Du Preez injured again
05/23/2011 08:13:59 PM
Ace Springboks halfback Fourie du Preez has suffered a knee injury and is out of the remainder of the Super Rugby season.
Du Preez, who missed much of last season with a shoulder injury, injured himself in a collision with prop Werner Kruger in Saturday's match against the Sharks. He suffered a Grade 2 medial ligament tear to his right knee and will be out of action for at least four weeks.
Bulls doctor Org Strauss said du Preez was 'very lucky' he had not sustained more damage in the incident.
"We expect him to react positively to rehabilitation and conservative treatment to the knee and to be back in action shortly," he told SuperSport.
The injury is a blow for the Bulls who were making a late competition charge towards a playoffs berth. Du Preez's replacement is another Springboks player, Francois Hougaard.
Meanwhile, Springboks prop CJ van der Linde has left the Stormers camp to return to South Africa.
Coach Allister Coetzee said his prop, who has a hip flexor injury, would not have been available for this weekend's game against the Brumbies and was doubtful for the following week against the Rebels.
"We're therefore giving him a full two weeks so that we will have him fit for the important games against the Bulls and Cheetahs when we return to South Africa," Coetzee told SAPA.