Springboks suffer Du Preez blow

[Cymro]

South Africa are set to be without scrum-half Fourie du Preez for the two-Test series against Wales in June.

The World Cup winner broke a bone in his left hand during the Bulls' 60-20 win over the Cheetahs on Saturday in their Super 14 clash in Bloemfontein.
Du Preez is expected to undergo surgery this week and is then likely to be sidelined for up to six weeks.
Springboks coach Peter de Villiers also has reserve scrum-half Heini Adams out of action with a leg injury.
Adams has deep bruising on the leg he fractured last year but is expected to return to fitness within three weeks.

That leaves Ricky Januarie as the only fit front-line number nine with the 42-man Springbok training squad in Stellenbosch at the moment.

Ruan Pienaar and Rory Kockott would normally also be in the frame but the Sharks pair are still in Super 14 action, with the Natal-based province facing a semi-final in Sydney against the Waratahs on Saturday.

If the Sharks win through to face either the Crusaders or Hurricanes in the final on 31 May, De Villiers will have just a week to incorporate Pienaar, Kockott and up to eight other Sharks before facing Wales.

Schalk Burger and Tonderai Chavhanga are also injury doubts to face Wales, with De Villiers set to trim his squad to 30 on 30 May.

Wales leave for South Africa on 29 May and play the Springboks in two Tests - at Bloemfontein's Vodacom Park on 7 June, followed by Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld the following Saturday.

South Africa then face Italy on 21 June, before beginning their Tri-Nations campaign against New Zealand on 5 July.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7410028.stm

 

[Steve-o]

Lol, Natal-based province. Natal IS a province.
Anyway, this is a set back but we have other in form scrumhalves in SA.
We can always call De Kock as back up

 

[munross]

I heard that Bolla Conradie was called-up to join the squad,I would have liked to see Jano Vermaak also in the squad...

 

[Steve-o]

Yeahhh, Conradie has been called up

 

[Jer1cho]

I think Kockett is gonna get a shot. He certainly deserves it.

 

[mike-o-l]

Bad news for the Boks but we do have depth at Scrumhalf
Will be interesting to see who takes his place. Its between Kockett and Januarie. Have a feelng that januarie will play. Experience and if Grant plays Flyhalf, they will be used to playing together. Januarie is a really good Scrummie and is known to put pressure of the opponents. Kocketts good and his kicking game is brialliant but I don't think he will get the number 9 Jersey

 

[Steve-o]

You're right, Januarie will almost definitely start. He has more experience at international level, so it makes sense. Januarie might not have a good kicking game but he's solid in almost everything else, especially in defence.

 

[Incredible Schalk]

lil Ricky is an awesome scrum half, imo he has really improved this season with an improved kicking game and some superb running although he has lost a half yard of pace.