Scans have confirmed that Jean de Villiers suffered significant knee ligament damage during the match against Wales, reports JON CARDINELLI in Cardiff.

The Springbok captain dislocated his knee in the 58th minute of the Test at the Millennium Stadium. The game was stopped for several minutes after that, as the medical staff took care to stabilise the player and then stretcher him off the field.

De Villiers was subsequently taken to a Cardiff hospital for further scans and treatment.

'The scans revealed significant ligament damage to the inside of his knee and the supporting muscles,' said Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts. 'Jean will return to South Africa and see an orthopaedic specialist in Cape Town early in the week. He has had previous surgery on this knee and the further management of the injury is dependent upon the specialist’s recommendations.'

After the match, Bok coach Heyneke Meyer said he was very worried about his captain.

‘It was a big setback to lose him during the game. I hope the injury is not too serious.’

Meyer is right to be concerned. The Test against Wales was the Boks’ last of the 2014 season, but there are only nine months between now and the start of the 2015 World Cup in England.

It would be a big blow to lose the national captain for several months. Indeed, there is also a chance the injury may be so serious that De Villiers’s participation at the global tournament will be cast in doubt.

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