Cape Town - Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth’s ankle injury should not keep him out of the team’s first game of their European tour against Ireland, SA Rugby said on Thursday.



In a press statement released, SA Rugby revealed that Etzebeth had injured his ankle during a recent Springbok assessment camp in Cape Town.

The statement said Etzebeth had twisted his ankle during a training session and as a precaution was taken for an MRI scan, which revealed a low grade ligament injury.

It has since came to light that Etzebeth’s ankle is in a brace, after the Bok skipper posted a picture on social media revealing as much.

On Friday, Etzebeth posted a picture on Instagram (see below) of him attending a Stormers rugby clinic in Belhar.

In the picture he stands alongside team-mates Scarra Ntubeni, Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit, holding a birthday cake he received from sponsors Land Rover. Etzebeth turns 26 on Sunday (October 29).

From the picture it is evident that Etzebeth’s ankle is in a brace.

Great day yesterday with @landroversa at the rugby clinic. Thanks for my early birthday cake! #landroverza #HCAT #MudBrothers #29October A post shared by Eben Etzebeth (@ebenetzebeth4) on Oct 26, 2017 at 10:29pm PDT

SA Rugby, however, expects that Etzebeth will be available for the first tour match against Ireland in Dublin on November 11.

It was also revealed that Etzebeth sustained concussion in South Africa's last Test against New Zealand at Newlands and that he was busy with his final return to play protocols.

Etzebeth currently stands in as Springbok skipper for the injured Warren Whiteley.

After the Ireland game, the Boks also play Tests against France (Paris, November 18), Italy (Padova, November 25) and Wales (Cardiff, December 2).



