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Bok scrum collapses as Visagie breaks down

Tuesday 03rd July 2007

Doubtful: Cobus Visagie injured at Tuesday's practice

South Africa suffered a major injury setback in the build-up to their crucial Tri-Nations Test against Australia in Sydney on Saturday, when veteran tighthead Cobus Visagie pulled up at training on Tuesday.

According to reports Visagie was injured during scrummaging practice. Visagie apparently pulled up in agony with what appeared to be a dislocation of the left elbow while the forwards were working out against the scrum machine in Sydney.

Springbok media manager Vusi Kama confirmed that there are concerns over Visagie's availability, but said that the full extent of the injury will not be known till Wednesday.

"He went for scans and the results won't be available till tomorrow [Wednesday]," Kama told this website.

The possible loss of Visagie will be a huge blow to the Boks' aspirations of putting the Wallabies' much-vaunted 'new' scrum under pressure.

Visagie, generally rated as one of the most powerful tightheads in world rugby, was re-called to the national team after Bok coach Jake White decided to rest first-choice tighthead prop BJ Botha.

Visagie, who plays his rugby for Saracens in the English Premier Division and European club competitions, was on holiday in Cape Town - during the Northern Hemisphere's mid-year off-season - when he got the call to join the Springboks.

He was earmarked to start in the number three jersey against the Wallabies' new scrum hero, Matt Dunning.

The Bok team is scheduled to be announced on Wednesday and White could fall back on Eddie Andrews, who has accumulated 21 caps, or to bring in the tough Free State Cheetahs doctor Jannie du Plessis.