Springboks debate playing Lukhanyo Am just hours after knee surgery
South Africa were dealt the hammer blow this week that star centre Lukhanyo Am will miss the rest of the Rugby Championship with a knee injury.
Losing a starting player is bad for any team, but losing a player many see as the best player in the world currently is massive. Conversely, Dave Rennie and Michael Cheika will be over the moon as their Wallabies and Pumas, respectively, will not need to face him.
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber said this week after announcing his team: “Handre, Lukhanyo, Elton and Pieter-Steph are all carrying injuries which adds to a list that includes Cheslin Kolbe and Sbu Nkosi, while Kurt-Lee Arendse is also out serving a suspension, and this has forced our hand to make a few changes in some positions.”
Since then, photos have emerged of Am in hospital post surgery. But reports have also emerged that Nienaber was planning on picking Am this Saturday against Australia, saying “Lukhanyo Am on one leg is better than most of the Wallabies’ backline.” Now these reports have come from very unreliable sources, and are believed to be 100 percent untrue, but most of the world would not bet against the 28-year-old being a pretty handy player with only one functioning knee.
This was the photo:
Lukhanyo Am had successful knee surgery in Umhlanga, South Africa. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery 🤞 pic.twitter.com/Ec4ttefUVo
— Angus (@AmateurGus) September 2, 2022
Springboks XV
15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 76 caps, 65 pts (13t)
14 – Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – uncapped
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 53 caps, 60 pts (12t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 63 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 30 caps, 105 pts (21t)
10 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 21 caps, 12 pts (1t, 2c, 1p)
9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks) – 7 caps, 5 pts (1t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 15 caps, 0 pts
7 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 56 caps, 5pts (1t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 68 caps, 35 pts (7t)
5 – Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 61 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 103 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 51 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 52 caps, 55 pts (11t)
1 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 64 caps, 5 pts (1t)
Replacements:
16 – Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 1 cap, 0pts
17 – Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks) – 12 caps, 0pts
18 – Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92) – 57 caps, 5pts (1t)
19 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 24 caps, 15 pts (3t)
20 – Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 63 caps, 15 pts (3t)
21 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 21 caps, 40pts (8t)
22 – Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) – 75 caps, 150 pts (11t, 7c, 24p, 3d)
23 – Warrick Gelant (Racing 92) – 11 caps, 15 pts (3t)
Wallabies XV
1. James Slipper (c) (120 Tests)
2. Folau Fainga’a (30 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (57 Tests)
4. Rory Arnold (31 Tests)
5. Matt Philip (25 Tests)
6. Jed Holloway (3 Tests)
7. Fraser McReight (5 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (24 Tests)
9. Nic White (53 Tests)
10. Noah Lolesio (13 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (48 Tests)
12. Hunter Paisami (19 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (18 Tests)
14. Tom Wright (15 Tests)
15. Reece Hodge (58 Tests)
Replacements:
16. David Porecki (4 Tests)
17. Scott Sio (72 Tests)
18. Taniela Tupou (43 Tests)
19. Darcy Swain (14 Tests)
20. Rob Leota (11 Tests)
21. Pete Samu (25 Tests)
22. Jake Gordon (13 Tests)
23. Andrew Kellaway (15 Tests)
