News
Kirchner and Muller undergo surgery
July 14 2009
Blue Bulls full-back Zane Kirchner and Sharks captain Johann Muller both underwent surgery on Monday and will be out of action for at least four weeks each.
Kirchner fractured his cheekbone in the Blue Bulls' Currie Cup clash with the Lions at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday and went under the knife earlier this week.
Kirchner, who made his international debut in the final Test against the British and Irish Lions, will miss South Africa's home matches in the Tri-Nations due to the injury.
The full-back enjoyed a magnificent Super 14 campaign for the champion Bulls and Springbok coach Peter de Villiers called him up for his Test debut once South Africa had clinched the series against the British and Irish Lions with victories in the first two Tests in Durban and Pretoria.
Rock solid Tiger Mangweni will in all probability play in the number fifteen jersey for the Blue Bulls against the Western Province next Saturday.
Good news for the Pretoria side is that Gurthrö Steenkamp will be eligible for Saturday's clash and it seems as if Wynand Olivier and Dewald Potgieter will also be available.
However, Burton Francis is still a doubtful starter and he will only start training with his team-mates on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Sharks lock Johann Muller had a plate inserted into his broken arm on Monday. The Sharks skipper sustained the injury in Saturday's loss to Western Province in Cape Town.
Muller said that he would be out of action for four to six weeks.
The news means that Muller, who played in the last Test against the Lions, will also miss out on the Tri-Nations but will undergo special treatment to aid his recovery.
"I will be placed in an oxygen tank on a daily basis to speed up the healing process," he told Supersport
The Springboks return to action on July 25 with their opening Tri-Nations match against New Zealand in Bloemfontein, followed by games against the All Blacks in Durban on August 1 and Australia in Cape Town a week later.
The overseas leg of their campaign starts against Australia in Perth on August 29.