Bleak outlook for Jean

Bok captain Jean de Villiers requires surgical reconstruction of his left knee after damaging ligaments in the defeat to Wales. Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images

Bok captain Jean de Villiers requires surgical reconstruction of his left knee after damaging ligaments in the defeat to Wales. Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images

Published Dec 2, 2014

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Jean de Villiers’ rugby future is in the balance. The Springbok captain, earmarked to lead the team at next year’s World Cup, requires surgical reconstruction of his left knee after damaging ligaments in Saturday’s defeat to Wales in Cardiff.

The 33-year-old, who took charge of the team in 2012 when Heyneke Meyer became Bok coach, is expected to be sidelined for at least eight months, according to national team doctor Craig Roberts.

The injury means De Villiers will play no part in next year’s Super Rugby competition and will also miss the shortened Rugby Championship campaign for the Boks.

It will be hoped he is fully fit by the time the World Cup comes around – a tournament he has no fond memories of.

The England-hosted event kicks off on September 18, with the Boks playing their first match a day later, against Japan in Brighton.

Despite winning over 100 caps for the Boks, De Villiers’ career has been beset by injury. He missed out on this year’s June Tests against Wales and Scotland because of a knee injury, but it was the injuries he suffered in 2002 and 2007 that will haunt him the most. He missed the 2003 World Cup because he’d injured his knee while on debut the previous season, while in 2007 – when the Boks won the tournament – he injured his bicep in the opening game and played no further part.

Now, he’s again in doubt for a World Cup. De Villiers was assessed by an orthopaedic surgeon in Cape Town yesterday, with Bok team doctor Craig Roberts saying, “We are currently consulting with the best specialists in South Africa to determine the best way to approach the surgery as there are potentially a few options available.

“It is imperative the best course of action is decided on so that Jean can start recovery and rehabilitation as soon as possible to give him the best chance to be fit for the World Cup. At this stage it’s difficult to determine how long he will be out of action, but it’ll probably be at least eight months.”

Roberts added that because De Villiers has had surgery on his left knee before “would make the whole process a lot more complicated in terms of the surgery and correcting the damage.

“As you know he dislocated the knee on the field, but we popped his patella back right there and then. That’s fine; it’s the ligament damage that’s serious.”

Roberts said De Villiers had strained medial as well as cruciate ligaments, adding, “It’s not a simple thing ... mainly because it’s the same knee as before. Obviously Jean is devastated by the injury and he felt a lot of pain on the field. He’s a fighter and and he’ll work hard to come back again,” said Roberts.

Bok vice-captain Victor Matfield, favourite to take over as leader if De Villiers does not make the World Cup, said: “There’s nine, 10 months to go, so let’s wait and see what happens. Jean’s a fighter.” - The Star

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