South Africa's Rugby World Cup campaign has suffered a significant setback as star hooker Malcolm Marx has been sidelined due to a serious knee injury sustained during a training session. The injury, described as "long-term" by the team, occurred when Marx's knee was caught in contact.
Marx, who had been in top form and played a pivotal role in South Africa's 2019 title victory, was a key asset to the defending champions. Coach Jacques Nienaber expressed his disappointment, acknowledging Marx's dedication to preparing for the tournament.
The loss of Marx leaves the Springboks with just one specialist hooker, Bongi Mbonambi, and 36-year-old utility forward Deon Fourie, who can fill in at hooker. Nienaber also mentioned that loose forward Marco van Staden has been training as a hooker option.
Despite this setback, South Africa is assessing its needs for the remainder of the tournament and may call up an additional player in the coming days. However, they believe they have sufficient cover for now and have not rushed to replace Marx.
In addition to Marx's injury, South Africa is also concerned about lock Eben Etzebeth's shoulder problem. While they expect him to be out for 10 days, they hope he'll recover in time for a crucial clash against Ireland on September 23.
The absence of Marx is undoubtedly a blow to South Africa's title defense, and the team faces a challenging road ahead as they seek to retain their Rugby World Cup crown in France.