Uncapped Stormers flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed has suffered a shoulder injury and could be sent home from the Springbok tour ahead of their Nations Championship opener against Italy in Turin.

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Rassie Erasmus has opted for experience over youth for the Springboks’ opening November Test against Italy, with the six uncapped players having to wait for their opportunity.

However, young flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed’s wait for a Bok debut could be extended after he picked up a shoulder injury that has kept him out of training ahead of Saturday’s Nations Championship clash at Allianz Stadium.

South Africa will open their away campaign in Turin (2.45pm kick-off) against the Italians, with Erasmus selecting a near full-strength side. He explained that they want to hit the ground running and that is why he opted for consistency rather than experimenting with some youthful players for this clash.

The world champions will also face France in Paris (13 November) and Ireland in Dublin (21 November) on tour as they aim to make the Finals Weekend of the Championship.

Young players included for development

Ahmed, flyhalf Luan Giliomee, centre Markus Muller, outside back Sebastian de Klerk, lock Riley Norton and loose forward Manu Tshituka were not selected for the Italy Test as Erasmus gave them time to settle in.

“Yaqeen has a shoulder injury, and he has just been watching from the sidelines,” Erasmus said.

“It doesn’t help to have him here and see everything, and he doesn’t get a feel for it. We would’ve loved to have Vusi Moyo here, but then he also injured himself. We could’ve only selected 33 guys, and we probably would have come through with them, but we opted for 37 players.

“We know what we have in other players who’ve played for us, but bringing guys like Riley, Luan, Markus along, they won’t be gatvol by not being picked. They are just happy to be here and learn. For them, it’s a bonus. They don’t miss the URC games, they are good opposition in training, they keep the older guys on their toes, and they show energy.

“None of them was guaranteed playing a match, but they are training for four weeks with the other guys. That is the thinking behind it.”

Ahmed faces scans after shoulder injury

Erasmus says they will make a call on Ahmed in the next day or two on whether he should return to South Africa or not. But they will give the flyhalf a couple of days to learn a few things from the senior Boks like Manie Libbok, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel and Cobus Reinach.

According to the coach, Ahmed was very open about the discomfort in his shoulder, and that was a good sign.

“He was honest about the injury; sometimes players hide it. He will go for scans. But it does help him if he is here and he can just watch. We want him to participate in training. It’s great if he can learn, but if we get two injuries now and we need somebody and he can’t play, we will make the call.

“It looks like he will be going back home.”