The Springboks had a massive setback following their Castle Lager Rugby Championship loss to Australia at Ellis Park when it was revealed that captain Siya Kolisi and three other players have all been ruled out of the second game in Cape Town this coming weekend.
Kolisi’s injury is more serious and puts him in a race against time to face the All Blacks at Eden Park on 6 September as coach Rassie Erasmus said he would be out for four weeks because of a knee injury.
The Boks face the All Blacks in a massive match in three weeks time, meaning if that assessment is correct Kolisi may miss Eden Park and subsequently the Wellington test in New Zealand the week afterwards.
Also ruled out is fellow loose forward Pieter-Steph du Toit, who sustained concussion and will have to follow the return to play protocols, while both wingers from Saturday’s defeat - Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe have been ruled out with injury.
Arendse has a knee injury while Van der Merwe injured his ankle. Erasmus didn’t say how long they would be out for, but they will definitely miss the Wallaby game in Cape Town.
The injury list rubbed salt in the Bok wounds after they were defeated 38-22 at Ellis Park in one of the biggest comebacks in history as Australia scored 38 unanswered points to stun the World Champions.
The loss of the captain and three other key players may well make some of the selection choices easier, but Erasmus and co were debating the changes long into the night on Saturday night after their plans for the game were rocked by the defeat.
The Bok team had three weeks to prepare for the Ellis Park game, and named the team for Cape Town internally before the Joburg game, to try and get a bit of continuity. But after the defeat Erasmus admitted that there would be changes to the side in Cape Town because of the loss.
With Kolisi and Du Toit out, the Boks will have to rethink their loose trio and if they need to call up players to the camp. Currently the Boks only have Marco van Staden, Jean-Luc du Preez and Kwagga Smith as recognised loose forwards in the camp, while others like Cobus Wiese, Ruan Nortje and Franco Mostert have played in the loose trio in the past. Others who have been part of the Bok camp but were not included for the Aussie games include Vincent Tshituka and Evan Roos.
The Boks are also missing a number of players due to injury and suspension including Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom, Juarno Augustus and Jasper Wiese.
On the wing, the likelihood is that Canan Moodie, who was at the press conference on Monday, will fill the one wing spot with Cheslin Kolbe likely to return to fill the other wing spot.
Other changes mooted already last weekend is a return for both flyhalves - Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Handre Pollard as well as scrumhalf Morne van den Berg for the game. Damian de Allende is also expected to return to the midfield.
But how the defeat may have changed that selection will only be known on Tuesday, when Erasmus names his side for the clash.
It is clear that selection will be closely watched not only for the combinations that are chosen but for the response that many Bok fans hope they will see on Saturday.