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Heineken Cup
Toulon lose Botha to injury
ESPN Staff
December 17, 2012
Toulon's Bakkies Botha claims a lineout ball, Racing Metro v Toulon, Top 14, Stade Yves du Manoir, Colombes, France, August 25, 2012
Bakkies Botha has been a key player for Toulon so far this season © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Bakkies Botha
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Teams: Toulon

Toulon could be without Bakkies Botha for two months after the second-row fractured an eye socket in the Heineken Cup victory over Sale Sharks on Sunday.

The 33-year-old former Springboks international came off just before half-time during Toulon's 62-0 victory over Sale at the Stade Felix Mayol and he will have an operation on the injury this week.

Botha, who has been an influential player in Toulon's pack this season, will miss the French side's last two remaining Pool fixtures as they chase a top seeding for the quarter-finals of the competition.

They lead Pool 6 by five points from Montpellier and Botha could return for the latter stages of the competition. He will also miss Top 14 fixtures, including Toulon's fixtures against Perpignan and Racing Metro.

The French side, though, have plenty of options in their second row with Jocelino Suta, Simon Shaw and Nick Kennedy all in their squad.

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