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Coetzee's terrible luck lamented by Springboks and Ulster fans
South Africa and Ulster fans have shown their sympathy for loose forward Marcell Coetzee who was ruled out of next month’s World Cup with an ankle injury after a number of injury-plagued years.
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Ulster fans had campaigned all last season for the 28-year-old to make Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks squad and their wishes were answered when he was selected for the Rugby Championship.
It looked likely he would make it to the World Cup, but he sustained an ankle injury last weekend against Argentina that will require surgery and put him out for 12 weeks.
Fans at Ravenhill have experienced highs and lows since Coetzee arrived in 2016. He only managed five starts in his first two seasons due to persistent knee injuries, but he remained injury-free last season and was rightfully handed a recall to the Springboks.
But injury has now struck again, leaving fans of his club and country to highlight his terrible luck on Twitter.
#Repost @Springboks
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Four years. Of hard work. Of getting up when life knocks you down. Of believing that you will play for the Boks again. Of grabbing your chance like it is a turn-over ball. That is @marcell_coetzee for you. pic.twitter.com/42sX8pLTiw— UlsterRugbySP ? (@UlsterRugbySP) July 21, 2019
After being overlooked by Heyneke Meyer for the 2015 World Cup, some fans fear that this was his last chance to compete in the global showcase as he will be 32 by the time of the 2023 tournament in France. Also, given what his body has already been through, he may no longer be on the Test radar.
Ulster fans will be hoping this latest injury will not keep him out too long and they will hope he will make the same impression next season as he did last. This is what has been said:
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Such heartbreaking news for such a talented player. #comebackstronger
— Wade ?? (@wade_taylor) August 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/GordyG1984/status/1163478303006760965?s=20
Devastated for him…puts his body on the line every time. Hope he has a speedy recovery and comes home safely to Ravenhill
— daftmare358 (@daftmare358) August 19, 2019
No luck at all. Can't imagine how Marcell must be feeling right now, especially after such a good comeback season last year. Gutted for him. https://t.co/FgiFv32uVA
— Ross Barnett (@rbarnett08) August 19, 2019
Gutted, the big man deserved better luck. Stay strong @marcell_coetzee ? #SUFTUM https://t.co/5vmuDG3kMt
— David Patterson (@DPatz13) August 19, 2019
Its been really tough for Marcell and you have to feel him. This string of injuries is just not good at all. https://t.co/sVGr47oMbf
— mvaaaa (@kickatron) August 19, 2019
sad news regards Marcell Coetzee, just can’t catch a break with injuries https://t.co/6uIsGY97u1
— Rugby Digest (@RugbyDigestSA) August 19, 2019
Feel for Marcell Coetzee. Would’ve been ideal looseforward squad member at RWC. Covers all three positions and experienced. At 28 maybe his final realistic shot at RWC is over.
— Craig Ray (@craigray11) August 19, 2019
Well, pity for Marcel he is really unlucky with injuries. The others were expected. This does mean that Kwagga is almost certain of going now
— Bob the Builder (@BryceAllies) August 19, 2019
Wonder if that's the reason Elstadt and Kwagga are still in the squad? If Marcell was still fit maybe we would have had our 31.
— Dean Kietzmann (@DeanKietzmann) August 19, 2019
The injury to Coetzee has also raised some questions among Springboks fans regarding the balance of their back row, as he could cover both flanker and No8.
With Warren Whiteley also looking like he will miss the World Cup, there are few options in the No8 behind Duane Vermeulen. However, fans also feel this injury all but confirms Kwagga Smith’s place on the plane to Japan.
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It is never nice to see anyone miss a World Cup through injury, but it is made worse knowing what Coetzee has been through over the past four years.
WATCH: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Schalk Brits talk to the media after last weekend’s win over Argentina in Pretoria
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
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