Habana's wings clipped by injury
Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:53
Bad news: Bok wing Bryan Habana has suffered an injury
The Springboks suffered a major setback with the news that star wing Bryan Habana will miss the Tri-Nations encounter with Australia after suffering a hamstring tear.
Habana was replaced early in the second half when the Boks lost 0-19 in a dismal performance against the All Blacks this past weekend at Newlands and it was revealed on Monday that he could be out for up to 10 days.
The player sustained a grade one tear of the hamstring, and the conservative medical opinion is that he will be out of action for 10 days, according to Bok manager of national teams, Andy Marinos.
"We will be reassessing him later in the week," confirmed Marinos.
Bok coach Peter de Villiers conceded it was a major setback, especially considering experienced lock Bakkies Botha has already been ruled out of the remainder of the Tri-Nations with knee ligament problems.
Free State Cheetahs flyer Jongi Nokwe seems like the man who is likely to replace Habana on the left wing for the Boks when Saturday's match 22 is announced on Tuesday.
Nokwe has been retained in the squad, which arrived at the Bok training base in Durban on Sunday.
Otherwise there are no other major injury concerns for the Boks.
Hooker Bismarck du Plessis was not at training and is suffering from some "bumps and bruises", while loose forward Danie Rossouw has undergone a lower back scan but both should be fine to play on Saturday.
Sharks star Ruan Pienaar has also joined the squad and could be drafted into the matchday 22 to provide cover at flyhalf and scrumhalf.
Two bonus-point victories over the Wallabies in their remaining two fixtures would keep the Boks in the Tri-Nations title hunt but even if they were to achieve this, they would still have to rely on the Aussies beating the All Blacks in the final match.
SAPA
