South Africa hit by injury crisis
Monday, 23 November 2009 18:00World champions South Africa put off naming the team to play Six Nations Grand Slam holders Ireland this Saturday in Dublin because of an injury crisis which forced them to cancel training.
The Springboks - who grabbed their first win of the northern hemisphere tour on Saturday against Italy - had intended to name their team on Tuesday but have delayed it till Thursday.
The 'Boks - who have lost to France, and English Premiership sides Leicester and Saracens - have eight players injured including six that played in the defeat to France.
Fullback Zane Kirchner (knee), centre Adi Jacobs (ankle), scrum-half Fourie du Preez (hand), lock Bakkies Botha (back), hooker Bismarck du Plessis (ribs) and backrow forward Schalk Burger (ribs) are the six injured players to have started the 20-13 reverse against France in Toulouse on November 13.
Aside from them replacement hooker Adriaan Strauss has a back injury and prop CJ van der Linde is suffering from a groin injury.
