Hamstring injury rules out Bok prop Julian Redelinghuys for six weeks

A hamstring injury has ruled Springbok prop Julian Redelinghuys out of the short tour to Argentina and also put his participation in the rest of the Rugby Championship in doubt.

Redelinghuys will now continue his rehabilitation work at the Lions.

The Boks take on the Pumas in the return leg in Salta this weekend. “Losing Julian is a massive blow to us because it comes at a time when he is playing really good rugby‚” coach Allister Coetzee said.

“Vincent Koch did extremely well when he came on as a replacement‚ and Julian’s injury now presents him with an ideal opportunity.”

Prop Lourens Adriaanse‚ who joined the squad last week‚ is included in the tour squad along with Trevor Nyakane‚ Malcolm Marx‚ Franco Mostert and Morné Steyn. Scrumhalf Francois Hougaard will continue with his knee treatment and will not travel to Argentina when the squad leaves on Monday morning from Johannesburg.

Coetzee said he was glad for the winning start but cautions that his side will face a stiff challenge against the Puma on their home soil. 

“The players showed great resilience on Saturday‚ they stayed calm and stuck to the plan‚ especially in the last ten minutes. We continue to work and focus on our team cohesion and we know the challenge we will face in Argentina‚” said Coetzee.

The Springboks arrive on Monday evening in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires where they will resume their match preparations before heading to Salta on Friday.

South African touring squad:

• Lourens Adriaanse‚
• Ruan Combrinck‚
• Damian de Allende‚
• Lodewyk de Jager‚
• Juan de Jongh‚
• Francois de Klerk‚
• Pieter-Steph du Toit‚
• Eben Etzebeth‚
• Johan Goosen‚
• Bryan Habana‚
• Elton Jantjies‚
• Steven Kitshoff‚
• Vincent Koch‚
• Jaco Kriel‚
• Jesse Kriel‚
• Francois Louw‚
• Lionel Mapoe‚
• Malcolm Marx‚
• Bongi Mbonambi‚
• Teboho Mohoje‚
• Franco Mostert‚
• Tendai Mtawarira‚
• Trevor Nyakane‚
• Rudy Paige‚
• Morné Steyn‚
• Adriaan Strauss‚
• Warren Whiteley.