Springboks star Cheslin Kolbe.
Springboks: Frustrated Kolbe opens up on injury
Springbok Cheslin Kolbe gives an update on his injury situation, after a freak ankle injury left him temporarily incapacitated and in tears.
Springboks star Cheslin Kolbe.
Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe has given an update on his injury situation, after a freak ankle injury left him temporarily incapacitated and in tears on Saturday.
LIVE UPDATES: SPRINGBOKS’ ROAD TO THE RUGBY WORLD CUP
As was widely reported on Saturday night, there were real concerns when Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe had to be helped from the field after seeming to awkwardly turn over his ankle after scoring a try in the Top14.
The speedster appeared to be in severe discomfort as his ankle was tightly strapped before he was taken off the field on a medical golf cart with tears streaming down his face.
INJURY SEVERITY DETERMINED
Despite the initial fears that the injury could impact Kolbe’s participated in the Springboks’ Rugby Championship and World Cup campaigns, reports out of France suggest that the freak injury suffered by Kolbe may not be as bad as first feared.
French publication Midi Olympique RugbyRama reported on Sunday that Toulon coach Pierre Mignoni suggested after the match that Kolbe looks like he has suffered a sprain and not a fracture.
This was also the word from Toulon manager Pierre Mignoni, who commented “At first sight, it doesn’t look like a fracture, it seems to be a sprain. We are waiting for some tests to determine how serious it is,” Mignoni was quoted.
Posting on his social-media platforms for the first time since suffering the injury, Kolbe uploaded several images of himself from the game in which he was injured.
“Frustrated and disappointed, but just got to keep the faith and keep going. Still grateful for the victory and the outcome. Thank you for all the messages of encouragement. Back soon, I believe,” he wrote on Twitter and Instagram.
WATCH SPRINGBOK CHESLIN KOLBE’S FREAK INJURY
THE SPRINGBOKS WILL WANT KOLBE AVAILABLE FOR THESE FIXTURES IN 2023
Rugby Championship
8 July: Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
✈ 15 July: South Africa vs New Zealand (Mount Smart, Auckland)
29 July: Springboks vs Argentina (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
World Cup warm-ups
✈ 5 August: South Africa vs Argentina (Vélez Stadium, Buenos Aires)
✈ 19 August: South Africa vs Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)
✈ 25 August: Springbok vs New Zealand (Twickenham Stadium, London)
RUGBY WORLD CUP:
✈ 10 September: South Africa vs Scotland (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)
✈ 17 September: Springbok vs Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
✈ 23 September: South Africa vs Ireland (Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris)
✈ 1 October: South Africa vs Tonga (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)
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Quarter-finals sequence of play is as follows:QF 1 — Winner Pool C vs Runner up Pool D
QF 2 — Winner Pool B vs Runner up Pool A
QF 3 — Winner Pool D vs Runner up Pool C
QF 4 — Winner Pool A vs Runner up Pool B
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Semi-finals sequence of play is as follows:
SF 1 — Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
SF 2 — Winner QF3 v Winner QF4
Third place playoff:
Loser SF 1 vs Loser SF 2
World Cup final:
Winner SF 1 vs Winner SF 2
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