Pienaar out as Ulster injury hex strikes

Ulster and South African scrum-half Ruan Pienaar is suspected of rupturing the medial ligament in his right knee during the narrow Rugby Championship defeat against the All Blacks at the weekend.

The 79-times capped Springbok veteran was carried off in the 36th minute in agony and underwent a scan yesterday, with the results expected later today.

Pienaar looks certain to miss Ulster’s first two European Rugby Championship Cup games against the Tigers and Toulon at the end of October, and could be out until the back-to-back games against Scarlets in December.

It’s yet another blow for Ulster who will also be without exciting young winger Rory Scholes for at least a month after he fractured a bone in his foot during Belfast Harlequins’ Ulster Bank League game against UL Bohemian.

Ireland centre Darren Cave, who made an early exit from Ulster’s game with Zebre last Friday night after a heavy tackle, has bruised ribs which will be assessed later in the week.

It was confirmed that flanker Iain Henderson will undergo surgery for a hip problem on September 25 and is likely to be out of action until the New Year.

Meanwhile, Jared Payne will miss this week’s game against the Blues with a hip injury while Declan Fitzpatrick is following protocols after he suffered a bang to the head against the Scarlets.

The province are, as expected, set to name Neil Doak as their head coach following the news Les Kiss will return to his Ireland post early in October.

Doak, 41, a former Ireland cricket all-rounder, is current attack coach and will take over the main duties with scrum coach Allen Clarke and defence coach Jonny Bell as his deputies until a new Director of Rugby is installed.