Jean’s injury ‘unbelievable setback’

CARDIFF, WALES - NOVEMBER 29: Jean de Villiers the captain of South Africa is stretchered from the field during the International match betwwen Wales and South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on November 29, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

CARDIFF, WALES - NOVEMBER 29: Jean de Villiers the captain of South Africa is stretchered from the field during the International match betwwen Wales and South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on November 29, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Published Dec 1, 2014

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Cardiff: Jean de Villiers is a “fighter”, and Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is hopeful that his injured captain will return in time for next year’s Rugby World Cup campaign.

De Villiers suffered yet another of those familiar catastrophic injuries that have tarnished his career when his knee bent under his own body after he was cleaned-out by Wales No 8 Toby Faletau in the past weekend’s 12-6 defeat at the Millennium Stadium.

There are now serious question marks over whether he will be back in time to play at next year’s World Cup, which starts in September, after an initial scan showed that not only was his knee damaged in the incident, but Meyer said that he had torn his hamstring as well.

Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts said: “Jean will return to South Africa and see an orthopaedic specialist in Cape Town (today). He has had previous surgery on this knee, and the further management of the injury is dependent upon the specialist’s recommendations.”

So, the World Cup bogey seems to have struck De Villiers one more time in the twilight of his career, after he had to miss the 2003 and most of the 2007 editions through injury, while he also had to sit out a few games in the 2011 event after getting hurt in a group game as well.

Meyer said that the 33-year-old midfielder, who had earned his 106th Test cap against Wales, was in good spirits yesterday before flying home to Cape Town. “Everything is gone (in the knee), and the hamstring as well (is torn). It’s a huge injury.

“So, it is an unbelievable setback for the team. But Jean is a fighter and I can’t believe that he was so positive (after the injury). His wife is expecting (their third child in the coming weeks) and he’s been under so much pressure, and this injury can happen every day.

“So, he just said last night that ‘It’s not about me, the team must move on’, but I must say emotionally and mentally, it’s a huge setback. And for me as well – you’ve grown so fond of your captain and all your planning is with him, and now you’ve got to take the team without him.

“We will do everything in our minds to get him there (to the World Cup), but it’s going to be tough.” - Cape Times

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