Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and stand-in captain Jesse Kriel have heaped praise on veteran fullback Willie le Roux for his integrity in admitting to a minor injury that prevented him from participating in the crucial Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against Australia. The match is set to be a highlight for local fans.
Le Roux, who earned his 100th cap recently, was eager to play in front of his family and friends in Cape Town. Despite representing the Vodacom Bulls at franchise level, he has deep roots in the Western Cape, having started his career with Boland.
However, Stick explained that the Springboks' decision to opt for a 6/2 forward-back split on the bench meant that even a slight injury to Le Roux, the only outside back reserve, could have created significant problems for the team during the match.
"I must give credit to Willie for being honest with us. He didn’t feel 100 per cent comfortable to go full out for 80 minutes, and with a 6-2 bench split, it would have been a big risk," Stick stated. "That shows the character of who he is and how much he respects the team. It’s a big loss. Willie is an experienced player, and it would have been nice to see him on the field. But we’re looking forward to seeing what Aphelele Fassi can do."
Aphelele Fassi steps in as Le Roux's replacement, aiming to redeem himself after a less-than-stellar performance in the previous match. Kriel expressed confidence in Fassi's abilities, highlighting the close working relationship between the two fullbacks.
"It’s unfortunate that Willie picked up a niggle this week in training but he’s been working so closely with Fassi, and we all know how talented Fassi is, so I’m confident he’ll do a great job," Kriel added. "Obviously, it’s disappointing for Willie, I know how much he wanted to play in Cape Town with his family."
The Springboks are hoping Fassi will seize the opportunity and deliver a strong performance against the Wallabies.