Rassie provides bleak Willemse injury update – new zealand

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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 29: Damian Willemse of South Africa down injured before the half time whistle during the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, 2nd Test match between South Africa and New Zealand at DHL Stadium on August 29, 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Roger Sedres/Gallo Images)

The Springboks will be sweating over the fitness of Damian Willemse after Rassie Erasmus revealed the extent of his setback during their 33-26 victory over the All Blacks at DHL Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

Willemse went down just before the half-time hooter where the Springboks were leading 24-14 at the time.

The fullback was replaced by Manie Libbok.

Following the win in Cape Town, Erasmus revealed the fullback suffered a hamstring injury.

Erasmus admitted after the match that the injury could rule him out of next week’s Test at FNB Stadium.

“Damian Willemse? He injured his hamstring, he’s out for next week,” Erasmus said after the match.

Erasmus also caught the fans and pundits by surprise by making a front row changes just before kick-off which also were talking point.

The coach opted to named Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp and Thomas du Toit starting the match in the front row, while Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche and Wilco Louw were named on the replacements bench.

“We thought it was going to be wet, and that’s why we took this front row down. The weather prediction was that it was going to be wet, and we thought then we would need a heavier front row for the first half of the game.

“We were always going to use two front rows, but then, close to the game, the weather said it was going to be dry, and then we thought a front row that was a little bit lighter would be better on the dry field.”

The win means that the series are now level at 1-1 with two more Tests to go.

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