The news that the injury to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is worse than initially thought has underlined the importance of the Springboks backing flyhalf Manie Libbok this past weekend in Nelspruit.
While Feinberg-Mngomezulu had irked Bok coach Rassie Erasmus by concealing a knee injury and playing through the pain when the Boks had a clear policy regarding injuries, it now seems that the injury is a lot worse than initially expected.
His franchise coach John Dobson told media that Feinberg-Mngomezulu injured the same knee as previously and there would be a lengthy period out of the game for the Bok utility back.
“There was some damage to the same knee he injured last year,” Dobson said.
“That is a concern, having injured the same knee twice in a year. The official prognosis is an eight-week lay-off.
“However, given the history and given that you can get an early onset of arthritis with a repeat injury, it will be a tragedy for a player that has a massive contribution to make to the game in South Africa and the Stormers.
“I suspect it should be a couple of weeks longer than that.
“The last thing you want is for him to get some sort of arthritis or some career-threatening situation. We will be very conservative with his return.”
Dobson Monday confirmed to SuperSport that the return looks more likely to be 10 weeks, rather than eight, especially as the team would manage his return. That would put him at the beginning of December if all goes well. But it wouldn’t be a surprise if he only returned in January if the Stormers give him more time.
And while the Boks have earned a good three weeks rest now, with some heading to Mauritius after their successful Rugby Championship campaign while others, who have had less game time, heading back to their franchises, the focus will again begin on what is needed to beat Scotland, England and Wales in November.
Libbok’s form in Nelspruit was sublime, but on a fast track and in exceptional weather it certainly aided him with the game that the Boks wanted to play. The key thing now will be if the Boks decide to play a similar game in the traditionally wet and cold November weather in the United Kingdom.
But even if they do go more conservatively, as Erasmus put it on Saturday night, they will still need a back-up flyhalf with Handre Pollard still filling the primary role. With Feinberg-Mngomezulu out, Libbok’s role will be keenly scrutinised while there may be some place for Jordan Hendrikse’s massive boot that kicked another two monster penalties this past weekend.
“When we go there, we will pull it back a little bit and play a little bit more traditional, which we’ve done in finals of British and Irish Lions series, World Cups, Rugby Championships.
“I think we are a team that can pull it back quite easily. To get to that more exciting brand is a bit more difficult for us but I think we’re getting there.”
Erasmus backed Libbok in the post-match presser and it is clear that - after Siya Kolisi referring to him as his “general” - the Boks still very much see him as part of their game plan. But team selection will always be influenced by conditions and opposition and what the Boks feel they can get out of the game plan.
Still, it was refreshing to see Libbok in such good form following a week of social media hell.
“We really try to stay close to the fans and we know that social media can sometimes be an evil thing,” Erasmus said.
“However, it also functions as a reality check for us to stay in touch with the fans. I had a chat with Manie earlier this week and I told him he’ll get back onto the horse and the guys are going to help him and Jaden will take the kicking.
“I did say in the previous week that when we were 17-0 up, we should have scored some really easy tries with the opportunities that we had.
“It’s not to say Argentina are pushovers because they’re really tough, but the crowd was special when they gave him an ovation. When a player gets supported off and doesn’t get booed off, that’s also a ‘lekker’ feeling.”
Hendrikse made a nervy start to his international career but his 59 metre bomb to win the Currie Cup certainly underlined his ability to come through in the big moments, and it would be a surprise if he wasn’t somewhere in the squad to tour in November.
Damian Willemse also returned to action this past weekend with the Stormers, and should also return to the Bok squad by the time the tour arrives. Willemse has - like Libbok - flourished when he didn’t have the goalkicking duties and will likely not have them again, but as the incumbent before he was injured, he's expected to regain his place on the tour.