Namibia Head Coach Allister Coetzee has announced the replacement of Le Roux Malan with the versatile Lloyd Jacobs to bring the squad back to 33 at the Rugby World Cup 2023.
This comes after Le Roux Malan suffered an unfortunate fibula fracture in the match against New Zealand on Friday the 15th of September 2023.
Le Roux surgery
Le Roux Malan has remained in Toulouse and has undergone successful surgery with representatives from Namibia taking extra care of him while the rest of the team had to return to their team base camp in Aix-les-Bains, France.
“We are missing Le Roux, it leaves a void but this provides an opportunity for someone else. We call upon Lloyd Jacobs from Kudu’s Rugby Club to join us in Marseille and we are really happy to welcome him to the group.
It’s a great opportunity for Lloyd and he has done all the hard work during the Mzansi Challenge and was involved in our last preparatory match against the Vodacom Bulls. He fully understands the way we want to play and he is the right guy. We doesn’t exactly cover Le Roux Malan, but we have JC Greyling who can cover 13 and Johan Deysel who can cover 12. We then have Alcino Izaacs, Danco Burger and Johan Deysel who can still cover those positions for us. The winger Divan Rossouw can cover at left wing and that is where Lloyd can come in and cover full-back and winger”. – Allister Coetzee.
Namibia experienced a high-speed and collision-filled match against the All Blacks and is looking after a few bumps and bruises. Adriaan Booysen took a big blow to his shoulder during the game and the team awaits medical feedback after an MRI scheduled for today. Richard Hardwick, Wian Conradie and the captain Johan Deysel are managing soreness after the match.
“The boys have picked up a few niggles, the only two concerns are in the two loose forwards Wian Conradie and Adriaan Booysen but we will be able to have a clearer picture of them towards the end of the day”.
Namibia departs from their team base camp to Marseille on Tuesday the 19th of September ahead of their match against the host nation France.
This will complete their 3rd Rugby World Cup match with the final game against Uruguay in Lyon on
the 27th of September 2023.
