Bok injury list grows as hooker Malcolm Marx pulls up lame

In Toulon

The Springboks have been dealt a second injury blow when coach Jacques Nienaber revealed that hooker Malcolm Marx pulled up lame in Wednesday's training session in Toulon. 

Marx suffered an injury that Nienaber did not want to specify because of the Protection of Personal Information Act, but said the first-choice Bok hooker went for scans on Wednesday.

Marx wasn't going to be part of the Springbok match-day 23 for Sunday's second Pool B Rugby World Cup game against Romania in Bordeaux, where Nienaber opted to start Bongi Mbonambi with Deon Fourie providing cover off the bench. 

LIVE | RWC 2023: Mbonambi to captain Boks against Romania as Williams starts on wing

However, Nienaber's tone changed when he spoke about how Marx, a critical cog to the Bok forward group, had to undergo a scan and how he wasn't able to reveal the extent of the injury.

Marx joins Eben Etzebeth on the Springboks' injury list, with the lock facing a 10-14 day wait for recovery even though Nienaber said he was on the field on Tuesday.

"Malcolm wasn't selected for this game, so that doesn't change anything in terms of the selection of this particular game.

"I'm not 100 percent sure, but I don't think we're allowed to give out medical information about a player.

"It'll be better to talk to him, or he gives the doctor the green light, who is probably in a better space to talk and will know more than I do."

READ | Dynamic Deon Fourie breaks hooker drought to answer Bok call for Romania clash

While the Springboks have Stormers' starting hooker Joseph Dweba on standby in the event of a tournament-ending injury, flanker Marco van Staden, who will be starting in the number six jersey, has also been participating in lineout routines.

South Africa

15 Willie