Scans have revealed that Springboks captain Jean de Villiers’ knee injury will keep him out of action for approximately 8 weeks.
The Stormers centre was withdrawn on the eve of his side’s weekend win over the Cheetahs, after he experienced pain in the joint. De Villiers was also withdrawn from the 4-day Springbok camp that starts in Durban today in order to undergo scans to assess the damage.
It has now been confirmed that he will play no part in the Springboks’ June test program (or the Stormers’ remaining Super Rugby fixtures) but should hopefully be fit to play for the Boks in the Rugby Championship.
Heyneke Meyer has opted not to invite an extra centre to train with the side and will also not yet confirm who his stand in captain will be for matches against Wales, Scotland and a World XV. Sharks captain Bismarck du Plessis and Cheetahs Skipper Adriaan Strauss are presumably the front-runners, with Bismarck’s claim – both to the number 2 jersey and the armband – somewhat stronger at this stage.
Tweet
Bismarck has to be the frontrunner…though I hope he doesn’t play every test! So I reckon Heynecke will just appoint a captain on a game by game basis: Bismarck when he plays and Strauss when he rests Bismarck…
And I guess that means Steyn to start at inside centre…
What is the situation with Frans’s Japan deal? Does it mean he is available for RC this year?
Or his old buddy Matfield
Are any of us surprised by this?? Player management of DeVilliers has been shocking. There was no reason for him to play every CC and Overseas tour game last year. Hyneke Meyer and Coetzee mustnt complain as its their own doing. Least Frans Steyn can just slot in at 12 for the Boks
Seriously no rotation policy in that side. Management seriously need to figure out why the sustain so many injuries too.
I hope its not Matfield. I love the guy but at 37 it would be counter productive. Bismarck is the guy. Strauss a tad overarrated I think. Sadly JDV im almost sure wont see RWC.
@pastorshark (Comment 1) : I’d personally go with Matfield with Bissy as vice-captain. Steyn at inside centre with Serfontein as bench cover.
@SheldonK (Comment 5) : It should not be up to the national coach to rotate players at Bok level. That should be taken care of by the franchises / unions.
@vanmartin (Comment 8) : Yeah maybe…though for me, I’d think like this – if we head to the world cup next year and:
– Eben Etzebeth and PSdT are fit; and
– Jean de Villiers is not fit;
would Victor Matfield be my captain?
For me the answer is no…and so I wouldn’t go with him now…but let’s see what happens.
@Bokhoring (Comment 9) : No look I fully agree but when its not happening at Provincial level do you just keep playing the guy at national level knowing he will break down for more important games? Look at the end of the day if he misses tests this year is it really that much of a concern? Would rather him play next year
Watching the final of the Heinnekin ,Juan Smith is a magnificent rugby player,and if anyone can still make a case for Scalk ,Vic and JdeV,then he should most definitely be in the frame.
He would be my choice as captain ,so before we get swamped with the inevitable he’s over the hill,then so are the other 3.
On Saturdays form,Juan,Bakkies and Danie Rossouw would walk int o any super 15 team.
@pastorshark (Comment 10) : Agreed, Victor is not the long-term solution as Bok captain but there is a huge amount of pressure that comes with being Bok captain (John Smit’s biography is well recommended if you haven’t read it yet) that could negatively affect Bissy’s Bok games as well as ultimately our Sharks campaign.
Vic has been there, done that. Let him shoulder that burden for the time being and Bissy can learn the ropes as vice-captain.
In conclusion, I’ve been impressed by Bissy’s captaining and would like to see him captain the Boks at some stage but no need to rush him into things when he could be eased in.
@The hound (Comment 12) : I think the final was Rossouw’s last rugby game but agreed. It’s good to know Bakkies and Juan are still performing so well, especially considering how many imjuries we’re seeing of late.
I am one of a minority that have never found anything to write home about in JdeV,even fully fit I would rate him behind players like Frans Steyn,Sadie,De Allende,Serfontein,Sithole,De Jong,Paul Jordaan,
He hardly sets the world alight as a captain,and probably has the most shocking record of any International captain,he has literally never won anything,with the exceptionof one junior world cup with Jake.
@The hound (Comment 12) : Didn’t he retire from international rugby though?
@vanmartin (Comment 13) : Fair enough…
As I @pastorshark (Comment 16) :
As I understood it he was prematurely retired from rugby and the Cheetahs,declined to give him a contract.He had ankle surgery and was able to pass a stringent medical at Toulon and went there on a free transfer.
@The hound (Comment 18) : From what I remember, the poor guy basically gave up on all hopes of recovery from his millions of consecutive injuries.
He was pretty gutted by the decision, but somehow a lifeline was thrown by Toulon, after he went for that surgery which, he didn’t know existed. (as far as my foggy memory goes).
All in all, a guy like him and Schalk Burger should at the every least be at every team talk and be given the opportunity to hand out every Bok jersey for the rugby championship and WC 2015.
Their stories of miraculous recovery and ability to rise to the top every time is matched by few, if any, sportsman around the world.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 19) :
The fact that he played most of that final,and ran a good 100 metres in that phenomenal try says to me that he is 100% fit.I always thought he was one of the most intuitive players in the game,a captain in the Teichmann mould.
Gee, I wish the Kings would sign Danie for the CC…. With him, Sykes, CJ and Luke in our forward pack, we could prove to be a surprise package in this year’s competition.
@bokhoring @vanmartin was really pissed when HM played JDV against a useless Scot team on EOYT. This injury is a blessing in disguise. He deserves a good break.
Got a feeling…S’bura is gonna get his Bok cap!
And so Vic will be Bok captain again.
Seems as if Schalk is doubtful for the Sharks game.
So reading an article on supersport this morning reveals that steyn is doubtful since he’s played with a knee injury the entire australiasian tour and could be sidelined for weeks, I desperately hope lambie is back in actions soon otherwise we in deep….(Stuff)… And judging from meyer’s comments on his midfield options its very unlikely sbura is gonna play, shame man. He’s even considering de allande at outside and jan inside as his combo, what a droll
@Stiko85 (Comment 26) : So I wonder who he’s considering for FH….if not Frans (which to never have been on the cards judging by HM’s comments), then I’d prefer Goosen (though he’s been rather poor lately, could also be because of the coach he’s playing for).
@FireTheLooser (Comment 27) : Well considering he only invited two FH to this camp it kind of leaves nothing to the imagination unless he decides to call-up his golden boy at the last min (the other steyn lol)
Although the boks is the pride and joy of our country, I am more concerned about our superruby campaign, we’re 5 points ahead of the waratahs and they’ve played one game less then us, guess the fact that we havent racked up alot of bonus points this year places us in a very difficult spot. it seems as though we may have lost the least amount of games this year, the battle for the top spot might still come down to our final game against the stormers in newlands, and if steyn is out, we’re screwed unless pat or fred makes a return before then. I knew steyn was playing with a niggle in every game but if its bad enough that he needs surgery then we might find ourselves going into play-offs without our top point scorer (kicks wise) 🙁 😥 😕 😡
Seems Frans Steyn had been playing through a knee injury for the Sharks and might not be able to play for the Boks. He had looked uncomfortable in the last couple of games.
I wonder if Jake is going to pick him for this weekend’s game?
I wonder when Zeilinger will be able to play again?
@Pokkel (Comment 32) : @Pokkel (Comment 31) : and so we wonder and wonder lol. Damnit the uncertainity is horrible. Steyn has literally made himself indispensible this season and the loss of pat and fred has not helped the situation one bit, a positive from the blues game is that sp can now also kick lol 😆
What is the situation on Fred anyway?
@Stiko85 (Comment 28) : it will be Morne Steyn.
@robdylan (Comment 35) : so u reckon the only reason he didn’t invite the euro-boks to the training camp was cause of their unavailability for the training? Which means that maybe half of the guys whose training with him this week might not make the cut. That’s maybe why he only called up two FHs and two SHs cause u know his boys pienaar and steyn will be present come next week
My thing is this though, you have de jong, sbura and heaven forbid, jj who are all good outside centres (not really applicable to jj though) yet he’s considering de allande, who last played 13 in school (maybe primary school even) to be the outside centre, kinda swak how low he rates these other okes then
@Stiko85 (Comment 36) : yes, definitely. It was said so at the time…. he only invited locally-based players, but that doesn’t mean the international guys are out of the picture.
@Stiko85 (Comment 36) :
You catch on quickly. 😉
One thing that you can be sure of – the Western Cape hype machine will definitely get de Allende into the Bok squad.
Not a bad player by any means, but him, Serfontein and JJ are pretty much clones.
@Big Fish (Comment 39) : I just find it so bloody ridiculous that when you have a ready-made 13 (in Sithole) who has been playing blinders all season, you would rather look at picking an uncapped out-of-position guy like De Allende instead.
@Big Fish (Comment 39) : I’m going to have to disagree; JJ is way, way worse than those other two. Saffex rates him highly; Q.E.D
@Big Fish (Comment 39) : @Culling Song (Comment 41) : why don’t you like JJ?
@robdylan (Comment 40) : De Allende is a good player but should stay at 12, really hope they don’t pick him ahead of Sithole at 13!!!!
@JD (Comment 42) : Well, he’s pretty quick, and… um…. that’s all
@JD (Comment 42) : @Culling Song (Comment 44) : Also, he looks like the type of person who might have Dozi cd’s in his music collection
@Culling Song (Comment 44) : don’t think he’s really all that bad.
@JD (Comment 46) : You’re right, he’s not really all that bad (Dozi issues aside). But “not all that bad” should not be good enough for the Boks
@Culling Song (Comment 47) :
Exactly. Poor defence, no ball skills and little vision. Not my idea of a 13.
@Culling Song (Comment 47) : problem is who else? Don’t see HM picking Sithole, so the other option is JDJ?!
@JD (Comment 49) :
JdJ is not my favourite, but I think he was unfairly dropped to begin with. So yes, I would go with him.
HM said they would give more info re: injuries at the end of the camp…when is that? Tomorrow? Really want to know what they’ve picked up with Frans…
@JD (Comment 49) : I’m sure it’ll be JdJ and JJE…
@pastorshark (Comment 52) : both play 13, anyhow if Fourie is available I’m sure HM will use him at 13.
@JD (Comment 53) : I meant that JdJ and JJE will be the two 13’s in the squad to be announced because Fourie is injured and will be out for a while…
@pastorshark (Comment 54) : Even Meyer said that jj has huge problems with his defense and it cost the boks in the final match against the all blacks during the RC last year. He accredited that to the fact that jj is actually a wing not a centre. What jake did with sbura that was brilliant and makes sense if u do it at club level, but to try stuff like that at test level? Especially when u already have 3 outside centres that u called up and ur running thin on 12s, why on earth would u want to change a 12 into a 13 at test level just for the heck of it? Can’t u rather ask the club to test him out there? I rate de allande, I think he’s a wonderful centre with real vision and I think hed be a real asset to the green and gold, my problem is with meyer and his sometimes weird decisions. And what is his problem with JDJ?
@Stiko85 (Comment 55) : The same as his problem with Paul Jordaan,a perception that he is too small,which is total rubbish,when you watch Matt Gittau or Ryan Crotty,or Brian o Driscoll,or Mannetjies Roux or Brad Barrit orTimmy Horne or,
bright side, boys…. imagine Jordaan and Sithole as a combo in Currie Cup….
@pastorshark (Comment 54) : ok but hope you wrong and Sithole gets a chance in the June tests.
@robdylan (Comment 57) : yes it could be realy good but I’m still hoping Sithole gets a shot to play for the Bokke this year.
@JD (Comment 59) : lol me too, it would be a great reward for his hard work this year in the super rugby, the prospect of paul en sbura sounds awesome, to think a few seasons ago we had real issues in the midfield
@Stiko85 (Comment 60) : yes with Frans, Paul, Sithole and Heimar the Sharks has nice cover but it’s a bit scary to think we nearly lost Sithole before we had a chance to see what he really could do.