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Johannesburg - Springbok prop Coenie Oosthuizen has been ruled out of the November tour to Ireland, Scotland and Wales after suffering a back injury in the Currie Cup loss to Western Province on the weekend.
According to the supersport.com website, Oosthuizen hurt a disc in his back during the game at Newlands on Saturday and while a full diagnosis is still expected, Cheetahs team doctor Ian Morris has said the big prop will be out of action for between 8-12 weeks.
That would mean Oosthuizen would miss the end of year tour, and end a horrible year of injuries for the Bok, especially after he missed two months after sustaining a neck injury against England in June.
“It is a back injury, he’s hurt the disc in his back,” Morris said. “We will still get him a specialist opinion but the initial diagnosis is that he should sit out for between 8-12 weeks and therefore would miss the end of year tour with the Springboks.”
Morris said Oosthuizen was “heartbroken” when the news was conveyed to him, but did see the long term picture as well and was determined to get fit for the Super Rugby season in 2013.
Asked how the injury affected his neck injury, which Oosthuizen has just recovered from, Morris said it “was clearly still a concern and will be for a large part of his career.
“For that reason he has to be managed carefully and properly in the future,” said Morris.
Oosthuizen has had a disappointing season in terms of injuries, with the neck injury meaning he missed out on most of the Rugby Championship, returning only from the bench in the final game against the All Blacks at Soccer City.
Another Cheetah Springbok, Johan Goosen, was ruled out last week with a medial knee ligament injury, and will also miss the end of year tour.
