‘Out For 10 Weeks’: Erasmus Confirms Heartbreaking Injury Blow To Brilliant Bok Sensation
The Springboks have suffered an untimely injury setback ahead of their opening Test of the season against England, with highly rated youngster Riley Norton ruled out for up to 10 weeks after sustaining a serious hamstring injury.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed that Norton picked up the injury during training rather than in the Barbarians match, with the young lock pulling up on the second-last move of the session.
“Riley got injured at training on the second-last move of the session,” Erasmus revealed.
“Unfortunately, Riley has a Grade 3 hamstring tear. He pulled his hamstring while chasing,” he explained.
“It’s a bad hamstring injury. He could be out for eight to 10 weeks.”
The injury is a significant blow for the four-time world champions, who are already without several specialist locks. Norton’s absence leaves the Springboks short of an out-and-out second-row replacement on the bench for Saturday’s Test, with Pieter-Steph du Toit set to provide cover at lock while the coaching staff await the return of experienced campaigners Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager.
“The locks are getting injured in our environment. There are a few injuries. Hopefully Sous comes back in the next two or three weeks. Lood will be back next week,” said Erasmus.
The setback is a bitter disappointment for both Norton and the Springbok management, who had planned to ease the promising forward into Test rugby this weekend before releasing him to join the Junior Springboks.
“We are sad that Riley is injured and can’t play,” Erasmus said. “We wanted to play him in one game and then send him over to the Junior Boks. He would’ve gotten a run with us.”
Erasmus, however, delivered more encouraging news regarding fellow youngster Jaco Williams, who has fully recovered from his own hamstring injury.
“Jaco Williams also had a hamstring injury, but he is fully fit now,” Erasmus said. “Jaco will be available for selection next weekend.”
Erasmus suggested the physical demands placed on the younger players after joining the senior national setup may have contributed to the soft-tissue injuries.
“With the junior guys coming in, perhaps the intensity of the training sessions was something different for them because they really pushed the senior guys really hard,” he explained.
“I wouldn’t say it’s our fault, but maybe keeping up with that level of intensity for three weeks throughout the sessions was tough.”
Despite Norton’s absence, Erasmus made it clear that the Springboks are fully focused on making a winning start to the international season against England.
“We want to win. I’m sure England has the same mindset,” Erasmus said. “We haven’t really played for the best part of seven months, since last November.”
“The Barbarians game was a nice warm-up to get some guys familiar with the structures and for them to get to know one another. The SA ‘A’ game was the same, but this is a Test match against England.”
“You get big Test matches, and England is certainly one of them.”
With their preparations in full swing, the world champions now turn their attention to one of the marquee fixtures on the international calendar, albeit without one of the country’s brightest young talents.
