Boks Take Another Blow Ahead of Year End Tour

October 25 - The Springboks have been dealt yet another blow after learning that one of their star players, JP Pietersen, will not be taking part in the tour planned against Britain and Ireland at the end of the year.

Pietersen is suffering from a hamstring problem and has withdrawn from the training squad.

According to the South African Rugby Union, Pietersen was injured during last weekend's Currie Cup semi final against the Blue Bulls while playing for the Sharks.

The union said that it would name the final squad for the five match tour at the end of this month.

The announcement about Pietersen's injury comes only one day after the SARU announced that Blue Bulls center, Wynand Olivier would not be available for selection due to groin injury - for which he required immediate surgery.

Olivier was set to take a key role during the year-end tour. He is a 2007 World Cup winner and appeared regularly in coach De Villier's squads.

Speaking to the media, Olivier said: "It's an injury that I have been struggling with for at least four or five weeks now and it almost kept me out of the Currie Cup semi final last weekend."

He said that while it was disappointing not being considered for the tour at the end of the year, he believed that it was the right decision to undergo the operation now and ensure that he was fit and ready for the next year's season.

"We have the Super Rugby competition and the World Cup next year," he said.

Peter De Villiers has now begun his countdown to the make-or-break tour of the British Isles, starting with a two day squad camp this weekend.

The Springbok coach is well aware that his job is on the line, considering the team's disastrous Tri Nations tournament against Australia and New Zealand.

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