Juarno Augustus won’t be considered for the Springboks’ Tests against Italy and Georgia in July.
This was revealed on Thursday by Bok coach Rassie Erasmus, who said the former Northampton Saints No 8 had not received medical clearance from his new club, Ulster.
“He’s struggling with his back, if I remember correctly,” Erasmus told the media. “He’s also between two clubs now. We can’t bring him in with an injury and do the rehabilitation, but he’s still with Ulster. So it’s a bit of a technical one.”
Augustus was expected to feature in the Boks’ season opener against the Barbarians in Cape Town on 28 June, before making his Test debut in July, against either Italy or Georgia.
It remains unclear whether the 27-year-old could feature in the Rugby Championship, but Erasmus said he was “pretty excited” about a player who he regards as “the same type of No 8 as Jasper Wiese”.
MORE: Injury update is sweet and sour for Bok No 8s
Erasmus said on Thursday that Wiese was recovering well from a neck injury he suffered in April while playing club rugby in Japan and could be available for the Barbarians match.
Bulls No 8 Cameron Hanekom has also been ruled out for the Boks with a hamstring injury, prompting Erasmus to call up the Stormers’ Evan Roos.
ALSO: Rassie on Roos – It’s not personal
Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images
The post ‘Technical’ roadblock delays Trokkie’s Bok dream appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
