Boks handed injury blow
Springboks take on Scotland in the Castle Lager Incoming Tours Test on Saturday.
THE Springboks have been dealt a blow ahead of Saturday’s Castle Lager Incoming Tours Test against Scotland in the shape of Flip van der Merwe and Tendai Mtawarira.
The duo were forced to withdraw from the clash after scans on Monday revealed that they will not be able to feature, and there are fears that both injuries could turn out to be a lot more serious.
Van der Merwe’s injury, however, could see the lock on the sidelines for a long period of time, something the Boks will rue ahead of the Rugby Championship.
‘Right in the last few minutes of the game Flip hyper extended his knee, and bent his knee backwards,’ confirmed Boks Doctor Craig Roberts.
‘Unfortunately the scans showed he has ruptured his posterior cruciate ligament and we will be sending him up to a specialist in Pretoria to determine the extent of the injury and appropriate management going forward’.
The injury assessment could leave Van der Merwe on the sideline for anything between four weeks and six months, while Mtawarira is equally as difficult to determine and will need the opinion of a specialist.
‘Beast took a knock to the top of his head in a tackle and complained of some neck stiffness afterwards. He had a scan today and unfortunately he has a disc injury. It means he can’t play on the weekend and we will be sending him to a specialist in Durban to have a look and decide the appropriate management going forward,’ continued Dr Roberts.
‘It’s difficult to say (how long he will be out for), he has an acute disc and we need that to settle down, that’s why we will send him to Durban to hear what the best route is for him’.
