Blue Bulls and Springbok lock Bakkies Botha, is going to be on the sideline for three months following an achilles injury.
Botha, who has played in 83 Super Rugby matches for the Bulls and represented South Arica in 66 tests, needs to go for an operation on Friday and Dr Org Strauss expects he will only make his return in March 2010.
Botha’s Springbok teammate, Wynand Olivier, is struggling with a knee injury which will keep him from training for at least three weeks.
Olivier is experiencing problems with a loose piece of cartilage in his knee, but the injury is under control and he will rejoin the squad in January.
Dr Strauss confirmed on Tuesday the rest of the players in the squad are all doing fine and apart from Botha and Olivier there aren’t any other new injuries.
The Bulls will train in Pretoria until Friday, after which they will go to George for their gruelling summer camp. — Sapa