The Springbok Women will face Samoa in their final WXV 2 match at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Friday without Tayla Kinsey, Luchell Hanekom and Aseza Hele.
Kinsey, the most capped scrumhalf in Springbok Women history, left the field in the first half of last Friday's match against Italy due to HIA protocols and did not return. She will not be considered for the final match.
Hanekom (hooker) was forced to leave the field with an arm injury in the second half and was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament as well.
Hele (No 8) was given a red card for a head clash and suspended for three matches by World Rugby.
Springbok Women assistant coach Franzel September confirmed they will not be replaced in the squad and said that although it’s sad to say goodbye to the trio – all of whom left the camp on Monday – injuries are part of the game.
“I feel for the three players,” said September.
“We did say when we came together that this tournament will demand the same effort from all 30 players in the squad and with those three having to leave, it just means more responsibility on the remaining 27. The job is not done, we have a very important match to play against Samoa on Friday.”
The Springbok Women and Manusina Samoa played in a warm-up Test in Hermanus on 7 October, a match which finished in a 17-17 draw. September said that the squad learned from that outing as well as the Samoan performances against USA and Japan in WXV 2.
“They showed us something to look at and it is always nice to have that, but the reality is that we need to pitch up on the day and play the rugby we want to play,” he said.
“That match is done and dusted, this is a new opportunity, in fact our last opportunity to get that first win in WXV.”
As things stand, the team that loses between South Africa and Samoa will be relegated to WXV 3 next year, but September said they are determined to claim the win.
“It is a huge weekend for our rugby – we need to win Friday and the Boks need to win on Saturday,” said September.
“Our country needs the wins, so we can set the ball rolling with an accurate performance. We owe it to ourselves and to our supporters to finish the tournament with a win.”
Springbok Women head coach Louis Koen will name his match day squad on Wednesday afternoon.