Katlego Sekhu
Springboks winger Makazole Mapimpi suffered a fractured cheekbone in South Africa’s 49-18 win over Tonga on Sunday evening.
Boks coach Rassie Erasmus reported that Mapimpi would return home after suffering a tournament-ending injury in the match and that they would announce a replacement in the next few days.
“We are sad for Mapimpi,” said the coach. “He fractured his eye socket and cheekbone, 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’ll fly him and Malcolm Marx back.”
The team will receive a well-deserved break on Monday and Tuesday to rest and recover from the pool stages of the competition and will resume their rugby programme on Wednesday.
The Springboks have 15 log points from four games. Ireland and Scotland, who face off in the group’s decider on Saturday, are on 14 and 10 points, respectively. Erasmus explained a series of permutations that could come into play.
“If Scotland beat Ireland by eight points or more and Ireland don’t get a bonus point, then Ireland are out. Then, if all three teams finish on 15 log points, the team with the best points difference will go through,” said Erasmus.
“If Scotland have the best points difference, then we’ll fall out because Ireland defeated us, but for that to happen Scotland must score four tries and beat Ireland by more than 20 points, and Ireland must also get a bonus point. On the other hand, if Ireland have the best points difference, then we’ll go through because we defeated Scotland.”
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