Argentinian loose forward Marcos Kremer will miss his country’s decisive Rugby Championship match against South Africa this weekend after hurting his knee in last Saturday’s home win over the Springboks. 

The absence of the experienced Kremer, who started playing for Argentina in 2016 when he was just 18 years old, will be a blow to the Pumas’ hopes of another upset win. The Springboks have a five-point lead over Argentina in the standings going into the final round of this year’s Southern Hemisphere championship. 

Argentina needs a bonus point victory at the Mbombela Stadium to snatch the Rugby Championship away from South Africa.

Marcos Kremer. Photo: Analisis Digital

New Zealand has also suffered an injury blow with centre Jordie Barrett ruled out of the second test against Australia in Wellington with a knee injury.  He will miss Saturday’s return match against the Wallabies in The Rugby Championship after limping off at halftime in Sydney last weekend.  Anton Lienert-Brown stepped in for Barrett last weekend and is expected to do so again for the Rugby Championship finale in Wellington.

Barrett, one of three brothers in the All Blacks squad, flew back to New Zealand with the team wearing a knee brace. The injury also throws a question mark over whether the 27-year-old will be fit for New Zealand’s tour of Japan and Europe, starting late October.

Barrett is also a new signing for Leinster and his injury may put his season with the Irish club in jeopardy.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger mvh