Alberts out of Rugby World Cup opener

Sep 19 • General News, International, Rugby World Cup, RWC 2015, Springboks, World Rugby • 1580 Views • Comments Off on Alberts out of Rugby World Cup opener

Photo: Anton Geyser / Rugby 15

 

Springbok loose forward Willem Alberts has been withdrawn from Saturday’s Rugby World Cup opening game against Japan after injuring his calf during the captain’s run.

 

Pieter-Steph du Toit will start in the No 7 jersey with his place on the bench going to Eben Etzebeth.

 

“Willem felt some discomfort during the captain’s run and we took him out of the session as a precautionary measure,” said Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts.

 

“We reassessed him again this morning and decided it would be better to withdraw him from the team.”

 

As a result of Alberts’ withdrawal, the starting team now only has a combined total of 851 Test caps. It is still more than the previous most experienced Springbok side (836 caps), which played in South Africa’s last Rugby World Cup match against Australia in Wellington, New Zealand in 2011.

 

 

Revised Springbok team to face Japan in Brighton is:

 

Position Name Franchise / Club Test Caps Test points
15 Zane Kirchner Leinster 30 25
14 Bryan Habana Toulon 110 295
13 Jesse Kriel Vodacom Bulls 4 10
12 Jean de Villiers (captain) DHL Stormers 107 135
11 Lwazi Mvovo Cell C Sharks 13 20
10 Pat Lambie Cell C Sharks 44 122
9 Ruan Pienaar Ulster 84 135
8 Schalk Burger DHL Stormers 79 70
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit Cell C Sharks 4 0
6 Francois Louw Bath 36 25
5 Victor Matfield (vice-captain) Vodacom Bulls 123 35
4 Lood de Jager Toyota FS Cheetahs 12 15
3 Jannie du Plessis Cell C Sharks 64 5
2 Bismarck du Plessis Cell C Sharks 73 45
1 Tendai Mtawarira Cell C Sharks 68 10
Replacements:
16 Adriaan Strauss Vodacom Bulls 48 25
17 Trevor Nyakane Vodacom Bulls 16 5
18 Coenie Oosthuizen Toyota FS Cheetahs 21 15
19 Eben Etzebeth DHL Stormers 37 5
20 Siya Kolisi DHL Stormers 11 0
21 Fourie du Preez Suntory 70 75
22 Handré Pollard Vodacom Bulls 13 95
23 JP Pietersen Cell C Sharks 60 90

 

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