Falen blow for South Africa
Injury has struck another star player ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup with Springbok flanker Tami Falen being ruled out after suffering a serious shoulder injury.
Published by Scrum Queens, August 6th, 2010
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She is the third top player to be ruled out in the past week after England's Claire Allan and New Zealand's Amiria Rule were both ruled out with knee injuries.
The Eastern Province flanker sustained the injury during a training match last week in Port Elizabeth and has been ruled out of action for the next few months.
Her replacement, Pulane Motloung from the Golden Lions, has already joined the World Cup squad at their pre-tournament training base in Port Elizabeth.
Coach Denver Wannies said her loss was a big setback.
Tami was in great form and her tenacity at the breakdown will be missed. She was also a good ball carrier and featured prominently in our plans, so her absence is a huge setback for us. However, Phulane is a versatile player and is an able replacement."
She played at hooker for the Blue Bulls before her move to the Golden Lions, which means that we have the luxury of an added hooker and also very capable loose forward, said Wannies.
The team will attend a glittering send-off function on Friday evening at the Summerstrand Inn in Humewood. They fly out to London on Sunday, 15 August and returns on Monday 6 September.
The South Africans share Pool A with defending champions New Zealand, Australia and Wales.