According to widespread media reports on Monday afternoon, the Springboks have returned 2019 Rugby World Cup winner Lukhanyo Am to their squad to face the world in France.

Following the horrific face injury sustained by Makazole Mapimpi, the scorer of South Africa’s first-ever try in a Rugby World Cup final, the technical team has decided to draught a reserve player back into the fold. Lukhanyo Am was a key component of the Springboks’ victory in Japan four years ago, and his world-class qualities at the outside center will undoubtedly provide coach Jacques Nienaber with an abundance of fresh exciting alternatives.

The Springboks have confirmed that midfielder Lukhanyo Am has replaced Makazole Mapimpi in their squad for the rest of the Rugby World Cup.

When it was determined that Mapimpi had a shattered eye socket and would need to fly back to South Africa, the competition was declared over for him.

Am will replace his Sharks teammate in the squad after initially missing out due to injury, according to World Rugby, although it wasn’t immediately clear.

Mapimpi was sent off for a Head Injury Assessment and was replaced by Jesse Kriel.

Afterward, coach Jacques Nienaber said that he had suffered “a blowout fracture of his cheekbone”.

Mapimpi was playing his second game for the World Cup after scoring a hat-trick against Romania in his first outing.

On Monday SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus said it was sad that they had to lose Mapimpi.