The operation, set to be performed on Tuesday afternoon, means Brüssow will be unavailable for selection for the Springbok tour to Europe in November.

Brüssow was assessed during the recent Springbok training camp in Johannesburg and it has been agreed that a second operation is needed in order to ensure that he is 100% fit and available for the 2011 season, which includes the Rugby World Cup.

Brüssow had surgery earlier this year after sustaining a severe knee injury in a Vodacom Super 14 match. The player ruptured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament, tore both the lateral and medial meniscus,and tore the Medial Collateral Ligament and medial capsule.

Surgery on the major structures of the knee was successful but Springbok and Cheetahs medical staff have agreed that a follow-up operation is required to guarantee Brüssow’s long-term recovery, and to prevent further risk to damaging the successfully reconstructed cruciate ligament.

Source: supersport.co.za

Cape Talk has reported that the towering lock is set to undergo surgery to repair a damaged disc in his back, after picking up the injury during the Boks’ broadly ill-fated away leg of the Vodacom Tri-Nations in New Zealand.

He had an MRI scan in Brisbane which ruled him out of consideration for the squad to play the Wallabies there.

The radio station quoted Matthew Proudfoot, the WP forwards coach, as saying: “Andries is back from overseas; we caught up with him today (Monday). It looks like he is going in for surgery next week on his back.”

WP spokesperson Gavin Lewis could not confirm to Sport24 that Bekker was out of the rugby for the remainder of 2010, but said he would seek clarity from the medical staff.

But if the reports are true, it is another setback for the embattled Boks as he is logical understudy to Victor Matfield for the position of “athletic” second-rower for the Test side.

He was also a stellar performer in the Stormers’ march to a maiden Super 14 final this year, and Province – presently unbeaten and leading the Absa Currie Cup log — would doubtless have been keen to field him toward the later stages of the domestic competition if possible.

They will now be a little thin on experienced locks should any mishaps lay low either of their Currie Cup captain, Anton van Zyl, or his partner Adriaan Fondse.

As for the Springboks, Matfield is one of the senior stars under scrutiny for under-performance and signs of fatigue of late, and a fit Bekker would have been useful to have on hand for “pressuring” purposes.

Source: sport24.co.za

The Sunday Telegraph said Cannon’s 15-month-old boy, Samuel, was on life support with two broken legs and internal injuries after being run over by the four-wheel drive.

“It’s one of those worst-case scenarios,” Cannon was quoted as saying.

“We’ve got a very narrow driveway and you need to be focusing on clearing the gate. I was reversing out, concentrating on the right side of the gate to get out, and I’ve accidentally run over the little guy.”

The incident mirrors a similar event involving another former Australia hooker, Phil Kearns, whose baby daughter Andie was also run over at the family home but made a full recovery.

Cannon said little Samuel was playing nearby at their Brisbane home, but dashed over to the car after seeing his elder brother and sister get in with their father.

“I have accidentally run over his side – I’ve run over his lower limbs,” Cannon said.

“He is on life-support, the situation is critical, he has a fracture in the left and right femur. There’s internal swelling and laceration of his liver.”

Doctors said it was a “miracle” that Samuel survived, according to the Telegraph.

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

The 30-year-old Jantjes has been out of action since May last year, when he fractured his leg while playing for the Stormers against the Chiefs in the Super 14.

The recovery process has been a slow and arduous one for the fullback who has been training with the Western Province U21 squad to regain some match fitness.

Jantjes will be thrust straight back into the Western Province starting XV, as coach Allister Coetee’s hand was somewhat forced by the departure of regular fullback Joe Pietersen to France and wing-cum-fullback Gio Aplon away with the Springboks.

“Connie’s [Jantjes] position is a tough one because we lost Joe [Pietersen] and Gio [Aplon] has gone to the Boks, so he has got to swim now,” Coetzee told rugby365.com.

“He has been training with the U21 squad and has been given some contact sessions there and he is an experienced player.

“Hopefully he is over that psychological thing [that comes after a serious injury] and it takes time, but you can only get over that if you play.”

Jantjes will also have one eye on next year’s World Cup in New Zealand, having been Springbok coach Peter de Villiers’ first choice fullback before his injury.

During Jantjes’ absence from the national side Francois Steyn excelled in the No.15 jersey in last year’s Tri-Nations, but his move to French club Racing Metro has cast some doubt over his Springbok future.

Despite all his talent Steyn appears to have dropped down in the Springbok pecking order after a public spat involving him, his agent Gerrie Swart and Peter de Villiers. This was followed by the Bok coach stating that the players based in the northern hemisphere need play in Super 15 where the rugby is at a higher tempo.

The jury is still out on the current Springbok duo Zane Kirchner and Gio Aplon, which means there is an opening for Jantjes to claw his way into contention to wear the green and gold at the World Cup.

Source: rugby365.com

The Springbok fought off stiff competition from some of the biggest names in the Game to claim the prestigious award after the global Rugby community selected his try from a shortlist of 15 in an online vote at www.irb.com. Nearly 8,000 votes were cast in the process.

Fourie’s try, scored in the 74th minute of the nail-biting encounter in Pretoria in June, sealed a dramatic Series victory for the Springboks, who went on to be named IRB Team of the Year in association with Emirates Airline and demonstrated superb control, team work and skills before the centre squeezed over in the corner.

Fourie, who was presented with his award after the Vodacom Stormers versus Highlanders Vodacom Super 14 match in Cape Town on Saturday, said that the accolade was recognition of the superb team ethic within the Springboks squad.

“It is fantastic to win this award and I am honoured to receive it. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote online. This try demonstrates the value of team work and working for each other to achieve something very special, and made it such a privilege to be part of the Sprinboks team and the Lions Series last summer,” said Fourie.

Shane Williams (2), Vincent Clerc, Jamie Heaslip, Mils Muliaina, Isaac Ross, Ma’a Nonu, Cedric Heymans, Rob Kearney, Berrick Barnes, Imanol Harinordoquy, Lee Byrne, Gonzalo Camacho and Alexander Yanyushkin were scorers of the other shortlisted tries.

Fourie follows in the fleeted footsteps of Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll who scooped the award in 2008 and Takudzwa Ngwenya of the USA who claimed the inaugural award in 2007.

Source: sarugby.co.za

Former Springboks, current players and friends will all pay homage to the 1995 World Cup star at a service at the CRC church on the corner of Lynnwood and Hans Strijdom Avenues, near Silver Lakes where Kruger and his wife Lize lived.

“The service will begin at 10am and will be led by Pastor At Boshoff from Bloemfontein,” close friend and former teammate FA Meiring told SuperSport.com.

“It won’t be a massive affair. Ruben was a quiet guy and he wouldn’t have liked that. He liked to keep things simple.” A large contingent of the Super 14 champions Bulls side will attend the funeral, as well as several former Springboks who are travelling from as far as Cape Town, Durban and Kimberley.

SA Rugby have also confirmed that they will be sending representatives to the funeral.

Kruger’s wife, Lize, will lead the tributes to her husband, and Ewald Coleske, of the Coleske Brothers singing group, will perform Kruger’s favourite hymn, Amazing Grace.

Mourners have been requested to arrive early to ensure that they can be accommodated.

“There will be enough space for everyone who wants to come and pay tribute to Ruben,” Meiring said.

Source: supersport.co.za

Pic: sport24.com

New Zealand had rested most of their first-choice players against a strong Barbarian side but will nevertheless be disappointed to have ended their previously victorious European tour with a defeat.

The Barbarians’ only other win over the All Blacks was the 1973 success in Cardiff, highlighted by the most famous try in rugby, scored by Gareth Edwards.

Saturday’s match, in front of 65,000 fans, could not match that brilliance but after much of the dull fare served up in many of the November internationals it was played with a refreshing commitment to attack.

A smart break by Australia wing Drew Mitchell set up Habana’s first score. He then pinched a 70-metre interception before capping a memorable afternoon with a sharp finish and then departing the field to a standing ovation after 70 minutes.

Hugely impressive Wallaby flyhalf Matt Giteau converted two of the tries and scored a penalty, with South Africa’s Morne Steyn sealing the win with a second penalty late on.

The All Blacks, who had not conceded a try in their four wins over Wales, Italy, England and France, scored tries through Ben Smith and Anthony Boric but their shadow side were unable to hold off their experienced opponents.

“That’s up there with the best, we have an unbelievably talented group of players and to beat an All Black side that hasn’t lost and hasn’t conceded a try is pretty special,” Habana told the BBC.

Italy and former South Africa coach Nick Mallet, who coached the Barbarian side for this match, said: “Nobody will forget 1973 and we understand the ethos of what the Barbarians is about.

“It’s been an amazing week and great to finish it off the way we did.”

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

Bernie Habana, father of the Bok wing, confirmed on Sunday that Habana Jnr will be playing his domestic and Super Rugby in Cape Town for the next two years.

“Some details of the contract still has to be sorted out, but Bryan has decided that Cape Town is where it is at,” Habana Snr said, adding: “Those details will be sorted out in the next few days [before he departs with the Boks for Australasia on Tuesday].”

This follows less than a week after he arrived in Cape Town, last Monday, for ‘explorative talks’ with Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus.

Habana, winner of both the International Rugby Board and South African Rugby Union Player of the Year awards for 2007, also had an offer to stay with the Blue Bulls in Pretoria and had talks with the Bulls last Sunday.

The 26-year-old try machine, Habana – who was one of the key players in South Africa’s 2-1 victory in the series against the British and Irish Lions earlier this year as well as the 2-0 whitewash over the All Blacks this month – has been repeatedly linked with a switch to Europe.

But this has all proved to be unfounded media speculation.

The decision to move to Cape Town follows after the Stormers head coach, Erasmus, made contact with Habana.

Erasmus made the initial approach, to determine if there is any interest from the Bok flyer, and they then met last Monday.

The Bulls, who managed to retain the services of fellow World Cup winner Wynand Olivier, despite moves to also lure him to Cape Town, will now look towards 20-year-old flyer Gerhard van den Heever to fill the void left by Habana’s departure.

Van den Heever and Springbok Akona Ndungane, who fractured his leg at the weekend, are the top wings in Pretoria at present. Van den Heever, who has come through the Bulls ranks and played for all their age-group teams, played for South Africa in the International Rugby Board Junior World Championships earlier this year.

Despite making it a “top priority” for them to retain the services of Habana, the Bulls also made it clear they won’t be offering him “outrageous amounts” to stay in Pretoria.

WP, apart from losing out in the race to sign the Bulls midfielder, Olivier, have also recently lost the services of Springbok midfielder Jean de Villiers to Irish province Munster.

De Villiers was present at Munster’s pre-season match against Guinness Premiership club Sale Sharks at Musgrave Park last weekend.

The Springbok centre was on a two-day tour of the Munster set-up before returning to the South Africa Tri-Nations squad last week.

WP and the Golden Lions are currently also in a tug-of-war over the services of another World Cup-winning midfielder, Jaque Fourie, who has indicated that he is keen on joining his Bok teammate, Habana, in Cape Town.

Source: rugby365.com

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, a member of the star-studded Barbarians side that lost 11-18 to Australia at Wembley last December, that showed that the ‘scratch’ team could be competitive against a Test nation, said he was looking forward to playing against them instead.

“I had a great time playing for the Barbarians last year and to now get the opportunity to play against them is going to be pretty special,” the captain of an All Black side currently number one in the world rankings, explained.

“Matches like this are rare and as there is such a long tradition of matches between the All Blacks and the Barbarians, it’s going to be huge for the team,” McCaw said.

Micky Steele-Bodger, president of the Barbarians said: “The confirmation of the Barbarians v All Blacks fixture in December is really good news as so many of the matches between us have proved to be memorable, containing some unforgettable moments of brilliance.

“As a club we are looking forward to another great challenge and in every sense, a marvellous occasion.”

The All Blacks have played the Barbarians on nine occasions. The match in 1973 in Cardiff, which the Barbarians won 23-11, featured what many fans consider to be one of the greatest tries ever, when legendary Wales scrum-half Gareth Edwards crowned a brilliant length of the field team move with the game’s opening score.

The Barbarians, formed in 1890, have no ground of their own and are reliant on invitations from other clubs and unions for their fixtures.

Being picked for the Barbarians is still considered as one of the major milestones in a player’s career outside of Test rugby.

By tradition, the Barbarians usually field at least one uncapped player in their side and those chosen to don their distinctive black-and-white hooped jersey must normally do so wearing their own club or international socks.

The British-based club was once reliant on players from the ‘Home Unions’ (England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales) when it came to their showpiece matches but congested fixture schedules in the professional era have seen southern hemisphere players to the fore for the Barbarians in recent times.

Source: rugby365.com

De Villiers was interviewed for a documentary feature that is being produced by Sky which looks back on the 1974 British Lions tour of South Africa as well as ahead to the forthcoming series between the Springboks and the 2009 Lions in June and July. The documentary will be screened in the United Kingdom and Ireland in May this year.

In addition to the interview, de Villiers conducted a short skills session with the School�s 1st rugby team.

�When I was asked to find a venue for the shoot I approached Klein Nederberg and they happily agreed,� said de Villiers, whose daughter matriculated at the school.

�The headmistress and staff were very accommodating and hospitable as always and their efforts were much appreciated by myself and the Sky crew,� de Villiers said.

During his visit, the Bok coach interacted with scholars and educators and signed autographs. He also met five-year-old Bok fan Peter Esterhuizen whose dream is to play for the Springboks and whose favourite players are Jongi Nokwe and Percy Montgomery.

The Sky TV crew was grateful to Klein Nederberg for making their facilities available for the shoot.

Source + Pic: sarugby.co.za