Springbok injury blow: Pieter-Steph du Toit done for the year?

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has confirmed that star loose forward Pieter-Steph du Toit underwent shoulder surgery on Monday and may not play again in 2021.

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At the announcement of the Springbok team to play Argentina in Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener in Gqeberha, Nienaber was resigned to the fact that Du Toit would be out of action “for some time”.

Pieter-Steph du Toit, the 2019 World Player of the Year, was injured in the first half of the second Test against the British & Irish Lions in a suspiciously late tackle by Duhan van der Merwe.

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After medical attention Du Toit continued to play, but left the field shortly thereafter.

Du Toit was replaced in Saturday’s final Test against the British & Irish Lions by Franco Mostert who shifted to flank from lock while Lood de Jager filled Moster’s void in the second row..

However, with several players being rested for this weekend’s Rugby Championship opener against Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Kwagga Smith – who replaced Du Toit when he was injured against the British & Irish Lions – will start at blindside flank.

At Tuesday’s team announcement, Nienaber confirmed that Du Toit’s injury had forced him to go under the knife.

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“Pieter-Steph had shoulder surgery on Monday, and I spoke to him briefly. It went well but he will be out for some time,” Nienaber confirmed.

“I’m not 100% sure [if he will be able to play again this year]. At this point I would be lying if I put a timeframe to the length of rehabilitation required.”

It therefore seems a certainty that Pieter-Steph du Toit won’t be seen in the Springbok jersey in the Rugby Championship nor on the end of year tour to Europe.

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The match kicks off 17:05 on Saturday.

TEAMS:

South Africa

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Dan du Preez, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Morne Steyn

Argentina

TBA