Ulster and South Africa scrumhalf still suffering from a knee ligament injury
Ahead of Saturday’s opening November international against Ireland, South Africa have withdrawn Ruan Pienaar from their northern hemisphere tour squad and called up scrumhalf Jano Vermaak as a replacement.
Pienaar failed a fitness test for Saturday’s test at the Aviva stadium and was also a major doubt for the following weekend’s clash with England.
The 30-year-old picked up a knee ligament injury in the Springboks’ four-point loss to New Zealand in Wellington in September and has been out of action since.
“Ruan was re-assessed on Tuesday morning following the on-field fitness tests from Monday, and unfortunately he has developed some swelling and puffiness around the knee, indicating that he is not yet ready to partake in full training and playing in a match,” Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts said in an SARU statement on Tuesday………….. see more at :- http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/springboks-bring-in-vermaak-as-pienaar-out-of-entire-tour-1.1987739
