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knee to know

Kiss shows 'concern' over Coetzee's knee after early exit against Zebre

The Springbok back row has been sidelined for most of the last year with a knee injury.

Adam McKendry reports from Kingspan Stadium.

ULSTER DIRECTOR OF Rugby Les Kiss says he’s not sure how bad Marcell Coetzee’s knee injury is, but has allayed concerns that the Springbok back-row has suffered a recurrence of the injury that kept him out for nine months.

Speaking after Ulster’s fantastic 68-21 victory over Zebre at the Kingspan Stadium, which lifts the Ulstermen back into the top four of the Guinness PRO12, Kiss said they’re concerned about Coetzee’s injury.

The number eight had to be helped off the pitch by medics in the 18th minute after having his knee treated on three separate occasions, leading to worries that he might have hurt the same ligament that delayed his Ulster debut until February.

But Kiss was quick to deny that Coetzee had injured the same knee again, although admitted he isn’t aware of how long the influential back-row will now be out for.

“It’s not fully clear, there’s a bit of concern about the knee,” Kiss said after the game. “The medics have said to let it settle and see how it is on Monday after the scan.

“I think it’s the other (knee). I went to see him after the game but didn’t ask the question, I just shook his hand. I’ll do it this week with the team and get the report. We’ll see how it is, touch wood it’s all good.

“He’s a bit down, but he was happy the guys won, that’s the the biggest emotion from him.”

The Australian coach also gave an update on winger Tommy Bowe, who had to be carted off the pitch in Ireland’s defeat to Wales on Friday night, revealing the 33-year old will be seeing a surgeon this week for a diagnosis.

“He’s going to see the surgeon on Monday to see about a possible fracture,” Kiss explained about Bowe. “We’ll get more clarity on him and Marcell on Monday. It doesn’t look good (for Tommy) but we don’t know the full extent.

“We’ve been advised by the medics not to look too much into it until we get the proper scan and prognosis of what needs done. Hopefully it’s short term.”

Bittersweet victory for Ulster as Marcell Coetzee is forced off through injury

Ireland U20s Six Nations hopes dealt a blow against the Welsh

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