Rugby World Cup 2011
Bok captain out of RWC?
2011-08-13 19:50
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John Smit (Gallo)
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Brenden Nel - SuperSportCape Town - Springbok captain John Smit faces an
anxious wait ahead of next week’s Test against the All Blacks after
injuring his arm in the 14-9 loss against the Wallabies in Durban on
Saturday night.
Click to BUY John Smit’s Captain in the Cauldron bookSmit injured his arm as the Bok scrum buckled and
was demolished in a power Aussie scrum in the second half, prompting
fears that the injury will keep him out of the World Cup next month in
New Zealand.
While Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and Smit
both played down the injury, a team management member confirmed that
there was a fear that Smit had torn ligaments in his elbow, which could
put him in doubt for the World Cup.
Smit’s injury was the big
talking point after the loss, which posed a load of questions about the
Springboks ability with less than a month to go before the World Cup.
The Bok captain injured his arm as the Wallabies demolished the Bok
scrum in the second half, and now fears are that the injury may force
Smit to miss the tournament.
Smit though, didn’t sound concerned at the injury, despite clutching his arm as he walked in.
“It’s nothing an elastoplasts can’t fix,” Smit said without elaborating.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said that Smit, flanker Danie Rossouw
and fullback Frans Steyn were the major injury concerns, without
elaborating.
“We will talk about injuries on Monday. By then we
will have a lot more information on the injuries and we will see on
Monday.”
But before then the Boks, battered and bruised, will
be hoping their World Cup captain’s injury wont be as bad as initially
feared.