South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has been ruled out for seven to 10 days with a shoulder injury, director of rugby Rassie Erasmus said on Monday, but is expected to recover for their Rugby World Cup Pool B clash with Ireland on 23 September.
Etzebeth went off after 26 minutes of the Springboks' 18-3 victory over Scotland in Marseille on Sunday, and will definitely sit out the meeting with Romania this coming weekend. It is likely he would have been rested in any event.
But he is expected to return to meet Ireland - another heavyweight clash between the top two teams in the world rankings.
"The Romania match is the most important one next, not just to get the result, but to improve enough to really give (Ireland) a go," Erasmus told reporters.
"If we manage to win that one (against Ireland), then it will be a really interesting last round because I think Scotland have the ability to give Ireland a go."
South Africa have no other injury concerns in their camp following the bruising battle with the Scots and captain Siya Kolisi has been talking up the contribution of out-half Manie Libbok, even if his kicking was wayward on Sunday.
Libbok is a key creative player for the Springboks in the backline and put in a man-of-the-match performance against the Scots, but kicked two from five attempts at goal.
But Kolisi said his side have no concerns around Libbok in potentially tight knockout contests and there were others who could take over kicking duties if required, as Faf de Klerk did yesterday.
"We play as a team and sometimes you are not good at one thing on the day," Kolisi said.
"But the way he attacked and the way he takes control of the team, people forget that and remember only the other stuff.
"Faf can kick, Cheslin [Kolbe] can kick, there are a lot of guys we can call upon. If someone is lacking somewhere, then someone else will take over.
"It is the same with me, sometimes I don't know what to call to make in the game. So Duane [Vermeulen] or Eben [Etzebeth] will make the call instead. Even Manie will make a call."
Match highlights
Kolisi insists that Libbok’s all-round game and ability to ignite their backline and create try-scoring opportunities, as he did for Kurt-Lee Arendse against the Scots with a superb crossfield kick, outweighs everything else.
"Some fly-halves kick well but can’t tackle. He tackles as hard as anyone. So we don’t stress about it, if he misses, the next guy can go."
South Africa led 6-3 at halftime but Kolisi was not happy with the intensity they showed.
"It was quite clear we did not start the way we normally do and with the intensity we usually bring," he said.
"The conversations [at half-time] were clear. We had to improve. Set-piece is important and that is why we came out with that [improved] energy."
