TOULON, France (AP) — South Africa wing Makazole Mapimpi is out of the Rugby World Cup with a fractured eye socket, Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus said Monday.
Mapimpi was injured in a tackle by Tonga scrumhalf Augustine Pulu that led to the players clashing heads in Sunday's Pool B game in Marseille. Mapimpi left the field right after.
Erasmus said Mapimpi was facing 4-6 weeks out and might also have a fractured cheekbone.
The 33-year-old Mapimpi was a Rugby World Cup winner with South Africa in 2019 but came to this tournament as a backup to first-choice wings Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse.
The Springboks will call up an injury replacement but weren't ready to name him yet, Erasmus said.
South Africa beat Tonga 49-18 in its final pool game to move to the brink of the quarterfinals. The defending champions have to wait for the match between Ireland and Scotland on Saturday to be certain of a place in the last eight.
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