‘I’m ready to play,’ says Boks’ Lukhanyo Am after injury frustration

Springboks outside centre Lukhanyo Am has admitted it was tough to watch the team play in the Rugby World Cup from home.

Due to a knee injury picked up in a warm-up match against Argentina, Am was one of three big omissions, along with Handre Pollard and Lood de Jager, from Jacques Nienaber’s initial 33-man squad for the World Cup.

Am’s absence from the Boks team was a shock as he had grown into a vital member of the setup since 2018.

This week Am joined the squad as a replacement for Makazole Mapimpi, who left the camp with a facial fracture following a clash in Sunday’s game against Tonga in Marseille.

In Am’s absence, Jesse Kriel and Canan Moodie have been wearing the No 13 jersey in France in the pool stages.

‘Special group’

The Qonce-born star had to watch his teammates from home and at times was a pundit for SuperSport. Am, speaking to the media on Friday, opened up about the frustrations of having missed out on the opening stages of the World Cup.

“It’s a good feeling to be back,” said Am.

“It’s special to be part of this group. It was frustrating being injured and to have to follow the World Cup from home. It was as though something you love is taken away from you.

“It was strange (watching on television) because I know how things are in camp and the plans that are made around the opposition, but it was also beautiful to watch from a different perspective how the team play, while also preparing to possibly be part of the team,” he said.

Although he was deflated from being left out of the squad, Am stayed strong mentally and physically as he was on the list of players on standby.

‘Switched on’

“When you are on standby you have to be loaded at all times and ready, so I made sure I was switched on mentally and ensured that I was ready physically as well.

“Training is obviously not the same as playing a game, but I knew it was vital to keep up to speed to be ready in case I received the call,” he said.

Am will have to wait to get a run at the global spectacle as the Boks are not playing this weekend. However, should the team make it through to the knockout stages he’ll be in contention to play.

“I’ve been cleared to play, I’m fit, and if I make the match 23 in the next match, I’ll be ready to do the job for the team.

“It’s my responsibility to get back into the swing of things as quickly as possible and to be ready to slot into the team if I’m called upon to do so.”