Mapimpi out of Rugby World Cup: ‘We are sad,’ says Erasmus

One of the heroes from the Springboks’ 2019 Rugby World Cup triumph in Japan, Makazole Mapimpi, has been forced out of the 2023 tournament after suffering a broken cheekbone and eye socket in the team’s 49-18 win against Tonga in Marseille on Sunday.

Mapimpi suffered the injury when a Tongan player accidentally clashed into him, resulting in the Bok star leaving the field in the first half. He was replaced by Jesse Kriel.

Replacement

The Boks have yet to name a replacement for Mapimpi. In a statement on Monday morning they said they would take a few days to decide who to call up.

The Boks have already lost Malcolm Marx to injury and started the tournament without key 2019 stars Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am and Lood de Jager. Pollard was called up two weeks ago in place of Marx.

“We are sad for Mapimpi,” said the Boks’ director of rugby Rassie Erasmus on Monday.

“He fractured his eye socket and cheek bone, so he’ll be out for four to six weeks. We’ll miss him as a player and what he brings to the team off the field. But if we get to the final, we’ll fly him and Malcolm Marx back.”

One of the backline players on the official standby list is centre Am, but it is not known how fit and match-ready he is. Herschel Jantjies is the only other backline player on the list, but the Boks already have four scrumhalves in France.

The team will receive a well-deserved break on Monday and Tuesday to rest and recover from the pool stages of the competition and will resume their rugby programme on Wednesday.