Vermeulen (knee), Fourie du Preez (knee), Schalk Burger (thumb), Victor Matfield (calf and neck), Frans Steyn (ankle and back), Jaque Fourie (groin), Jean de Villiers (groin), BJ Botha (knee), Juan Smith (Achilles), Willem Alberts (shoulder), Bismarck
du Plessis (shoulder), Andries Bekker (shoulder, groin and ankle), Jannie du Plessis (knee), Francois Louw (clavicle), Gurthro Steenkamp (forearm), Francois Hougaard (ankle), Butch James (knee), JP Pietersen (back), Tendai Mtawarira (hamstring), Bryan Habana
(shoulder), Bakkies Botha (knee).
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