Oosthuizen will be back - Drotske

 Nov 15,2012

Written by: SARugby.com Editor

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has allayed fears that Springbok prop Coenie Oosthuizen's career could be in jeopardy.

Oosthuizen suffered two major injuries this season. First he injured his neck during his Test debut against England in June.

He returned to action after spending almost three months doing rehabilitation but then injured his back in the Cheetahs' Currie Cup match against Western Province in Cape Town last month.

The latter injury also ruled him out of the Boks' current European tour.

Drotske dismissed rumours, which have surfaced recently, that the 23-year-old front-rower's career is in jeopardy.

"There is no worry over Coenie's injury," he told the Volksblad website.

"His visit to a specialist in about two or three weeks' time is just routine."

Oosthuizen is expected to return to action in January, which means he should be in the reckoning for a place in the Cheetahs line-up for their Super Rugby opener against the Sharks in Bloemfontein on February 23.

Meanwhile, there was more good news when it was revealed that Cheetahs full-back Willie le Roux (groin) and loose forward Philip van der Walt (knee) will not undergo operations. Le Roux is expected to recover within two weeks, and Van der Walt is set for a return in January.

However, injured flanker Heinrich Brüssow (shoulder) is in a race to be fit for their Australasian tour straight after the Sharks match.

Fellow lose forward Lappies Labuschagné (ankle) and fly-half Johan Goosen (knee) should be fit for the Super Rugby tournament.

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