The tough, SA derby GUINNESSPRO14 Championship rugby fixture between the Southern Kings and the Toyota Cheetahs over the weekend may have cost the local franchise the services of their exciting flyhalf Oliver Zono for a while.
That was the concern expressed by Kings team doctor Clement Plaatjies this morning.
“Oliver has damaged his knee but we’ll only be able to confirm the severity of the injury after further examination and scans have been completed. I suspect there’s ligament and meniscal damage and if that’s the case then he will be unavailable for selection for quite a while,” said Dr Plaatjies.
There was some positive news with regards to lock forward Stephan Greeff, however. “We’ve stitched up the cut above his eye and confirmed there’s no concussion so he will be available for this weekend’s game. A few of the other players like Rowan Gouws and Bobby De Wee also reported a few minor knocks but nothing that will affect team selection for the Cheetahs fixture,” said the doctor.
Dr Plaatjies also confirmed that prop forward Entienne Swanepoel has returned to full training after six weeks out with a knee injury. “I will just confirm with a specialist that he can return to competitive action but he is showing no ill effects. Fellow front-rower Rossouw De Klerk is due to see an orthopaedic specialist today as a precaution as he has been struggling with his knee. We’ll be able to report on his prognosis later,” said Dr. Plaatjies. Dries Van Schalkwyk will not be available to the Kings this weekend either as he is still serving a mandatory non-contact period after breaking his nose.
On the long-term injuries sustained to Justin Fordward and CJ Velleman Dr Plaatjies said that in both cases the players were responding well to treatment and their rehabilitation was going “100% according to plan”.
Following a bruising encounter against the Cheetahs in Nelson Mandela Bay on Saturday the Kings’ next match is the return fixture against the same opponents in Bloemfontein this weekend.
Alan Straton
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