De Villiers out of the Cup?

[Jehna]

Can't say I'd be terribly upset about this one...

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Springbok's Cup may be over

From correspondents in Paris
September 10, 2007

SOUTH Africa centre Jean De Villiers may be out of the World Cup, after sustaining an arm injury in his side's 59-7 demolition of Samoa today (AEST).
"It's not looking too good for next Friday (the next Pool A game with England), " said South Africa coach Jake White after his team's opening game at the Parc des Princes, in which De Villiers was substituted in the 43rd minute.

"He's got a big bump on his biceps. He's gone to hospital," said White. He said he even fears De Villiers may be out for the duration of the tournament and will have to be replaced.

"That's a possibility," he said. "We have to wait and see what we hear from the hospital."
Reuters

[AndyS]

De Villiers` nightmare

Springbok centre Jean de Villiers's World Cup nightmare is continuing. The creative midfielder has been ruled out of the tournament in France with a torn bicep muscle, suffered in the 59-7 hammering of Samoa in Paris on Sunday.

The 26-year-old De Villiers, who came into the tournament with a rib injury suffered in a warm-up match against Namibia, will return home to undergo surgery.

No official replacement has been named for De Villiers, who left the field in the second half clutching his arm, but his number twelve shirt will most likely go to Frans Steyn for the crunch Pool A match against England on Friday.

While Waylon Murray accompanied the team on the pre-tournament tour to Ireland and Scotland, veteran Marius Joubert might get an unexpected recall.

However, for the injury-prone De Villiers it is heartache yet again.

His Springbok debut lasted just five minutes, when he was carried from the field with a serious knee ligament injury against France in Marseille in November 2002.

It kept him out of the game for six months.

He returned to make the Springbok World Cup squad for 2003, only to suffered a serious shoulder injury in the final warm-up game - losing out on the opportunity to play at the global showpiece in Australia.

De Villiers injured a rib during the first match of the 2006 season against Scotland, but returned to play a vital role in the home leg of the Tri-Nations.

He was again injured in the warm-up match against Namibia at Newlands last month and was a doubtful starter for the World Cup opener against Samoa in Paris because of the rib injury.

While he made a swift recovery and started against the Pacific Islanders, his run of bad luck has now resulted in him being ruled out of yet another World Cup.

Meanwhile South African coach Jake White declared himself satisfied after the Boks made a winning start to their World Cup campaign, but admitted that the 59-7 win over Samoa in Paris on Sunday wasn't all plain sailing.

The islanders made a good fist of the first half and scored the first try of the game. But the South Africans rallied well, with Bryan Habana scoring four of scoring four of his side's tries.

"It was tough, it didn't go as we expected," said White.

"It was a really physical performance [from Samoa]. At one stage, when it was 14-7, I was worried. So full credit to them."

"The French people were obviously supporting Samoa," said White. "At one point they were shouting 'Les Bleus'."

[AndyS]

Julies gets World Cup recall

Blue Bulls' inside centre Wayne Julies will join the Springbok camp at the World Cup in France this week, as a replacement for the injured Jean de Villiers - who is returning home after tearing his bicep muscle in the 59-7 hammering of Samoa in the opening round at the weekend.

Julies, who was unlucky to have missed out on the initial squad selection, gets his recall on the back of a series of outstanding performances for the Bulls in the Super 14 and the Blue Bulls in the Absa Currie Cup competition.

His selection is also a good omen, as South Africa have won all the Tests in which Julies played

[The Lone Hydrangea]

His selection is also a good omen, as South Africa have won all the Tests in which Julies played[/QUOTE]

Stats, are made to be broken.

[The InnFORCEr]

His selection is also a good omen, as South Africa have won all the Tests in which Julies played

Stats, are made to be broken.[/QUOTE]

86.43% of stats are made up

[hopep]

Not so.
Statistics are never made up, they accrue from carefully devised mathmatical forumulae. Its the mathmatical formula that is made up.

[Goldmember]

I guess Steyn will have to play at #12 now

[Jehna]

Right you are Goldmember..


Boks call up Steyn to face England

September 11, 2007
SOUTH Africa has made just one change for its second World Cup game against England at the Stade de France on Friday, with Francois Steyn replacing centre Jean de Villiers.

Steyn, who will be earning his 11th cap, has already caught the eye in France when coming on for de Villiers in the Boks' 59-7 opening win over Samoa at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.

De Villiers' World Cup came to a premature end when he suffered a torn left bicep in that game.

The only other doubt for South Africa concerns backrow forward Schalk Burger who before Tuesday's team announcement was cited for a dangerous tackle in the Samoa game. His hearing is due to be held as soon as possible.

The team to face England features two survivors from the 1999 World Cup quarter-final victory over England at the Stade de France - fullback Percy Montgomery and prop Os du Randt.


Agence France-Presse