Injured Springbok duo to return home

Injured Springboks Gio Aplon and Flip van der Merwe will return home on Wednesday from the Tri-Nations tour of Australasia, a South African Rugby Union statement said.

Lock Van der Merwe damaged rib cartilage and had to retire during the first half of a 39-20 defeat by Australia in Sydney last Saturday, while back and shoulder injuries prevented full-back Aplon training on Monday.

World champions South Africa, who took a ‘B’ team on tour because of injuries and called up Paris-based Gerhard Mostert last weekend as they ran out of locks, face New Zealand on Saturday in Wellington.

AFP