2023-10-02 12:33:56
South Africa, France’s likely future opponent in the quarter-final, has just lost one of its precious soldiers. Victim of a fracture of the orbital floor during the Springboks’ victory against Tonga on Sunday, Makazole Mapimpi is out for the end of the Rugby World Cup. Starting two of the South Africans’ four matches, the winger has not yet been replaced, even if the staff assured they had the name of the lucky one.
It was a head-to-head clash with scrum-half Agustine Pulu who injured Makazole Mapimpi. Groggy, the South African was replaced immediately. This Monday morning, Rassie Erasmus, director of rugby for South Africa, returned to this injury, providing details. “It’s sad, it was an accident, it happens,” he regretted. He has a fracture of the orbital floor, his eyes are swollen, his cheekbone is also affected. A priori, he has four to six weeks. We will miss the rugby player, and he brings so much heart and honesty to the team. He trains so hard, never complains if he isn’t selected, he helps the young guys. »
This is the second important element to leave the World Cup on the Springbok side, after Malcolm Marx injured his knee ligaments during training. The hooker was then replaced by Handré Pollard, very useful against the poles against Tonga this Sunday.
Brilliant in 2019, when the Springboks won their third world title, Makazole Mapimpi notably scored a try in the 66th minute, the first in a very close match against England. In total, he scored six tries during this World Cup, finishing second best scorer behind Welshman Josh Adams.
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