Boks’ backline injuries give Coetzee headaches

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s elation at his team’s 18-10 win over the Wallabies at Loftus on Saturday is likely to be short-lived as he ponders his backline stocks.

Wing Bryan Habana‚ centre Jesse Kriel and scrumhalf Rudy Paige are all in doubt for next Saturday’s final Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks at King’s Park.

Habana suffered a knock above the knee and looked in severe discomfort when he was carried off the field on a medical golf cart.

Kriel hobbled off with a hamstring injury‚ a problem he was struggling with going into the game according to the coach‚ while Paige took a huge blow to the head and will undergo stringent cognitive tests this week.

The sight of Paige staggering to his feet and collapsing again after replacement lock Kane Douglas’ knee caught the Boks scrumhalf on the side of the head‚ was distressing.

Coetzee said that afterwards Paige was his usual chatty self in the changeroom‚ but hopefully the medical staff will treat the situation seriously.

They only need to look at the complications surrounding utility back Pat Lambie to be reminded of the potential danger of head injuries. Lambie spent 13 weeks recovering from concussion following a blow in the first Test against Ireland in June.

He went through a long period of migraine headaches and other symptoms before finally being cleared to play. Paige must be treated with the same caution.

It leaves Coetzee with some issues because by the end of the Loftus clash‚ flank Jaco Kriel was operating at left wing after Francois Hougaard had to move to scrumhalf and Kriel and Habana were off.

It wasn’t an ideal scenario and might force the coach to reconsider a six/two split between forwards and backs for the coming match against New Zealand.

Pieter-Steph du Toit also left the field with a hip-pointer injury but reports from the camp on Sunday is that he will be clear to play against New Zealand.

At the time of writing no replacements had been called up to the squad but it’s likely that one‚ or possibly two‚ backline additions will be made.

Wing Lwazi Mvovo is the obvious candidate to be recalled‚ but he pulled out of Friday’s Currie Cup match between the Golden Lions and Sharks because of an unspecified injury. Is he even fit?

Centre Damian de Allende is another who would logically come back into contention having been with the squad all season. But his mediocre form continued during the Currie Cup last Friday when he failed to make an impact for Western Province as they laboured to victory over Boland.

So Coetzee could also use the opportunity to finally blood Lions bruiser Rohan Janse van Rensburg or Cheetahs captain Francois Venter.

Van Rensburg is a brutal runner who provides good go-forward ball while Venter is an intelligent centre with a combination of power and finesse.

The All Blacks loom large and the cautious Coetzee is unlikely to be overly bold this week.

But Van Rensburg or Venter‚ or both‚ might just be a selection that would catch the All Blacks by surprise. The Boks need any advantage they can to increase their miniscule chances of toppling the world champions.

TMG Digital/TMG Sport