Following the devastating news that Makazole Mapimpi would not be participating further in the Rugby World Cup, his replacement Lukhanyo Am will be a massive boost to the Springbok squad.
Mapimpi sustained a tournament-ending injury when he collided with Tongan scrumhalf Augustine Pulu during their hard-fought 49-18 victory at the weekend.
“We are sad for Mapimpi,” said SA director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.
“He fractured his eye socket and cheek bone, so he’ll be out for four to six weeks. We’ll miss him as a player and what he brings to the team off the field.
“But if we get to the final, we will fly him and Malcolm Marx [who was also injured and replaced by Handre Pollard] back.”
Am is expected to join the squad in Toulon this week, having returned to training on his rehabilitation from a knee injury suffered in the 24-13 victory win over Argentina in Buenos Aires on August 5.
The 29-year-old centre missed out on squad selection because of the injury. He appeared in the first four matches of the season as he recovered from a knee injury suffered in 2022.
He is the second injury replacement to the initial 33-man squad following the call-up of flyhalf Handre Pollard for hooker Malcolm Marx.
Pollard proved to be the missing puzzle in the Boks’ penalty conversion department when he produced a 100% penalty conversion against a feisty Tongan side.
Like Pollard, Am is expected to have an instant impact in the Boks squad that is yet to produce their best performance at the world cup.
Am was a pivotal member of the Boks team that lifted the prestigious Webb Ellis trophy in 2019.
His ability to pick the right pass and unlock stubborn defences will benefit the Springboks for the rest of the tournament.
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