Lambie injury gives Bok coach fresh headache

13 June 2016 - 10:09 By CHUMANI BAMBANI

With Patrick Lambie now ruled out of this weekend's game, the second in the series between the Springboks and Ireland, who will coach Allister Coetzee look to as pivot of the Boks side?Yesterday, SA team doctor Konrad von Hagen confirmed that the 25-year-old flyhalf will undertake a mandatory one week's rest after he was stretchered off concussed in the Boks' 20-26 defeat to Ireland in Cape Town on Saturday.Lambie was injured in a tackle that earned Ireland's SA-born flanker CJ Stander a red card in the first half in Cape Town.Coetzee is now left with no option but to field an inexperienced flyhalf complement in the match to be played at Ellis Park on Saturday.Though Elton Jantjies, who stepped up to the plate when he came on for Lambie to play in only his third Test match for the Boks, is the obvious choice to start in the No10 jersey and set to flourish at his home stadium, Coetzee and backline coach Mzwandile Stick will be scratching their heads as to who will provide cover .What are Coetzee's options?Garth April was called up to the Bok squad for the series, but was released to play in the SA A match against England Saxons on Friday.While April has been in fine form for the Sharks in their Super rugby campaign, he failed to live up to the hype in the defeat by the Saxons.However, his flair and composure is something that could also assist the Boks were he to find his tune, should he be selected and given time on the field in the green and gold.Francois Brummer, an unlikely Bok candidate at the start of the season, impressed when he replaced April against the Saxons, scoring the side's first try with his first touch of the game.The Bulls pivot injected vigour into Johan Ackermann's SA A side's play in the second half, but Coetzee could surprise some by naming Lions' winger Ruan Combrinck as cover.TMG Digital..

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