Reports say South Africa flanker Juan Smith has been ruled out for the entire Super 15 rugby season and may miss the World Cup after tearing his Achilles tendon.

The Super 15 website, quoting Cheetahs sources, says Smith will be sidelined for the next six to nine months. Smith would also miss the Tri-Nations, and possibly the World Cup in New Zealand in September.

Cheetahs captain Smith left the field just two minutes into his first game of the season against the defending champion Bulls in round two of the Super 15 on Friday. The report says he will have surgery early next week. The 69-times capped Smith, a World Cup winner in 2007, passed a late fitness test on an ankle injury before the match.

The Canterbury Crusaders have won their 7th Super Rugby title with a 20-12 victory over the New South Wales Waratahs in the final of the 2008 Super 14.

Crusaders [20]
Try: Mose Tuiali’i
Penalties: Dan Carter (4)
Drop-goal: Dan Carter

Waratahs [12]
Tries: Lachie Turner (2)
Conversion: Kurtley Beale

View Super Rugby History (more…)

Semi Final 1:

Crusaders 33 – 22 Hurricanes

Crusaders [NZL]
Tries: Leon MacDonald (2), Kieran Read
Conversions: Dan Carter (3)
Penalties: Dan Carter (4)

Hurricanes [NZL]
Tries: Zac Guildford, Jeremy Thrush, Neemia Tialata
Conversions: Jimmy Gopperth, Jerry Collins
Penalty: Piri Weepu

Semi Final 2:

Waratahs 28 – 13 Sharks

Waratahs [AUS]
Tries: Lote Tuqiri, Rob Horne, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess
Conversion: Beale
Penalty: Beale
Drop goal: Beale

Sharks [RSA]
Try: Craig Burden
Conversion: Rory Kockott
Penalty: Frans Steyn
Drop goal: Ruan Pienaar