Photo Credit: Bongi Gumede
A facial injury has ruled Springboks wing Makazole Mapimpi out of the Rugby World Cup!
Mapimpi sustained an injury in the 28th minute of Springboks’ resounding 49-18 victory over Tonga after colliding with scrumhalf Augustine Pulu on Sunday.
News of the superstar playing no further part in this year’s tournament was confirmed by SA Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus.
“We are sad for Mapimpi. He fractured his eye socket and cheek bone, so he’ll be out for four to six weeks. We’ll miss him as a player and what he brings to the team off the field.
But if we get to the final, we’ll fly him and Malcolm Marx back,” he said.
In Bokke’s triumphant 2019 campaign, Mapimpi made history by becoming the first ever South African player to score a try in a Rugby World Cup final.
It has since been announced that Lukhanyo Am will replace the Mapimpi in the Boks squad.