South African Rugby
Springboks suffer Goosen blow
ESPN Staff
March 19, 2013
South Africa's Johan Goosen takes the ball into contact, Australia v South Africa, Gold Coast, Perth, September 8, 2012
Johan Goosen is set to miss the entire season for the Springboks © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Johan Goosen

South Africa and the Cheetahs have suffered a major blow with the news that fly-half Johan Goosen will be out for at least six months with a serious knee injury.

The 20-year-old, who has won four caps for the Springboks, tore the cruciate ligaments in his right knee during a training session in Sydney. He will return to Bloemfontein on Thursday with back-rower Frans Viljoen, who will miss three weeks with a calf injury he sustained in the Cheetahs' 27-26 win over the Waratahs last weekend.

Goosen will miss the Springboks' Rugby Championship campaign as well as their end of season tour of the northern hemisphere. It is also a big setback for the Cheetahs with Goosen starting to impress in the playmaking role.

"We were doing fitness drills after training and playing against each other," backs coach Hawies Fourie told the Volksblad website. "Somebody kicked the ball and Johan gathered it in the air. He then tried to side-step one of the guys when his knee gave way.

"It was the best field we have trained on during our tour. Johan's injury was a freak accident and is quite bad. It's difficult for all of us. The challenge is for the team to put it behind us as soon as possible. We can bring in Riaan Smit and Burton Francis to get over the blow quickly."

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