South Africa have suffered a huge blow to their bid to retain the Rugby World Cup as hooker Malcolm Marx has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup after suffering a knee injury at training on Wednesday.
Marx, one of two specialist hookers in the squad along with Bongi Mbonambi, was never going to be involved in Sunday's second Pool B game against minnows Romania but he is not now available for the following week's pivotal clash with Ireland, or any game thereafter.
South Africa do not have a third specialist hooker in the squad, with regular loose forwards Deon Fourie and Marco van Staden nominated cover.
Despite this, the reigning champions have said with "sufficient cover at hooker within the squad, he will not be replaced in the squad at this stage."
The Stormers' Joseph Dweba was placed on standby when the squad was announced last month.
Fourie will be on the bench against Romania with Mbonambi starting the game.
Marx is the second key player to suffer an injury for South Africa after lock Eben Etzebeth left last weekend’s 18-3 victory over Scotland due to a shoulder issue.
Springboks’ director of rugby Rassie Erasmus said Etzebeth was likely to be out for seven to 10 days but should return for the crunch group game against world number one Ireland at Stade de France on 23 September.
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