Du Preez ruled out of Cardiff test

JOHANNESBURG – Star scrumhalf Fourie du Preez has become the latest player to withdraw from the Springbok squad ahead of Saturday’s test against Wales in Cardiff.

A Springbok management member confirmed on Monday morning that Du Preez will miss the last test of the year, and the last of Jake White’s tenure as coach, due to the shoulder injury that has troubled him for much of 2007 and saw him miss several months in the middle stages of the season. It is not yet known whether a replacement for Du Preez will be called.The Boks do have two other scrumhalves in the squad in the form of Ruan Pienaar and Ricky Januarie.However, White was intending fielding Pienaar at fullback in place of the absent Percy Montgomery, who has French club commitments this weekend.He is going to have to decide whether he juggles his backs by moving Frans Steyn to fullback to enable Pienaar to cover at scrumhalf.In such an instance, he will have to move Wynand Olivier to inside centre.With André Pretorius lining up for a rare start, this might appear too much of a risk as Olivier, like Pretorius, has not played much rugby since the Super 14 season ended in May.The Springboks will be World Cup champions for the next four years, but failure in Saturday’s final test of the year could prove a significant early setback to their goal of being the worthy champions that previous holders England weren’t.A Welsh win will also take away South Africa’s number-one position on the world ranking list.SuperrugbyIt is not yet known whether a replacement for Du Preez will be called.The Boks do have two other scrumhalves in the squad in the form of Ruan Pienaar and Ricky Januarie.However, White was intending fielding Pienaar at fullback in place of the absent Percy Montgomery, who has French club commitments this weekend.He is going to have to decide whether he juggles his backs by moving Frans Steyn to fullback to enable Pienaar to cover at scrumhalf.In such an instance, he will have to move Wynand Olivier to inside centre.With André Pretorius lining up for a rare start, this might appear too much of a risk as Olivier, like Pretorius, has not played much rugby since the Super 14 season ended in May.The Springboks will be World Cup champions for the next four years, but failure in Saturday’s final test of the year could prove a significant early setback to their goal of being the worthy champions that previous holders England weren’t.A Welsh win will also take away South Africa’s number-one position on the world ranking list.Superrugby