Concerned Bok fans are only saying one thing after team photo
Ahead of the opening fixture of the Rugby Championship tomorrow against Australia in Pretoria, South Africa thought they would share a nice little team photo. But it has raised some alarm bells amongst the Bok fandom.
The main concern that seems to be on the lips of many South African fans, other than Jean Kleyn’s sudden black eye (this is rugby though) is the strapping on Lukhanyo Am’s knee. The World Cup winner missed the second half of 2022 with a knee injury, and has been searching for his best form in 2023. He starts in the No13 jersey at Loftus Versfeld, but his mummified knee for a photo shoot seems to be a worry for fans.
The response that many have given is that the photo was just before a team run, which would explain the strapping. Other fans have responded to that by saying no one else in the team, like lineout jumpers, have their knees strapped. A response to that would be that lineout jumpers do not often use tape to strap their legs for training. All in all, no one really knows what to think here, but it probably is not a great sign ahead of the Rugby Championship and the World Cup later this year seeing that much strapping.
Here are some of the comments on Twitter:
“Obviously Lukhanyo Am is injured. Playing him makes no sense.”
“Am is heavily strapped for a team photo. Captain’s run or not after this, Thor and PSDT are line out jumpers and they’re not strapped at all… ”
“What kind of camera were they using for Lukhanyo Am to need to get his knee strapped for a photo?”
“Why’s Am strapping up for a photo?”
“Am even straps for photo shoots.”
Your #Springboks team to face Australia in Pretoria tomorrow 🇿🇦🏉✅#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/9qF97jZBcz
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 7, 2023
Springbok XV:
15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 83 caps, 65 pts (13t)
14 – Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 4 caps, 5 pts (1t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 31 caps, 30 pts (6t)
12 – Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins) – 11 caps, 0 pts
11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 7 caps, 35 pts (7t)
10 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 3 caps, 10 pts (5c)
9 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 24 caps, 45 pts (9t)
8 – Duane Vermeulen (captain, Ulster) – 65 caps, 15 pts (3t)
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 66 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 10 caps, 0 pts
5 – Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers) – 11 caps, 0 pts
4 – Jean Kleyn (Munster) – uncapped for SA (Ireland 5 caps)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 58 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 56 caps, 60 pts (12t)
1 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 71 caps, 5pts (1t)
Replacements:
16 – Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers) – 4 caps, 0 pts
17 – Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks) – 15 caps, 0 pts
18 – Vincent Koch (Stade Francais) – 41 caps, 0 pts
19 – RG Snyman (Munster) – 23 caps, 5 pts (1t)
20 – Evan Roos (DHL Stormers) – 3 caps, 0 pts
21 – Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 5 caps, 0 pts
22 – Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks) – 1 cap, 0 pts
23 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 27 caps, 36 pts (2t, 4c, 4p, 2d)
