Clermont ace Smit ruled out for Munster tie

CLERMONT AUVERGNE, Munster’s Heineken Cup opponents in two weeks’ time, have been dealt a serious blow with the loss of John Smit through injury in a training-ground accident.

Smit, the inspirational hooker who captained South Africa to World Cup glory in September, sprained his right knee badly at training with the French side on New Year’s Eve and is expected to be out of action for five to eight weeks, according to the club website. Clermont confirmed that Smit’s ligaments, though injured, are not torn.

Although the Springbok captain will undergo further tests in coming days to determine the exact length of his lay-off, early indications are that he will not be fit to take his place against Munster in the vital Pool Five clash.