The 2024 Rugby Championship starts on August 10. The first and second rounds see Australia hosting South Africa for two test matches and New Zealand hosting Argentina also for two test matches.
The July 2024 Internationals served as on-field preparation for the Wallabies, Springboks, All Blacks and Los Pumas. The respective rosters are now being evaluated before the naming of the respective rosters for players for the Rugby Championship.
Some players missed out on taking to the field in July and others were injured while on international duty. This article identifies which players per country are injured heading into the Southern Hemisphere’s annual elite tournament.
ARGENTINA
Player management was a focal point of Felipe Contepomi’s selections for the July Internationals. World Rugby still has not provided the sport with a global season. This means that much of the Rugby Championship is played during the European off-season. A dozen World Cup players missed out on facing France and Uruguay to rest in July.
The Leicester Tigers did not have a good 2023-2024 season in the English Premiership. Their captain, Julián Montoya, led Argentina against France but was injured in the second test match. He missed the test match against Uruguay with a rib injury and is in doubt to face New Zealand in August. Pau loose head Ignacio Calles was the replacement hooker against Uruguay.
The Argentine infirmary also includes Emiliano Boffelli. His season ended early for Edinburgh. Ongoing back pain saw the first-choice goal-kicker and winger undergo surgery. He is unlikely to return for the Rugby Championship this year.
Veteran loose head prop Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro ruptured his archives tendon and missed the World Cup. He is not yet fully recovered. Flanker Santiago Grondona was injured in Argentina’s final warm-up match for the World Cup. His knee injury against Spain also saw him miss the entirety of the 2023-2024 season for the Bristol Bears. He is on the roster but his return date remains unknown.
Grondona’s injury opened the door for others. In addition, with Facundo Isa taking the year off from Los Pumas, Contepomi started Joaquín Oviedo at N8 and handed debuts to Juan Bautista Pedemonte and Joaquín Moro.
AUSTRALIA
Outside backs are the feature of the Australian infirmary. 35-year-old Kurtley Beale underwent surgery. He was named on the Wallabies’ roster to face Wales but ruptured his achilles tendon when playing club rugby.
A surprise saw fullback Liam Wright named as captain in July. He led Australia to victory over Wales in Sydney but suffered a shoulder injury that threatened his involvement in the Melbourne test match and also against Georgia. He played in both.
Uncapped center / winger David Feliuai left the team camp in Brisbane ahead of the Wallabies vs Wales series for personal reasons. Max Jorgensen is also uncapped. The teenager missed the World Cup through injury and is now out with a hip injury.
Brumbies winger Corey Toole missed out on the July Internationals. He is on Australia’s roster for the Paris 2024 Olympics. World Cup winger Mark Nawaqanitawase is also a member of Australia’s Men’s Rugby Olympic team.
Australia’s infirmary is not exclusive to backs. Prop Angus Bell, hooker Dave Porecki and back-rower Rob Leota were not considered for the July Internationals. All three are experienced players that Joe Schmidt will likely want fit for the Rugby Championship.
NEW ZEALAND
The All Blacks infirmary is dominated by scrum-halves. World Cup 2023 player Cameron Roigard played little in Super Rugby Pacific 2024. He is out with a ruptured patella tendon suffered in March. It is expected that he will not recover in time for any of the Rugby Championship at all.
TJ Perenara injured his knee early against England. Scott Robertson believes that Perenara will be fit for the Rugby Championship. Cortez Ratima left early again Fiji in San Diego. He failed a head injury assessment in the match in California.
Winger Will Jordan missed the Super Rugby Pacific campaign after undergoing surgery on a pre-existing shoulder injury. He may be green-lighted to return for the Rugby Championship.
Additional All Blacks whose involvement is clouded include Sam Cane, David Havili, George Bower, Ruben Love, Peter Lakai, Josh Lord and Sam Darry. Cane has 95 caps and will not be an All Black after 2024. He may yet be included for the tour to South Africa.
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa’s agonizing last-gasp defeat to Ireland was a double-blow. The on-field loss was compounded by injuries. Rassie Erasmus lost four players to the infirmary: second-rower Franco Mostert, flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit, hooker Malcolm Marx and winger Cheslin Kolbe.
Mostert suffered a fractured leg which will, in the minimum, rule him out of both matches against Australia. His injury is projected at being six weeks recovery time; however, Erasmus believes he will be fit in time to face the Wallabies on August 10.
du Toit is also a concern for the opening third of the Rugby Championship. He could be fit in time. Then again, he may miss the two matches against the Wallabies and possibly more. His injury typically requires a recovery period of six or more weeks.
Kolbe took a knock to his knee which will mean he misses out on facing Australia. His recovery time is unconfirmed. One player who could replace Kolbe is Edwill van der Merwe; he debuted for South Africa against Wales in June. However, van der Merwe was injured playing in the Currie Cup for the Lions.
Marx fractured his tibia against Ireland. Like Kolbe, it is unclear as to the time-frame of his recovery. Such an injury is usually requires a recovery period of 4 to 6 weeks; notwithstanding, Erasmus is set to take him to Australia with the ambition of him playing in the second match on August 17.
Prop Steven Kitshoff is on the recovery path following a long-term knee injury suffered playing for Ulster. Erasmus sees his comeback as forthcoming; Kitshoff may be back very soon for the Springboks.
Veteran second-rower Lood de Jager missed the Wold Cup with a heart issue. His comeback did not go to plan; he injured his shoulder playing in Japan. Fellow second-rower Jean Kleyn missed out on playing against his former country in July. He is recovering from a long-term knee injury.
Back-rower Jasper Wiese was severely reprimanded for foul play for the Leicester Tigers against the Exeter Chiefs. He remains unavailable as he is serving his suspension.
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Publish date : 2024-07-22 12:28:07
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