Bok prop boost

 Oct 02,2012

Springbok prop Coenie Oosthuizen has been cleared to play after an examination by a neurosurgeon in Durban on Tuesday.

Oosthuizen injured his neck during his Test debut for South Africa against England in Durban in June. He spent almost three months doing rehabilitation and returned to action in a Currie Cup match last weekend.

Following the match, Oosthuizen experienced some muscle stiffness and it was decided to send him for a further consultation with a neurosurgeon in Durban, who was in agreement with the previous assessments of his injury.

“We wanted to ensure that we don’t put Coenie at undue risk by playing him,” said Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts.

“The neurosurgeon is happy with his progress and the scans and has declared him fit to play.”

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer was happy with the news.

“Our players are our greatest assets and I’m happy to have Coenie available again this weekend,” said Meyer.

“We will always consider the players’ welfare first which is why we decided to get several opinions on Coenie’s neck.” 

The team to face New Zealand in Soweto on Saturday will be named on Wednesday afternoon.

 Much better than Pat whats his name. 

Coenie does damage when he comes onto the field. Great scrummager and also effective in the tight and loose play.

Good luck to him....this is scary stuff

Mozart

Some ten years ago I myself had neck problems and had to get a fusion operation done.   I was a bit scared of the idea and told my quack that the issue can go ahead, provided the operation is done by the best surgeon in that field in South Africa and it turned out to be a Dr Stefan Joubert from Durban.    Interesting to note that a Durban neurosurgeon was consulted with regard to Oosthuizen.

The reason I say it is interesting is that Dr Joubert told me that he operated on Van Biljon - the erstwile hooker -for a problem similar to mine and that medically he could continue playing.    However, I think that the problem afterwards in Van Biljon's case was psychological - he never was the same player that he was before the operation. 

What I mean is that if SARU consulted Dr Joubert on the Van Biljon issue - it is likely that they did so in Oosthuizen's case as well.   I have absolute faith in Dr Joubert - I had no problems since that operation - and if indeed it was Dr Joubert that was involved - I firmly believe that if he says Oosthuizen can continue with his playing career - there is aboslutely no reason to believe the contrary in this case.  

Scary stuff indeed - but likely to have been solved.