More woes for Tukkies

Injuries to flanker Warwick Tecklenberg (knee) and winger Aaron Denenga (ankle) will force Tuks head coach Freddie Grobler to change his starting line-up for next week's Varsity Cup meeting with FNB UJ.

FNB Tuks' physiotherapist, Pieter du Plessis, confirmed that both Warwick and Aaron would not be available to take on UJ in Pretoria - after sustaining injuries against Pukke on Monday night.

"As this stage Aaron may be out for only one game, but we are very worried about Warwick's injury," said Du Plessis.

"It is difficult to make a call before he has gone for a MRI, but the possibility of damage to all his knee ligaments cannot be ruled out. If I have to make a professional guess, Warwick could be out of action for at least two weeks if not longer."

Tuks' injury woes do not stop with Aaron (pictured, above right) and Warwick, however, with the physiotherapist also revealing: "There is a possibility that both Franco Booysen (centre) and Wesleigh Marais (replacement scrumhalf) have been concussed.

"We'll know later this afternoon only if they will be able to play against UJ."

First-choice scrumhalf Ignick Windvogel is also on the rather long Tuks injury list, but his ankle injury may just heal in time.

Injuries have hit Tuks especially hard in the lock position where Francois van Wyk (ankle) has joined Perd (Edrich) van der Westhuizen and Meiring de Klerk on the sidelines. Van Wyk, of course is already a makeshift lock as he usually plays flank.

"Francois has a troubling ankle injury and it could be a case of touch and go to get him ready for UJ," Du Plessis told varsitycup.co.za.

By Morris Gilbert