Mapimpi injury only negative on good night for Boks

An injury to 2019 Rugby World Cup winning wing Makazole Mapimpi was the main point of concern for the Springbok management after they completed the Pool phase with an emphatic 49-18 win over Tonga in Marseille.

The Boks never hit the 36 point winning margin that would have made their advance to the quarterfinal phase completely ajar, but realistically they have done enough as it effectively leaves Scotland needing to do what is the equivalent of scoring 560 to win in the final innings of a cricket test - on a deteriorating wicket.

The Scots will have to win by 21 against Ireland and the Irish would have to still get a four try bonus point if it is to be they and not the Boks who advance - it’s just not going to happen.

So the Boks will start their preparations now for the quarterfinal, with their likely second position finish in Pool B set to see them in action on the night of 15 October in the last match of the quarterfinal round against the hosts in Paris. They may have to do it without Mapimpi as an option following the injury the wing picked up in an early head-on-head collision with Tonga scrumhalf Augustine Pulu.

Referee Luke Pearce was right in taking the sensible approach and not producing a yellow card, but there is an issue of consistency that comes into play as many other referees would doubtless have sanctioned Pulu.

Not that it should concern the Boks right now for what is done is done as they await the results of specialist scans due to be conducted on Mapimpi’s jaw early on Monday.

“He unfortunately had a blow-out fracture of his cheekbone,” said Nienaber.

“He’ll probably go for specialist scans [Monday] morning to determine the severity of it.”

I think that's about right.

Quite a bit of mitagation with an abosorbing tackle and he was on his knees.

Unfortunately he means Mapimpi goes off.#RSAvTGA #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/8XBqMcNL9L

— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) October 1, 2023

The injury is apparently similar to the one suffered by France captain and star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, who had to undergo surgery and have a metal plate inserted in a bid to recover in time for the quarterfinals. Whether the Boks will go to the lengths France appear to be going to in order to get Dupont ready though is debatable, as Mapimpi is no longer the first choice wing and Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe look the likely starters for the quarterfinal.

Indeed, if Mapimpi leaves the World Cup it could leave the door open for the return of Mapimpi’s Sharks teammate and fellow 2019 World Cup hero Lukhanyo Am. Although Jesse Kriel has been outstanding at No 13 and was again as a replacement against Tonga, delivering an incredibly high work-rate in addition to scoring a try, there are angles to Am’s attacking game that are arguably being missed by the Boks.

The World Cup champions are certainly struggling to convert attacking pressure, and it was again a concern in Marseille. They scored seven good tries on their way to the bonus point win, but it could have been more.

Given though that this was by far the best Tongan performance of the tournament and they appear to be coming together better now that they are getting used to playing as a team, the Bok leadership duo of coach Nienaber and skipper Siya Kolisi, who played his landmark 50th game as captain, were right to feel satisfied with the effort put in.

“The key for us was to win first and then get the bonus point and we managed to get that early in the second half, then we chased points as much as we could,” said Nienaber.

“As things stand now, one of South Africa, Ireland and Scotland will miss out on the quarterfinal, but all three can still make it. The pool will only be decided on Saturday.”

The Boks conceded three tries, which is a rare thing for them, but Nienaber wasn’t concerned.

“From a defensive point of view, I’m proud,” he added. “We don’t see it as a negative. The team showed great attitude on defence against a Tongan team that got better as the tournament progressed, and I feel the guys put in a great shift in their physicality on defence.”

The physicality of the game gave Kolisi little time to think about celebrating his 50th appearance as captain.

“The only thing I was thinking about was the physicality of the match. They were tough,” said the captain.

“We knew they would run hard at us, and they never stopped. I applaud the boys for sticking to the plan. We got the bonus point, and we accumulated as many points as we could.”

The Boks have a bye this week before they start their preparations for the quarterfinal.