Rassie Erasmus will announce his Springboks squad for the Nations Championship this week against a backdrop of mounting injury concerns, with Handré Pollard and Andre Esterhuizen both doubtful after sustaining knocks in last weekend's URC action.
Pollard was withdrawn during the Bulls' 34-26 victory over Ulster on Saturday with a hamstring injury and now awaits scan results. The 33-year-old fly-half is under a cloud for the Bulls' upcoming fixture against the Scarlets and could yet be unavailable for the Springboks' November tour. It marks the second injury setback of the season for Pollard, who withdrew from the second Test of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series in August before returning to feature three times in the green and gold jersey since, starting once.
Esterhuizen's situation appears equally concerning. The Sharks utility forward lasted just 52 seconds of his side's win over Cardiff on Friday night before departing with an ankle issue. He was later spotted in a moonboot and has been sent back to South Africa for further assessment. The powerhouse has shifted between flanker and centre for the Springboks in recent Tests, offering Erasmus valuable tactical flexibility that would be sorely missed.
The pair join Cheslin Kolbe, who suffered a broken jaw, on a lengthening injury list that complicates selection ahead of the squad announcement. Erasmus had been expected to name his group this week before the URC enters a month's hiatus to accommodate the Nations Championship fixtures.
Selection dilemmas mount
The timing is particularly awkward given South Africa's position atop the Southern Hemisphere pool following three successive wins in July. The Springboks face Italy, France and Ireland next month, with their final placement dependent on results across both hemispheres. New Zealand, also unbeaten, are widely considered to have a more straightforward run against England, Scotland and Wales, meaning the Springboks could conceivably win all three Tests and still miss the final.
That quirk of the Nations Championship format adds another layer to Erasmus's thinking. The bulk of his Rugby's Greatest Rivalry squad are based in Japan and have yet to start their domestic season, which theoretically leaves them fresh for the European tour. Whether the head coach opts for tried and tested combinations or bloods new talent in what is effectively a World Cup warm-up year remains to be seen, but the injury situation may yet force his hand.