Boks call up Am to replace injured Mapimpi in Rugby World Cup squad

The Springboks have called up centre Lukhanyo Am into their Rugby World Cup squad to replace injured wing Makazole Mapimpi.

This was confirmed in a statement by tournament organisers on Monday afternoon.

Mapimpi was ruled out of the tournament after he fractured his cheekbone in South Africa's 49-18 win against Tonga on Sunday night.

Visit News24's Rugby World Cup 2023 zone for fixtures, pools, profiles, top stories

Am is coming to #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/p57R9eOny6

Am, who initially missed out on World Cup selection due to a knee injury, won the event with South Africa in 2019 and made the assist for Mapimpi's try in the final against England.

The Boks earlier also called up flyhalf Handre Pollard to replace hooker Malcolm Marx, who suffered a knee injury.

South Africa, meanwhile, all but sealed a spot in the quarter-finals although there is a slim mathematical chance they could miss out.

The two teams who will advance to the quarter-finals will be decided when the world's number one ranked team Ireland - who beat the Boks last week - take on Scotland, ranked fifth, in Paris on Saturday.

A win for Ireland would see them finish in top spot and South Africa as runners-up.

However, should Scotland beat Ireland by a margin of 21 points or more, with both teams scoring four tries to earn an attacking bonus point, that would mean all three teams would finish pool play on 15 points.

That permutation would see the Scots topping the group on points difference ahead of Ireland, in second spot thanks to their better head-to-head record against the Boks, in third.