Achilles blow for Botha

South Africa lock to miss the start of the new season

Last updated: 2nd December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Achilles blow for Botha

Botha: Sidelined

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South Africa lock Bakkies Botha will miss the start of the new Super 14 season after he was ruled out for three months with 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 is expected to return in March 2010.

Botha's Springbok team-mate Wynand Olivier is struggling with a knee injury which will keep him from training for about 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.

However, forgotten Springbok centre De Wet Barry could feature for the Bulls in next year's Super 14 as he is a late addition to their provisional squad.

The former Stormers captain returned to South Africa last season after his stint with Harlequins and now plays for Eastern Province.

"At the moment, I've been added to their Super 14 provisional squad and have been talking to [Bulls backline coach] Pieter Rossouw," Barry said.

"At the moment it's not certain if I will play, but it would be great to be given the opportunity to be part of a successful team like the Bulls."