Rassie Erasmus, the SA Director of Rugby, has confirmed Makazole Mapimpi will miss the remainder of the World Cup due to a fractured cheekbone and eye socket.
Mapimpi was injured in the Springboks’ 49-18 Pool B victory over Tonga in Marseille on Sunday. The incident was reviewed by the Television Match Official but no yellow card was issued.
After scoring a hat-trick against Romania in his first outing at this year’s global tournament, the 33-year-old winger was playing his second match of the year.
“It’s sad with Mapimpi’s injury because he’ll be out for the rest of the tournament. It’s sad that something like that happened. It was an accident. He has a fractured eye socket, a blow-out fracture. His eye is swollen, and the cheekbone is also fractured. I think he’s out for four to six weeks,” Erasmus said.
The Springboks have now confirmed that midfielder Lukhanyo Am will now replace Mapimpi, for the remainder of the tournament.
Mapimpi is the second player to leave the Bok camp after Malcom Marx who injured his knee in the second week of the tournament. He was replaced by Handre Pollard.
Erasmus also confirmed they would fly Mapimpi and Marx back to the tournament if the team qualifies for the final.
“If we get to the final, we will definitely fly Mapimpi back, along with the other guys who got injuries that went back home,” Erasmus added.
The Boks played their final pool stage match against Tonga and will have a few days off before beginning their preparations for the quarterfinals.
All eyes will be on Saturday’s final pool B clash between Ireland and Scotland, a match where Coach Jacques Nienaber’s side will know their fate.
The only way they can be knocked out of the tournament is if Scotland beat top-ranked Ireland by 21 points or more and the latter get a bonus point for tries scored.
If Scotland win by eight points or more with no Irish bonus point, then they and South Africa advance to the quarterfinal.
