Springboks suffer injury setback as Norton is out for up to two months
· The South African
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that uncapped locked Riley Norton is likely to be ruled out for up to 10 weeks due to injury. MARIETTE ADAMS reports.
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Norton – as one of the rising stars of South African rugby – had been primed to make his Test debut and feature for the Springboks at some stage during their three Nations Championship Tests over the next three weeks against England, Scotland and Wales respectively.
He was one of two players, alongside Busi Moyo, pulled from the Junior Springbok squad – currently competing at the U20 World Championship in Georgia – to bolster the South Africa’s Test squad for these three Tests.
But, Norton’s potential Test debut has now been delayed as he has ruled out of action after suffering a grade-three hamstring strain in the build-up to Saturday’s Test against England at Ellis Park an online media briefing on Tuesday.
“Riley got injured in training, unfortunately,” said Erasmus at his team announcement media briefing on Monday.
“It was probably the second-last move of the session. He just pulled his hamstring while chasing. It wasn’t a weird incident, he just pulled it.
“Unfortunately it’s a bad hamstring injury. I think he’ll be out for eight to 10 weeks.”
NORTON’S SPRINGBOK DEBUT PUT ON ICE
What makes this untimely injury more cruel for the 20-year-old Norton is Erasmus’ admission that he would have played against England on Saturday, earning his maiden Test cap.
“The plan was to play him in this game and then send him back to the Junior Boks for their [Junior World Championship] playoffs.”
One of the rules within Springboks set-up is that if a player does not take part in the first training session of the week leading up to a Test match.
ROOKIE INJURY SETBACK ADDS TO SECOND ROW CONCERNS
Norton’s injury adds to the Springboks’ growing lock stock depletion, with Erasmus also confirming the unavailability of Franco Mostert (ankle) and Lood de Jäger (illness).
“Franco Mostert is hopefully back in the next two or three weeks, Lood maybe next week,” Erasmus explained.