Blitzbokke injury woes mount

Johannesburg - Chris Dry will not travel with the Springbok Sevens squad to the Commonwealth Games, due to a broken finger, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) said on Wednesday.

The Free State Cheetahs Under-21 forward has already undergone surgery to repair the damage on his small finger on his right hand, and he will be out of action for at least three weeks.

Team management confirmed Okkie Kruger, the promising Blue Bulls flank, as his replacement.

Meanwhile, the rest of the injury-hit Springbok Sevens squad had some encourgaing news after their customary medical examinations following the side's victory in the inaugural Platinum International Sevens tournament at the weekend in Phokeng, Rustenburg.

Boom Prinsloo (concussion) and MJ Mentz (shoulder), who both suffered knocks at the warm-up tournament, should recover in time to be available for the Commonwealth Games, where Sevens be played on October 10 and 11.

Kruger is due to play on the flank for the Blue Bulls against fierce rivals Western Province at Loftus on Saturday in a crunch Currie Cup fixture.

SARU said the SA squad would have one more training session on Friday in Stellenbosch before flying out to Dubai on Sunday.