Wallabies suffer blow for Bok clash

Head coach Les Kiss has to overcome an injury setback to a key member of the Wallabies backline ahead of the 26 September Test against the Springboks.

Carter Gordon is expected to miss the clash with the world champions in Perth due to a suspected leg fracture in Sunday’s 28-28 draw with Argentina in Mendoza.

Scans reportedly confirmed the injury, which could keep the 25-year-old playmaker out for around two months. amunra.qpon

MORE: Wallabies bank on Bok fatigue

It’s another blow for Gordon, who had established himself as head coach Kiss’ first-choice flyhalf after returning to rugby from his NRL stint.

Ben Donaldson started against Los Pumas, while Ryan Lonergan finished the match at 10 after Gordon was forced off.

Tom Lynagh could also return from a lengthy injury layoff when the Reds face the Force.

WATCH: Boks arrive to hero’s welcome in USA

Photo: Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images

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Fast bowler Gerald Coetzee has been recalled to the national one-day international (ODI) squad after a three-year absence, as the Proteas gear up to face Australia in a three-match home series later this month.

Coetzee, who last represented the SA 50-over team at the 2023 World Cup in India, was included in a 16-man squad announced on Monday.

He was set to form part of a strong pace contingent alongside Ottneil Baartman, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi and all-rounders Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen.

Experienced speedster Kagiso Rabada had previously been confirmed as unavailable while recovering from a hamstring injury.

Spinners Bjorn Fortuin, who is currently leading the Proteas on their white-ball tour of Namibia, and Keshav Maharaj complete the bowling options.

On the batting front, Aiden Markram will miss the opening match of the series, but he will be available for the second and third games, while captain Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi provide further options at the top of the order.

Matthew Breetzke, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs add firepower to the middle order.

Building towards the 2027 World Cup

“It’s exciting to start our home summer against Australia in what will no doubt be a competitive series,” said Proteas coach Shukri Conrad.

“With the World Cup just over a year away, this series marks an important step in shaping the squad as we build towards the tournament, while also giving those players who are in the frame opportunities when we face Bangladesh and England later in the season.

“We have a clear idea of the combinations we want and the roles we need players to fulfill.”

Proteas ODI squad

Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs

Fixtures, SA v Australia

1st ODI – Kingsmead Stadium, Durban (Thursday 24 September, 10am)

2nd ODI – Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (Sunday 27 September, 10am)

3rd ODI – NWC Oval, Potchefstroom (Wednesday 30 September, 1.30pm)

Cameron Hanekom turned in a strong performance off the bench against the All Blacks in their third Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test at FNB Stadium in Soweto, but by no means does he feel his position in the Springbok team is secure.

The eighthman played just his fifth Test for the Boks on Saturday, four of which came this year. This was also the first time he played back-to-back matches for South Africa.

This comes after a lone Test debut against Wales in 2024, and then a nine-month hamstring injury lay-off that ruled him out of the entire 2025/26 international season despite receiving the URC Next-Gen Player of the Season award and looking set for a breakthrough year with the Springboks.

‘I don’t think my place is secured at all’

The current season may be just that for Hanekom, though he is not getting ahead of himself.

Stormers star Evan Roos has also been knocking on the door of the back-up No 8 for some time, and already played twice in the absence of the injured Kwagga Smith

“It’s always going to be a challenge,” Hanekom said of breaking into the team.

“We’ve got a lot of proper players coming through the ranks and there’s healthy competition at the moment. I must say that I don’t think my place is secured at all.

“It’s always going to be a hard battle every week, day in and day out. If you’re picked, if you’re not picked, you stand up and do it for the team.”

He alluded to the fact that in the Springbok setup, even the players who weren’t in the matchday 23 are driven to help prepare the playing squad each week.

Cameron Hanekom relishes opportunities against All Blacks

As it was, Hanekom had one of his best performances in the green and gold jersey, though he was electric against Argentina in Buenos Aires as well.

Against the All Blacks, Hanekom replaced Jasper Wiese after 60 minutes and only elevated the intensity of the established Springbok.

He carried well, made big tackles, and won a crucial turnover when the All Blacks were on attack near the end. It was a step up from the 20-odd minutes he played against them in the second Test in Cape Town.

“Playing any time against the All Blacks is a special experience. The atmosphere was crazy. Seeing the [enormous] crowd and singing the national anthem in Soweto, it was very special. It was a good way to finish our last game [in South Africa].

“Looking back to last game, I made two silly errors and I knew that if I come onto the field I can’t afford that again. Especially in the crunch time in the last 20.

“So it was just trying to balance it out, not being too over-eager to make a hit and also trying to be disciplined enough to stay in the rules.”

He said he hoped to play in the fourth and final Test in Baltimore on Saturday, which the Springboks enter with an unassailable 2-1 lead.

But whether playing or helping the matchday 23 prepare, he would give his all.

Mike Blair is frustrated after another New Zealand Test dogged by missed opportunities and demands better execution in the finale of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.

The All Blacks lost 29-24 to the Springboks at FNB Stadium on Saturday, leaving Dave Rennie’s charges 2-1 down going into Saturday’s clash in Baltimore.

Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Weekend Sport, Blair said the Kiwis had produced plenty of attacking quality but failed to turn enough of it into points.

EX-ALL BLACKS: Boks thrive on pressure

“Yeah, we’re obviously really disappointed with the result. We felt in the first half we put a lot of our game on the pitch,” the assistant coach said.

“We were able to move South Africa around. We scored a couple of great tries, and we felt we were going to bear fruit for the work that we put in the first half.

“Unfortunately, in the second half, we struggled to get any momentum in the game for one reason or another.”

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Blair pointed to the offensive success of the All Blacks at the Calabash, but said the problem was familiar.

“We’re frustrated. We had some excellent work. I think we had 12 linebreaks, which is a great stat against the South African defence,” he added.

“But it was the same story last week [in Cape Town]; we just need to finish those opportunities.”

Blair believes the All Blacks can put the world’s best defences under pressure when they build momentum.

“We’re also really confident in what we’re trying to do; we’ve got to just put our game together for longer.”

EXPLAINED: Why Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry ends in USA

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

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