World Cup bid hit by van Niekerk’s injury

SOUTH Africa’s World Cup campaign suffered a major setback yesterday when flanker Joe van Niekerk was ruled out of the tournament.

Van Niekerk could be sidelined for six months after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during yesterday’s 60-10 victory over Samoa in Brisbane that clinched a quarter-final place.

South Africa’s player of the year in 2002 will now be flown home to consult a specialist and probably face surgery.