'Tragic' – South Africa's Malcolm Marx ruled out of Rugby World Cup with knee injury, Scotland forced into hooker swap
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Published 14/09/2023 at 11:41 GMT
South Africa's Rugby World Cup campaign has taken a hit as hooker Malcolm Marx was ruled out due to a knee injury sustained in training. Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber expressed disappointment and pledged support for Marx's recovery while the team explores backup options. In another blow, Scotland lost hooker David Cherry to concussion, with Stuart McInally stepping in as a replacement.
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South Africa's Malcolm Marx has been ruled out of the remainder of the Rugby World Cup with a long-term knee injury.
The hooker sustained the injury in training on Wednesday, with the team confirming that his knee was "caught in contact".
Holders South Africa beat Scotland 18-3 in their first match, and will next face Romania in Bordeaux.
“First and foremost, we are extremely disappointed for Malcolm, and we wish him all the best in his recovery,” said Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber.
“He’s been working very hard to be in the best form possible for the tournament, and it’s tragic that his campaign has ended this way.
"As a team we will remain in contact with him, as we do with all injured players such as Lukhanyo (Am), Handre (Pollard) and Lood (de Jager), and support him as much as we can through the recovery process."
The 29-year-old was a part of the 2019 title-winning squad that lifted South Africa's third World Cup in Japan, defeating England 32-12 in the final.
“We have enough cover at hooker with Bongi (Mbonambi) and Deon (Fourie) in the squad, while Marco (van Staden) has also been training there and has been named on all our team sheets so far as a hooker option," added Nienaber.
“We’ll assess our needs for the rest of the tournament and confirm who we are calling up as an additional player later this week.
“He’s been working very hard to be in the best form possible for the tournament, and it’s tragic that his campaign has ended this way."
Scotland have also had to find a replacement hooker after David Cherry suffered a concussion when slipping on hotel stairs during a team day off on Monday.
Cherry is following return-to-play protocols and will miss the rest of the Scots' campaign.
“I’m hugely disappointed to be leaving the squad with concussion. I’ve loved my time in camp over the summer and gaining my first World Cup cap on Sunday against South Africa,” said Cherry.
"I want to wish the team all the best for the remainder of the competition.”
Stuart McInally has been called up as Cherry's replacement. McInally was part of his team's World Cup training camp earlier in the summer, but he did not make the final squad for the tournament.
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