Springboks handed another injury concern after naming squad

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has been dealt another injury worry after naming his Springboks squad on Monday for the Autumn Nations Series.

In an injury update ahead of their trip to Johannesburg this weekend to take on the Lions, Ulster listed No.8 Juarno Augustus as a concern who will be monitored this week in training after injuring his arm in his side’s victory over the Sharks in Durban.

The uncapped South African was listed as one of the 10 players on standby for the Springboks’ upcoming tour, where they will take on Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales. However, he only managed 40 minutes of the victory at Kings Park, and was seen after the match with his arm iced and in a sling.

Though not in the full squad, this will be a cruel blow for the 27-year-old, who has made an impressive start to life in Belfast after making the move to Northampton Saints over the summer. The 119kg back-row was immense against the Bulls in round three, scoring a try in his first start for the club, and could possibly count himself unlucky that he was not included in Erasmus’ main squad.

Second-row RG Snyman has already emerged as another concern after the weekend’s action, having picked up a hip injury early in the second half of Munster’s mauling of Leinster.

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Ulster, meanwhile, will hope Augustus can shake off the injury this week in their bid to maintain their unbeaten start to the season at Ellis Park.

The club will also be without their Ireland internationals Iain Henderson, Jacob Stockdale, Nick Timoney and Stuart McCloskey, and also lost flanker Sean Reffell to a shoulder injury in Durban.

Springboks tour squad for November:
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)

Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Players on standby:
Forwards: Juarno Augustus (Ulster), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sebastian De Klerk (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks)