Springboks: Dyantyi ruled out of clash with Wallabies

Springboks winger Aphiwe Dyantyi has returned to the Golden Lions to undergo rehabilitation for a hamstring injury, management announced on Monday.

The hamstring injury has ruled Dyantyi out of the start of the Springboks’ Rugby Championship campaign, which gets underway at Ellis Park in Johannesburg against Australia on Saturday.

The Bok gasman won the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Award last year after a terrific season in the green and gold and he has quickly become an integral member of the national side. He picked up the injury during training on Friday and will consult a specialist later on Monday to discuss treatment options and a possible timeframe of return to action.

No replacement for Dyantyi will be named as Rassie Erasmus and company believe they have sufficient cover in the training squad, who are currently in camp in Johannesburg. The squad includes Sharks wingers Makazole Mapimpi and Sibusiso Nkosi as well as versatile utility backs Dillyn Leyds and Cheslin Kolbe.

The Boks regrouped in Johannesburg on Sunday evening to continue with their preparations. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will announce the Springbok match-day squad on Wednesday.

Erasmus declared his intention to split his resources across the opening two games of the Rugby Championship, at home to Australia and against the All Blacks in Wellington.

The other encounter in round one of the Rugby Championship sees the All Blacks travel to Buenos Aires to take on Argentina.

Springboks Rugby Championship training group

Forwards:

Schalk Brits (Vodacom Bulls), Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Ireland), Lood de Jager (Vodacom Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Bulls), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Francois Louw (Bath), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Emirates Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Franco Mostert (Gloucester, England), Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), Marvin Orie (Emirates Lions), Kwagga Smith (Emirates Lions), RG Snyman (Vodacom Bulls), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls).

Backs:

Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), Andre Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks), Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), Aphiwe Dyantyi (Emirates Lions), Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls), Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France), Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), Dillyn Lleyds (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), Sibusiso Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz, Japan), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, England), Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France).